Lecture 1 of 4 in the Game Design Class, Fall 2012 - Structure of Games: introduction to formal, dramatic, spatial elements, and a definition of games.

1. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
LD1. STRUCTURE OF GAMES
Andrea Resmini
Game Design
HT12 / HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS, NOV 9 2012
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

2. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
COURSE STRUCTURE
Lectures (LD1 - LD4)
Workshops (LD1 - LD4)
Report & presentation (LD5)
BG and VG workshops (W1 - W2)
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

3. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
LECTURES: DESIGN
LD1 – Structure of games
LD2 – Game space
LD3 – Formal elements of games
LD4 – Dramatic elements and player
embodiment
LD5 – Project discussion and wrap-up
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

4. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
GROUP WORK: DESIGN
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Prince of Persia, Sands of Time

5. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
GROUP WORK: DESIGN
the group project will take us
through PoP – Sands of Time
and will lead to the design and
implementation of a “sequel” in
the form of a platformer/scroller
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS We will tackle and discuss group work during the workshops

6. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
TODAY'S CLASS
What is a game
Game elements
Break
Workshop
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Based on Fullerton, T. (2008). Game Design Workshop. Morgan Kauffman

7. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
PLAY AND GAMES
play and games are related
but not the same thing.
Play can be many different,
sometimes serious things
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

8. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
GAME, YOU CAN WIN
PUZZLE, PROVIDES GOAL
TOY, PROVIDES NO GOAL
STORY, PROVIDES NO INTERACTION
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Fullerton, T. (2008). Game Design Workshop. Morgan Kauffman

9. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
MECHANICS, NARRATIVE, SPACE
we will look at games from
the points of view of game
mechanics, game narrative,
and game space
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

10. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
WHAT IS A GAME?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

11. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
WHAT IS A GAME?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

12. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
WHAT IS A GAME?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

13. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
WHAT IS A GAME?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

14. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
WHAT IS A GAME?
are these just different or
can it be said they share
common characteristics?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

15. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#1
they all require players
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

16. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#2
they all set out objectives
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

17. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#3
they all lay out procedures
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

18. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#4
they all state rules
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

19. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#5
they all provide resources
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

20. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#6
they all thrive on conflict
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

21. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#7
they all enforce boundaries
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

22. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#8
they all resolve to an outcome
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

23. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
FORMAL ELEMENTS
these are (some of) the
formal elements that
qualify a game as a game
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

24. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
ELEMENTS AND MEANING
how do these qualities
acquire meaning for the
players?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

25. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
THE WALKING DEAD
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

26. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
GAMES ARE EXPERIENCED
how does a game connect
emotionally to its players?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

27. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#1
it allows play
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

28. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#2
it challenges players
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

29. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#3
it provides a premise
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

30. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

31. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#4
it works through characters
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

32. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#5
it weaves a story
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

33. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
DRAMATIC ELEMENTS
these are (some of the)
dramatic elements that
contextualize formal
elements within a game
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

34. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
FORMAL AND DRAMATIC ELEMENTS
we will explore both formal
and dramatic elements in
detail in L3
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

35. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
SPATIAL ELEMENTS
formal and dramatic
elements both contribute
to create and work inside
game space, which we will
discuss in depth in L2
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

36. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS
a game is a dynamic system
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

37. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
WHAT IS A GAME?
a game is a dynamic system
structured by formal
elements which engages
through dramatic elements
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

38. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
ANYTHING ELSE?
a game is a dynamic system
structured by formal
elements which engages
through dramatic elements
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

39. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
BUT WHAT ABOUT BOUNDARIES?
Humans vs Zombies at Indiana University
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Pope Guilty, http://www.flickr.com/photos/popeguilty/2696780797/

40. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
BUT WHAT ABOUT BOUNDARIES?
a game's boundaries are
both physical, spatial, and
conceptual, obeying a set of
rules and procedures
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

41. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
GAME BOUNDARIES
a game's boundaries are
both physical, spatial, and
conceptual, obeying a set of
rules and procedures
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

42. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
SPATIAL BOUNDARIES
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Nandadevieast, http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnihot/4937763060/

43. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
PROCEDURAL BOUNDARIES
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

44. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
EMOTIONAL BOUNDARIES
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Tanzen80, http://www.flickr.com/photos/tanzen80/6140025125/

45. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
EMOTIONAL BOUNDARIES
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS chloester, http://www.flickr.com/photos/etherealdawn/4599010666/

46. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
BOUNDARIES
are real life and a game
one and the same?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

47. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
BOUNDARIES
ever slaughtered any of
your best friends in Halo
or in Call of Duty?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

48. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#1
a game is an invitation
to play and to enter the
magic circle
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

49. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#1
a game is a closed system
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

50. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
PLAYERS
and could there be a
game without players?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

51. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#2
a game engages players
in a conflict structured by
formal, dramatic, and
spatial elements
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

52. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
WINNERS
and could you have a
game without a winner?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

53. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#3
a game resolves its
uncertainties in unequal
outcomes
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

54. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
#1 + #2 + #3
a game is a formal, closed
system that engages players
in structured conflict and
resolves its uncertainties in
an unequal outcome
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

55. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
BREAK
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Back in 15, right? Thanks.

56. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
WORKSHOP
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Let's get going

57. GAME DESIGN :: LD1 – STRUCTURE OF GAMES
THAT'S ALL FOLKS
coming up next time is
LD2. Game space
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS