Game Design for Beginners

GAMEDESIGN

FOR bEGINNERS summaRY :

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What is game design ?

Game design is the process of creating the content and rules of a game. Good game design is the process of creating goals that a player feels motivated to reach and rules that a player must follow as he makes making meaningful decisions in pursuit of those goals.

A GOOD game design ?

Good game design is player-centric. That means that above all else, the player and her desires are truly considered. Rather than demanding that she do something via the rules, the gameplay itself should inherently motivate the player in the direction the designer wants her to go. Telling players they must travel around the board or advance to the next level is one thing. If they don’t have a reason and a desire to do it, then it becomes torture. In creating a game, designers take a step back and think from the player’s viewpoint: . What’s this game about? . How do I play? . How do I win? . Why do I want to play? . What things do I need to do?

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The core of a game ?

Define the Core, Focus, and Give it Power

Core is the objective, the intent behind the design; it’s the “North” that we’ll continue to look to throughout the design. The Core is the central piece in our game. It’s what we want to deliver. It’s the message. The Core could be a word, a feeling, an emotion, a mechanic, a character. It could also be a business objective, a platform (for example, making use of Switch’s capabilities).

Focusing is an exercise and a mindset, filtering out elements that are not aligned with our Core. It’s asking ourselves, again and again, whenever something is about to be implemented: does this feature point towards the Core of our game? Even if most of this seems obvious, what’s not is that the whole package of features and elements must have a clear intent that’s aimed towards the Core. I named it Focus precisely because it involves placing the Core in the center of the scene. Everything in our game should highlight the Core, front and center. Achieving that is Focusing. What can point towards the Core? Anything. Any and every tiny piece of a game is a chance for communication.

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game STYLE

Abstract Game [Game Style] Abstract games are strategy games that are usually without theme. Classic examples of abstract games include Chess, Backgammon, and Go. Modern examples include games like Santorini and Azul. Eurogame(s) [Game Style] A style of strategy card and board games that are generally characterized by minimal luck, a lack of player elimination, and indirect conflict. Eurogames are sometimes alternatively refereed to as "Designer Board Games" or "German-Style Board Games".

18xx [Game Style] 18xx games is a genre of complex board games concerning 19th century railroad companies . The goal of the games is to earn as much money as possible, despite railroad companies having their own, separate wealth. Guessing Games [Game Style] A guessing game has as its core a piece of information that one player knows, and the object is to coerce others into guessing that piece of information without actually divulging it in text or spoken word. Pictionary, and similar.

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BOARD GAME

A Board Game is a game that involves the movement of counters or other objects round a board. Board games have been played, traveled, and evolved in most cultures and societies throughout history. A number of important historical sites, artifacts and documents shed light on early board games such as Jiroft civilization gameboards in Iran. Senet, found in Predynastic and First Dynasty burials of Egypt, c. 3500 BC and 3100 BC respectively,is the oldest board game known to have existed. Senet was pictured in a fresco found in Merknera's tomb (3300–2700 BC). Also from predynastic Egypt is Mehen. Many board games are now available as video games, which can include the computer playing as one or more opponents. Many board games can now be played online against a computer and/or other players.

Patolli game being watched by Macuilxochitl as depicted on page 048 of the Codex Magliabechiano

Tomb models of two men playing a game of liubo, Han dynasty

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the elements of a game :

There are many ways to break down and classify the many elements that form a game. Let’s look briefly at each of the four and how they relate to the others:

1. Mechanics: These are the procedures and rules of your game. Mechanics describe the goal of your game, how players can and cannot try to achieve it, and what happens when they try.

2. Story: This is the sequence of events that unfolds in your game. It may be linear and prescripted, or it may be branching and emergent.

3. Aesthetics: This is how your game looks, sounds, smells, tastes, and feels. Aesthetics are an incredibly important aspect of game design since they have the most direct relationship to a player’s experience.

4. Technology: We are not exclusively referring to “high technology” here, but to any materials and interactions that make your game possible such as paper and pencil, plastic chits, or high-powered lasers.

The 4 Elements of a Game

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Resources :

. Brenda brathwaite & Ian Schreiber - CHALLENGES FOR GAME DESIGNERS - 2009 . Available at : https://pdfroom.com/books/challenges-for-game-designers/kLg8p9M3gZB

. Jesse Schell - THE ART OF GAME DESIGN - Second Edition . Available at : https://learnengineering.in/pdf-the-art-of-game-design-a-book-of-lenses-second-edition-by-jesse-schell-free-download/ .

Steve Swink - GAME FEEL - 2009 . Availabale at : https://pdfroom.com/books/game-feel-a-game-designers-guide-to-virtual-sensation/JZOgZLN65kb

webographic :

- https://stayrelevant.globant.com/en/game-design-method/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_design - https://nerdsonearth.com/2018/03/7-types-board-games/ -https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/board-game/how-to/board-game-types-explained - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_game - https://www.idtech.com/blog/different-types-of-video-game-genres