class: center, middle # Creación de Videojuegos ### Game Design Document --- class: center, middle # Achievements --- # Achievements * In addition to goals (as we discussed last time), games provide players with "achievements" * The distinction is sometimes a bit blurry * Often, though, games use achievements as "bonus"/optional goals --- # Achievements <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hFM4eIAou5M" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> --- # Achievements Which Achievements could we add to Super Mario? * Unavoidable * Optional * Inspiring --- class: center, middle # Game Design Document --- # Game Design Document (GDD) A living, changing document containing * Game Pitch ("hook") * Setting * Rules (interactions) * Goals --- # Game Design Document * GDDs have been described as "obsolete" * Prototyping has become easier * There is usually still *some* documentation about a game before it is actually implemented * GDDs differ from company to company --- # Game Pitch * The most important part of the GDD * You want the reader to become interested ("hooked") * One approach: Relate to an existing game and provide a twist * Another approach: Mention a unique idea/setting/mechanic * In practice, also: Argue using proven concepts --- # What's the pitch? <img src="/CI-2700/assets/img/tetris.gif" height="400px"/> (Tetris) --- # What's the pitch? <img src="/CI-2700/assets/img/minecraft.jpg" width="90%"/> (Minecraft) --- # What's the pitch? <img src="/CI-2700/assets/img/portal2.jpg" width="90%"/> (Portal 2) --- # What's the pitch? <img src="/CI-2700/assets/img/mariokart.gif" width="90%"/> (Mario Kart) --- # What's the pitch? <img src="/CI-2700/assets/img/guitar-hero.jpg" width="90%"/> (Guitar Hero) --- # Ideation * What do you want players to feel/experience? * What mechanics do you want to incorporate? * What do you see in the world around you? * Which games are already fun? * Which technology is available? * Which art assets, world, IP do you have? * Who do you want to play your game? * Random page on wikipedia, tvtropes, a dictionary, ... --- # Setting * Characters * World * Story * Not applicable to all games (Tetris?) --- # Characters * Personality * Goals * Relationships, conflicts * Who is the player? --- # World * Time/technological level * Location, real or fictional * Relevant factions/groups * Where is the player? --- # Story * Characters want to achieve their goals * Conflicting goals result in obstacles * What does the player need to do? * How does the player progress through the story? * Non-linear stories, sandbox games --- # Story-telling time! * Characters * World * Story --- class: middle, center # Story-telling time ## Game? --- # Rules/mechanics * Objects, attributes, and relationships * Describes gameplay formally and provides basis for implementation * What does the player do in the game/how is it challenging? * Informal description is helpful * Compare to design in software engineering --- # Goals * What is the player supposed to achieve? * Is there a win/loss condition, quests, etc. * Why should someone play the game? * Not always a clear answer --- # Aesthetics * What should the game look/feel like * Art assets (<a href="https://opengameart.org/">opengameart.org</a>, Unity asset store) * UI Style * Sound? * Can provide concept art, prototype screenshots, etc. --- # For the project * Team name, game name * Rules and goals for the game * Setting/story, if applicable * Team members and relevant skills --- # For the project * Team name, game name * <b>Rules and goals for the game</b> * Setting/story, if applicable * Team members and relevant skills --- # For the project * I want you to think about your game in a formal way * List the objects, attributes, and relationships explicitly * You should also provide a textual description of the rules and goals * If you have any prototype screenshots or diagrams, feel free to include them, but they are not required --- class: small # For the project * Choose an appropriate level of abstraction * Be **consistent** * There should be a description of: - What the player can do - How the game reacts - What the goal is --- # For example: Hoverrace * [Hoverrace](/CI-2700/assets/unity/winbuild.zip) is a small game I made as a demo for the course * It is a racing game set on a lake, with high speed hovercrafts that can slide around corners * Makes heavy use of the Unity physics engine * We'll recreate most of it during one of the Unity classes --- class: middle, center # Example GDD ## <a href="/CI-2700/assets/pdf/GDD.pdf">Hoverrace GDD</a> --- # Objects and Attributes * You can also put the objects and attributes into a table, or tables * Or draw a (sort of) class diagram * Consistency is key --- class: small # From the design document to a game * Like in software engineering, the design document tells you how to start implementing * Objects fall into three categories: - Objects with behavior (code) - Passive scene objects - Abstract objects (buttons) * In Unity: Create a scene, and populate with objects * Add behavior/code step by step --- class: small # Hoverrace scene .left-column[ <img src="/CI-2700/assets/img/scene.png" width="100%"/> ] .right-column[ * Player * AI Opponent * Checkpoints * Terrain, water * UI * etc ] --- # Further notes on game design * Try to play games with an open eye * Explicitly identify objects, attributes and relationships * Think about *why* objects relate in a certain way * What could you change about the game to keep it the same/similar, what would change it * Exploit behavior, find unintended functionality --- # Every Frame a Painting * Don't assume that any detail is added randomly * Game designers have very particular experiences in mind * Compare to films: Very subtle effects are used intentionally by the directors * Warning: This may change your experience of games (or movies) --- # Every Frame a Painting <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5UE3jz_O_EM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> --- class: center, middle # GDC --- # GDC * GDC, the Game Developers Conference, is happening right now (March 18-22) * It is one of the largest tech conference for the games industry * Some talks from previous years are available through the [GDC Vault](https://www.gdcvault.com/) * This year, several Costa Rican games companies (as well as UCreativa) sent people there ([News article](https://amprensa.com/2019/03/ticos-buscan-nuevos-negocios-en-el-eventos-mas-importantes-de-desarrolladores-de-video-juegos/)) --- # Game Development in Costa Rica * There are several game development companies in Costa Rica * The games industry is the fastest growing sector of the tech industry here * [International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Costa Rica](https://www.facebook.com/groups/igdacr/) * [Asociacion de desarolladores de videojuegos (ASODEV) de Costa Rica](https://www.facebook.com/Asodev-Costa-Rica-154167465255847/) --- # Resources * <a href="https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131791/the_anatomy_of_a_design_document_.php">The Anatomy of a Design Document</a> * <a href="https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/LeandroGonzalez/20160726/277928/How_to_Write_a_Game_Design_Document.php">How to write a Game Design Document</a> * <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Tropes">TVTropes</a> * <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UE3jz_O_EM">Every Frame a Painting: Shot/Reverse Shot</a>