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CSE 420
Computer Games
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

2. Objectives
Know the essential elements of a game—rules, goals, play, and pretending—and what they do in the context of playing games
Know the formal definition of a game
Understand the nature of challenges and actions, as well as the formal definition of gameplay
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

3. Objectives (Cont.)
Become familiar with the concepts of symmetry and asymmetry, fairness, and competition and cooperation
Learn the various benefits that computers bring to games
Become familiar with the ways in which video games entertain people
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

4. Objectives (Cont.)
Understand the player-centric approach to game design
Know how the core mechanics and the user interface work together to create gameplay
Explain how gameplay modes and shell menus make up the structure of a game
Recognize the three stages of game design and describe the design work in each stage
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

5. Objectives (Cont.) Know the kinds of jobs required on a design team
Know the kinds of documents that a game designer is likely to need and what they are for
Know the qualities required of a good game designer
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

6. Objectives (Cont.)
Take a game idea and add the necessary material to make it into a design concept
Define the player’s role or roles in the game
Know the different genres of games and think about which one your game may belong to
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

7. Objectives (Cont.)
Know how to choose a target audience and understand the special considerations associated with designing for specialized markets
Plan the progress of your game
Understand the differences among the kinds of game machines and how these differences affect the way people play on them
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

8. What Is a Game? Toys do not have rules or goals Puzzles have goals
Games have rules and goals
Toys and puzzles can be used to play games.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

9. What Is a Game? (Cont.) A game must include Play activity
Pretended reality
A nontrivial goal
Rules
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

10. Essential Elements of a Game
Play
Play requires participation
Making different choices while playing the game a second time affects the results
Pretending
Creates an artificial reality known as the magic circle
Artificial importance is assigned to events within the magic circle
To leave the magic circle, stop playing the game
Actions that can be made while playing are limited by the rules.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

11. Essential Elements of a Game (Cont.)
Goal
Every game must have a nontrivial goal or object
The rules define the goal
The game designer sets the rules, thus defining the object of the game
The player must overcome one or more challenges to achieve the goal
The goal is often a victory condition, but victory or defeat is not required in all games
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

12. Essential Elements of a Game (Cont.)
Rules
Rules are definitions and instructions that players accept for the game
Rules define the actions the players may select that will help them achieve the object of the game
Game designers must make the rules understandable to the player
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

13. Things That a Game Is Not
A game does not have to include
Competition
Conflict
Entertainment
Fun
These are qualities of some games, but not essential to the definition
Serious games are not necessarily made for entertainment or fun
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

14. Gameplay The player must overcome a nontrivial challenge
Challenges require mental or physical effort
A challenge can be composed of several smaller challenges
Challenges can be required to reach the goal or optional to add game content
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

15. Gameplay (Cont.)
The rules determine what actions are available to the player(s)
Different actions may be
Permitted by the rules, or
Required by the rules, or
Prohibited by the rules
Video games permit only actions that are programmed into the game
A video game will not respond to player actions that it has not been programmed to recognize.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

16. Gameplay (Cont.) Gameplay therefore consists of:
The challenges that a player must face to arrive at the object of the game, and
The actions that the player is permitted to take to address those challenges plus other possible actions that are enjoyable
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

17. Fairness
Players expect that the rules will guarantee that the game is fair
Fairness is not an essential element of a game, but a quality of good games
Players often change rules of a game if they perceive it as unfair
Fairness is particularly important in video games because video games seldom allow rule changes
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

18. Symmetry and Asymmetry
In a symmetric game, all players use the same rules to accomplish the same goal
In an asymmetric game, different players follow different rules to accomplish different goals
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

19. Competition and Cooperation
When players compete, they try to accomplish mutually exclusive goals
When players cooperate, they work together to accomplish goals that are the same or similar
Competition modes are ways to build cooperation and competition into games
When players compete, there is often a winner and a loser.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

20. Hiding the Rules Video games do not require written rules
The game enforces the rules
The player can’t change the rules
Provide adequate clues for players to overcome a challenge
Using trial and error to overcome a challenge frustrates many players
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

21. Setting the Pace
The software determines the speed of the events in a game
The player can’t affect the speed of the game unless the software has to wait for player input
The computer allows for modulation of the pace, so players can rest between periods of intense activity
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

22. Presenting a Game World
To present a game world, video games can use
Pictures
Animation
Movies
Music
Dialog
Sound effects
Text and subtitles
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

23. Artificial Intelligence
Today, artificial intelligence is used for
Strategy
Pathfinding
Simulating the behavior of people and creatures
As artificial intelligence advances, games will add more uses for it
Natural language parsing
Natural language generation
Pattern recognition
Currently, the behavior simulations are very simple. The goal of AI research is to create ever more realistic simulations.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

24. Aesthetics
All game elements should be high in quality and present a harmonious look and feel
The look includes the quality and appearance of the graphics, movie clips, animation, buttons, and fonts
The feel includes the music, dialog, user interface, and objectives
Harmony is the feeling that all game elements are part of a coherent whole
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

25. Storytelling Most games incorporate some kind of story
Video games can mix storylike and gamelike entertainment almost seamlessly
They can make player feel he is inside a story and affecting flow of events
This is one reason why video games are considered a new medium
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

26. Risks and Rewards Risk is created by uncertainty
If the player overcomes the risk, a reward should be given
The size of the reward should match the size of the risk
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

27. Novelty and Learning
Video games can offer more variety and content than any traditional game
Novelty alone is not enough to sustain player interest, however
People enjoy learning when it takes place in an enjoyable context or provides useful mastery
Games should supply both enjoyable context and useful mastery
For example, in SimCity, players learn how to attract a larger population and meet their needs.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

28. Creative and Expressive Play
People love to select, design, and customize
This activity can have a direct effect on gameplay
As video games reach a wider audience, creative and expressive play become increasingly important
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

29. Immersion
Immersed players lose track of the real world outside the game
Immersion can be
Tactical—the sense of being “in the groove”
Strategic—observing, calculating, planning
Narrative—the feeling of being inside a story
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

30. Socializing
Most traditional games are played with other people, making it a social activity
Several methods allow people to play video games together
Multiplayer local
Networked play (multiplayer distributed)
LAN parties
Group play
Most multiplayer games have a communication method built into the software. However, players often use communication software such as TeamSpeak or Ventrilo.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

31. Art, Engineering, or Craft?
Game design is not purely an art nor an act of pure engineering
Game design is a craft
It includes both creative and functional elements
It can be learned
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

32. The Player-Centric Approach
Player-centric game design is a philosophy of design in which the designer envisions a representative player
Two duties in player-centric design:
Entertain the representative player
Empathize with the representative player
You are not the representative player
You are not the player’s opponent
Remember that the goal is entertaining the player, not creating a game you would like to play or preventing the player from winning the game.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

33. Other Motivations That Influence Design
Market-driven games
Games trying to appeal to the maximum number of people, regardless of implications for harmony
Designer-driven games
Designer retains all creative control, usually to the detriment of the game
Games for a specific license
Content must fit into an existing world
Limits creativity, but often very lucrative
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

34. Other Motivations That Influence Design (Cont.)
Technology-driven games
Games built to show off the hardware running the game
Art-driven games
Games built to show off the artwork
Games are visually innovative but seldom good otherwise; comparatively rare
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

35. Integrating for Entertainment
Integrating characteristics to entertain players requires designer to
Have a specific vision
Consider the audience’s preferences
Understand licensing benefits and exploit them to the game’s best advantage
Understand the capabilities of the technology
Consider aesthetic style
Take the best from every source. If a feature is not needed, don’t keep it.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

36. Core Mechanics Core mechanics generate the gameplay
Define the challenges
Define the actions
Define the player’s effect on the game world
Core mechanics determine how realistic the game world seems to the player
Realism is a continuum between abstract and representational
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

37. User Interface Mediates between the core mechanics and the player
Interprets player’s mouse clicks or button presses
Displays the result of the player’s input
Can also be called the presentation layer
Presents the game world to the player
Includes artwork and audio effects
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

38. User Interface (Cont.) Interaction model Camera model
Identifies the way in which the player acts upon the game world; common models include:
Avatar-based—through a character in the world
Multipresent—the player can act on many places at once
Camera model
Viewpoint of the virtual camera, and its behavior
Simple models are called perspectives. First- and third-person are common perspectives.
Many games allow players to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives. In first person, the game world is shown as if you are the avatar. The avatar is not visible in first person because the player is looking through the avatar’s eyes. In third person, the avatar is followed by a chase camera that shows the avatar and the game world.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

39. The Structure of a Video Game
Structure is composed of
Gameplay modes
Shell menus
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

40. Gameplay Modes
Gameplay modes consist of the available gameplay and user interface at a specific time
Not all actions are available at all times
Available user interface choices should be related to the current actions
A game is in exactly one gameplay mode at a time.
It can move to another mode as necessary
Use common sense to dictate which actions should be available at a particular time.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

41. The Gameplay Mode
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

42. Shell Menus and Screens
Shell menus are used when the player is NOT in a gameplay mode
The player can’t affect the game world
The player can save or load a game, adjust the hardware, etc.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

43. Forming the Structure Gameplay modes + shell menus = structure
The game switches between gameplay modes as required:
In response to specific player requests
In response to events in the game
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

44. Stages of the Design Process
Concept stage
Elaboration stage
Tuning stage
Note that these are purely stages of design, not of development; development includes many more factors
“Pre-production” and “production” are development stages that overlap the design stages
It is easy to get stuck in any stage
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

45. Concept Stage During the concept stage, you
Define the fundamental game concept, including the game’s genre
Define an audience
Determine the player’s role in the game
Think about how to fulfill the player’s dream
Concept should not change after this stage
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

46. Elaboration Stage During this stage, you Define the primary game mode
Design the protagonist
Define the game world
Design the core mechanics
Create additional modes
Create the first playable level
Write the story
Build, test, and iterate
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

47. Tuning Stage
You enter the tuning stage at the point when the entire design is locked and no more features may be added to the game
During the tuning stage, the design team makes small adjustments to levels and core mechanics
Polishing is a subtractive process—removing imperfections
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

48. Game Design Teams A game design team may include Lead Designer
Game Designers
Level Designers
User Interface Designers
Writers
Art Director
Audio Director
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

49. Documenting the Design
Design documents are used
To communicate your ideas clearly to other team members
As sales tools
As design tools
To record the decisions made
The process of writing a document can turn a vague idea into an explicit plan
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

50. Types of Design Documents
High concept document
Tool to sell your game concept
Two to four pages
Game treatment document
Sales tool with more detail than the high concept document
Summary of the basic game design
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

51. Types of Design Documents (Cont.)
Character design document
Design one character in the game
Include moveset
Include concept art in different poses
Include the character’s backstory
World design document
General overview of the game world art
Types and locations for sounds
Include a map
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

52. Types of Design Documents (Cont.)
Flowboard
Document the structure—links among gameplay modes and shell menus
List available menu items and player inputs
Story and level progression document
Tell the story
Record the player’s progression through the game
Game script document
Specifies rules and core mechanics in enough detail to play the game
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

53. Anatomy of a Game Designer
Skills most useful for professional game designer
Imagination
Technical awareness
Analytical competence
Mathematical competence
Aesthetic competence
General knowledge and ability to research
Writing skills
Drawing skills
Ability to synthesize
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

54. Getting an Idea You can find game ideas anywhere
Dreams of doing something or achieving a goal
From media such as books or movies
From other games
When evaluating ideas, remember that the game must provide entertainment
Curiosity and research can help you find and develop a game idea.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

55. From Idea to Game Concept
A game concept is a description with enough detail to discuss it as a commercial product
A game concept should include:
High concept statement
Player’s role in the game
Proposed primary gameplay mode
Genre
Target audience
Hardware
Licenses
Competition modes
General summary of progression
Short description of the game world
Key characters, if any
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

56. The Player’s Role Define the role Make the definition clear and simple
What is the player going to do?
Most important part of the game concept
Make the definition clear and simple
Help the player understand the goals and rules
Help publisher, retailer, and customer decide to buy the game
The publisher must commit funds to game development. The retailer must commit funds and shelf space to selling the game. The customer must commit funds and time to buy and play the game. All of these decisions stem from a game concept with a clear description of the player’s role in the game.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

57. Choosing a Genre
A genre is a category of games characterized by a particular set of challenges, regardless of setting or game-world content
Many players buy a particular genre because they like the type of challenges it offers
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

58. Classic Game Genres Action games—physical challenges
Strategy games—strategic, tactical, and logistical challenges
Role-playing games—tactical, logistical, exploration, and economic challenges
Real-world simulations (sports games and vehicle simulations) —physical and tactical challenges
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

59. Classic Game Genres (Cont.)
Construction and management games—economic and conceptual challenges
Adventure games—exploration and puzzle-solving challenges
Puzzle games—logic and conceptual challenges
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

60. Hybrid Games Games that cross genres
Risky because it might alienate some of your target audience
The most successful hybrid is the action-adventure
Mostly action
Include a story and puzzles that give them some of the quality of adventure games
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

61. Defining Your Target Audience
Who will buy the game?
The representative player is a member of your target audience
Player-centric game design focuses on the representative player.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

62. The Dangers of Binary Thinking
Binary thinking—assumes that if group A likes a thing, everyone outside that group WON’T like it
Interests overlap among groups
Avoid exclusionary material
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

63. The Dangers of Binary Thinking (Cont.)
Core versus casual—the most significant method of grouping players
Other groups that exhibit trends in game-playing preferences:
Men and women
Children and adults
Boys and girls
Players with disabilities
Players of other cultures
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

64. Progression Considerations
Players need to feel they are making progress when playing long games
Progress can be implemented through
Levels
Story
Both
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

65. Types of Game Machines Home game consoles
Simpler, bolder graphics than a PC provides
Standard controller
Excellent for multiplayer local games
Slower computing and less storage space than a personal computer
The most expensive console machine will never be as powerful as the most expensive personal computer, because high-end PCs cost about ten times as much as high-end consoles.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

66. Types of Game Machines (Cont.)
Personal computer
Keyboard, mouse, joystick
Very high-resolution graphics
Intended for a single user
Internet connection is common
License or special equipment not needed for game development
No standard configuration
The biggest disadvantage to developing games for a personal computer is the lack of a standard configuration. Hardware and software can vary from one machine to the next.
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

67. Types of Game Machines (Cont.)
Handheld game machines
Very popular and inexpensive
Fewer control mechanisms
Small LCD screen
Less storage space than a PC or console
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

68. Types of Game Machines (Cont.)
Mobile phones and wireless devices
Little memory or processing power
No standard specifications
Can provide portable networked play
License not required for game development
(Apple’s iPhone is an exception)
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

69. Types of Game Machines (Cont.)
Other devices
Personal digital assistants
Video gambling machines
Arcade machines
These devices are niche markets with fewer opportunities for game developers, but they DO provide interactive entertainment .
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

70. Summary You should now understand The elements of a game
The interaction of challenges and actions
The role of the computer in video games
The various ways that games entertain
Player-centric approach to game design
Structure of a game
Stages of game design and the required documentation
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

71. Summary (Cont.) You should now understand
Roles and qualities of the design team members
Defining a game concept
Creating a high concept document
Defining the player’s role
Identifying game genres
Choosing the target audience
Selecting the game machine
Lecture #1 Games and Video Games

72. Genres of Computer Games
Next Lecture
Genres of Computer Games
Part 1

73. References
Ernest Adams, Fundamentals of Game Design, 2nd Edition, New Riders, 2016