sutd game lab's prototyping tips
TRANSCRIPT
We are Phaedra, Wong Yi & Jun Xuan, Game Developers
We make award-winning, innovative games
We conduct training through our Game Innovation Programme and
workshops
About Us
What’s in a Game?
Goals
What do I do to win?
Rules
What CAN I do? What CAN’T I do?
Interaction
How do I play? (Controls, Interaction with players and game itself)
Challenge
What makes this tough / fun?(Other players? Elements within the game?)
Jump!
Smash!
(Don’t
Die!)
Mechanic (Rules + Interaction)
VERB NOUN+ = Game Idea!
Run
Climb
Navigate
Build
Trade
Scheme
Fall
Fish
Chair
Chess
Bun
City
The Magic Word Bag
VERB NOUN
Game Ideas!
???
???
???
???
???
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The Magic Word Bag
- Mockup of your intended
experience.
- Find out: “Is it fun?”
- NEED NOT BE full game!
What is a Paper Prototype?
- Tests theories early
- Unifies vision
- Saves time and money
Why Paper Prototype?
wow.
So fast, much testing
Start Making!
- Craft the rules!
- The moment you have
something playable, PLAY IT
- What works?
- Goals
- Rules
- Interaction
- Challenge
- Let’s play each
other’s games!
- Get feedback
- Any questions?
Playtesting
- Never too early
- Feedback is never “wrong”
- Observe without influencing
- Contextualise
- Evaluation tool:
JamToday Game Scope(available on Google Play & App Store)
Evaluate The Potential of Your Prototype
Digital Prototyping Tips
Can’t wait to start coding!
But wait!
How do we know
if a mechanic
works?
How do we test it?
What can we use
to iterate quickly?
What can we use?
Anything you’re most comfortable with, that serves the purpose
Examples:
Storyboarding or Wireframing software
Game creation software (with good flexibility
vs learning curve)
Microsoft Excel
GameSalad
For Windows/Mac
Makes HTML5 & mobile games
Low learning curve
Drag and drop interface
Specify logic via UI (no syntax to
learn)
Ready-made tutorials available
Makes asynchronous multiplayer games
Construct 2
For Windows
Makes HTML5 games
Low learning curve
Drag and drop interface
Specify logic via UI (no syntax to
learn)
Can make real-time multiplayer games
Possible to collaborate on a project (tutorial with SVN available)
GameLooper
For Windows/Mac
Mobile Games
Low learning curve
Drag and drop interface
Specify logic via UI (no syntax to
learn)
Gamified tutorial
Play the games directly on your mobile through Dropbox
Game Maker Studio
For Windows
Multiplatform, but free version
publishes only to Windows
Medium learning curve
Specify logic via UI, or learn to script directly
Can make real-time multiplayer games
Possible to collaborate on a project (SVN, Git, Mercurial recommended)
What about art and audio?
Super place for resources:http://www.pixelprospector.com/Need inspiration?http://orteil.dashnet.org/gamegenhttp://gamemechanicexplorer.com/More info on rapid game prototypinghttp://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/HermanTulleken/20140119/208901/Ra
pid_Game_Prototyping_Tips_for_Programmers.php
Tips when rapid prototyping
Note your assumptions, then test them
Speed is of the essence
Don’t reinvent the wheel
Don’t be attached to either mechanic or code
Stand on the shoulders of giants… by Googling