Game Theory
What is a Video Game but a set of problems to solve....
Rules
A general list of the rules of Tic-Tac-Toe. For example:
1. play takes places on a 3x3 grid 2. two players alternate turns placing an X or an O in an empty square 3. three of the same symbols in a row wins 4. if no one can play, the game ends in a draw Brainstorm what how you might modify in order to change the game: the grid size and shape, the number of players, the winning conditions, the things you can do on a turn.... Try to redesign the game in order to increase the space of possibility of the game – to make it more interesting to play than the “solved problem” of classic Tic-Tac-Toe. change as little as possible – one, two, or three rules at the most. Follow the iterative process of making small changes, playing your modified version, analyzing how those changes affected the game, and then redesigning again. 1. In a Google Doc - write your description and rules for your version of Tic Tac Toe 2. In a Google Drawing - Create an Illustration of your game board |
GameStar Mechanic
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1. Create a new Google Site Name it Game Design
1. Create a new Google Site Name it Game Design
ONE - Introducing the 5 Elements of Game Design
If you've been ignoring the introductory comics up to this point, make sure you read them on the next 2 episodes. You will use the information! This is a test.
. Play through Episodes 3 and 4 of Gamestar Mechanic's introductory quest, "Addison joins the league".
Intro Paragraph
1. “What did you do in the game?” (mechanics: jumping, collecting)
2. “How do you win the game?” (goal)
3. “What are the rules of the game?”
4. “Describe the game space.” (open, narrow pathways, maze-like)
5. “What do you use to play the game?” (components: enemies, points, blocks)
If you've been ignoring the introductory comics up to this point, make sure you read them on the next 2 episodes. You will use the information! This is a test.
. Play through Episodes 3 and 4 of Gamestar Mechanic's introductory quest, "Addison joins the league".
Intro Paragraph
- I'm playing Gamestar Mechanic to learn Game Design.
- I just completed Episode 1 of the introductory quest, Addison Joins the League.
- Today I'll review Choose a Game in terms of the 5 elements of game design.
1. “What did you do in the game?” (mechanics: jumping, collecting)
2. “How do you win the game?” (goal)
3. “What are the rules of the game?”
4. “Describe the game space.” (open, narrow pathways, maze-like)
5. “What do you use to play the game?” (components: enemies, points, blocks)
Template Games
At the bottom of the Workshop screen you will find Template Games.
· Play the Change the Element game.
· Click “Get a Copy” under the “Change the Element” template game. This will open up the “Change the Element” template game in the students’ game editor.
· Make changes in terms of each of the five elements in order to mod the game. For example, you may alter the goal of the game by adding or taking away points. You may alter the components of the game by changing the avatar or the enemies. You may alter the space of the game by changing a top-down game into a platformer. Try to alter only one element at a time.
· Get someone from class to come over and play it.
Blog Post 2: Write a brief Blog post about your experience
· Play the Change the Element game.
· Click “Get a Copy” under the “Change the Element” template game. This will open up the “Change the Element” template game in the students’ game editor.
· Make changes in terms of each of the five elements in order to mod the game. For example, you may alter the goal of the game by adding or taking away points. You may alter the components of the game by changing the avatar or the enemies. You may alter the space of the game by changing a top-down game into a platformer. Try to alter only one element at a time.
· Get someone from class to come over and play it.
Blog Post 2: Write a brief Blog post about your experience
Introducing Balance (or Flow)
Boredom and Frustration tend to occur when Challenge and Skill are greatly out of balance for a considerable period of time.
1. Watch the Introduction to Episode 5. Read the comics about balancing.
2. Play through Episode 5. The last mission in Episode is a build mission. Here you have the opportunity to make a game for the first time. Think about the concept of a balanced game as you create a game from scratch and name it Balance
1. Post your game to Edmodo. Create an account using your Google Sign in - here is the Class Code: ndpiik
1. Watch the Introduction to Episode 5. Read the comics about balancing.
2. Play through Episode 5. The last mission in Episode is a build mission. Here you have the opportunity to make a game for the first time. Think about the concept of a balanced game as you create a game from scratch and name it Balance
1. Post your game to Edmodo. Create an account using your Google Sign in - here is the Class Code: ndpiik
Introducing Iteration & Feedback
EDMODO PARTICIPATION - This will continue throughout the course
Name a new game Feedback 1. Play each other’s games once they are created and give feedback. Answer these questions in your Edmodo reply: o Is the game balanced? o Is it fun? o If it is not balanced, tell which of the 5 elements could be changed to balance the game. 2. In a blog post discuss what was the most difficult part about making your game - how helpful was it to get feedback from other students? |
Respond to each of these in a separate blog entry (Use your headphones)
Ok - so what do you think of this guy? Do you agree with him? If so do you suppose you agree with him because he justifies the fact that you play games a lot?
Excellent student example answer:
I think this guy might have a point i mean i don't personally play video games all that much, but i know a few people that do and from what i see them do they have a great deal of knowledge. It looks to me that video games are not a waste of peoples time. I think you can learn a lot from them. It's basically a new and improved way to learn many things and solve problems that we face. Video games in general are used for many things in the present day. It's actually pretty impressive. Since the world revolves around technology its becoming a lot more popular it seems to use many different ways to learn and things like that. i think this guy may speak for many gamers. It all just kind of depends on the kind of person you are i guess, or the activities you like to do....
Excellent student example answer:
I think this guy might have a point i mean i don't personally play video games all that much, but i know a few people that do and from what i see them do they have a great deal of knowledge. It looks to me that video games are not a waste of peoples time. I think you can learn a lot from them. It's basically a new and improved way to learn many things and solve problems that we face. Video games in general are used for many things in the present day. It's actually pretty impressive. Since the world revolves around technology its becoming a lot more popular it seems to use many different ways to learn and things like that. i think this guy may speak for many gamers. It all just kind of depends on the kind of person you are i guess, or the activities you like to do....
The answers are:
A. Super Mario Bros.
B. Portal
C. Flower
D. Every fantasy RPG ever made :)
Core mechanics are the center of the play experience and represent the fundamental action through which the play interacts with the game. In fact, Nintendo’s Miyamoto Shigeru is famous for designing all his games around verbs, which are good at describing this interaction.
1. Choose a verb from this list and create a game based around this verb:
o Avoid
o Jump
o Shoot
o Explore
o Achieve
o Acquire
o Run
o Search
o Solve
2. Now develop a game in which balance (flow) is developed by increasing challenge each level as players master your core mechanic.
3. Post your game to Edmodo and request feedback.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Now, it's time to return to our Apprentice Badge Requirements.
1 . Return to the Game Design Apprentice Badge
2. Complete Requirement 4 "Give Useful Feedback on a Game"
3. Playtest at least 2 classmate’s games that have been posted on Edmodo.
4. Give feedback in the form of a reply “be positive in your language” or “give a specific example of an aspect of the game you liked, or that frustrated you.” For example:
“I thought you did a good job with/of Fill in the blank.”
“One area I thought could be improved was Fill in the blank.”
“The core mechanic was Fill in the blank. It made it fun to Fill in the blank.”
“The visual design was Fill in the blank and it made me think/feel Fill in the blank.”
Components: Expanding your bag of tricks...
1. Go to your Workshop in Gamestar Mechanic
2. Scroll down to Challenges and Contests. - Most of these will give you additional Sprites and backgrounds to work with.
o Note: some require you to play & make a game.
3. Complete a challenge or three..
Rising to the Challenge You have been challenged to develop a game.
Choose ONE
Choose ONE
1. go to the Workshop. Here you can start designing your game based on the challenge card.
2. Make sure the 5 elements of game design (rules, goals, space, components, & mechanics) support the core goal of the card.
3. Maintain Balance! Remember: Easy to Learn & Difficult to Master
o Make your levels build in complexity / intensity
o Maintain the same theme / central mechanic throughout, much like the games from various schools in the first episode.
2. Make sure the 5 elements of game design (rules, goals, space, components, & mechanics) support the core goal of the card.
3. Maintain Balance! Remember: Easy to Learn & Difficult to Master
o Make your levels build in complexity / intensity
o Maintain the same theme / central mechanic throughout, much like the games from various schools in the first episode.
Now, it's time to go back to our Apprentice Badge Requirements.
1. Return to the Game Design Apprentice Badge
2. Complete Requirement 5 "Make a Gift Game"
3. Get a copy of your submitted game and publish it. Don't forget to share to Edmodo.
4. If possible, get the person you made it for to play it and give you feedback.
5. Email me the link - title your email Gift Game
1. Return to the Game Design Apprentice Badge
2. Complete Requirement 5 "Make a Gift Game"
3. Get a copy of your submitted game and publish it. Don't forget to share to Edmodo.
4. If possible, get the person you made it for to play it and give you feedback.
5. Email me the link - title your email Gift Game
Epic Tale or Epic Fail: Challenge, opposition, & emotion in games.
Now, we are going to pull out the best of what we have in our workshop toolbox (sprites, backgrounds, soundtracks, etc) and the best story we can come up with to make an Epic Tale of Epic Awesomeness...
- At minimum, you will need:
- A unifying story (you can unfold this tale in your game and level intro and win messages... yes, I mean write it out - in words - in a Google Document).
- 4 levels
- Each level increases in challenge and complexity.
- Each level builds on the unifying theme of the story.
- Each level has finishing touches, like background & soundtrack.
- You may also want to include (hint hint... to increase epic awesomeness):
- A boss or two (Just beef up a sprite with the wrench tool)
- Text message blocks to help unfold the story (get these from the message box challenge)
- One or more levels that have an epic scope (aka: Multiple Screen Scrolling)
- Create a level with more than one route / strategy to win.
- Avoiding an Epic Fail:
- Maintain balance - Do not make your game nearly impossible to win. Alternately, do not make it so easy that it’s a joke. (Remember: easy to learn & difficult to master).
- Tell the story with the 5 Elements - Don’t lose your players by telling a story in cut screens (Level Intro & Win Messages) that has nothing to do with the game they’re actually playing. Try to fit your space, components, mechanics, goals, & rules to your story or your story to your space, components, mechanics, goals, & rules.
- Use Edmodo to share your game and ask for feedback from classmates.
Apprenticeship Requirements 6 & 7: More iteration & feedback fun.
Now, it's time to go back to our Apprentice Badge Requirements.
1. Return to the Game Design Apprentice Badge
2. Complete Requirement 6 "Playtest Your Game & Get Useful Feedback"
3. Complete Requirement "Iterate on your game"
Apply Requirements 6 & 7 · Go, play three different classmates’ games from the game design group on Edmodo (Everyone in there is your classmate, even if they’re from another class, grade level, or school).
· Give feedback in the form of a reply “be positive in your language” or “give a specific example of an aspect of the game you liked, or that frustrated you.” For example:
o “I thought you did a good job with/of _.”
o “One area I thought could be improved was _.”
o “The core mechanic was _. It made it fun to _.”
o “The visual design was _ and it made me think/feel __.”
Look for any feedback you may have received recently in Game Alley or Edmodo. Apply that to your next game.
Check your progress Apprentice (n.) - someone who is starting on a pathway of learning a skill
This is your chance to prove what you've learned, and that you are ready to be an apprentice game designer!
· By now you should have earned your Game Design Apprentice Badge
· Post it to Edmodo.
· Post it to your web site.
Brag... you are a beast...You've completed GameStar Mechanic!
1. Return to the Game Design Apprentice Badge
2. Complete Requirement 6 "Playtest Your Game & Get Useful Feedback"
3. Complete Requirement "Iterate on your game"
Apply Requirements 6 & 7 · Go, play three different classmates’ games from the game design group on Edmodo (Everyone in there is your classmate, even if they’re from another class, grade level, or school).
· Give feedback in the form of a reply “be positive in your language” or “give a specific example of an aspect of the game you liked, or that frustrated you.” For example:
o “I thought you did a good job with/of _.”
o “One area I thought could be improved was _.”
o “The core mechanic was _. It made it fun to _.”
o “The visual design was _ and it made me think/feel __.”
Look for any feedback you may have received recently in Game Alley or Edmodo. Apply that to your next game.
Check your progress Apprentice (n.) - someone who is starting on a pathway of learning a skill
This is your chance to prove what you've learned, and that you are ready to be an apprentice game designer!
· By now you should have earned your Game Design Apprentice Badge
· Post it to Edmodo.
· Post it to your web site.
Brag... you are a beast...You've completed GameStar Mechanic!