Online Multiplayer Game Development

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Online Multiplayer Game Development
Jeannie Novak Founder, Indiespace MACWORLD July
20, 2003 http//indiespace.com http//jeannie.com
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Goals

•  History of game development
• Features of multiplayer game development
• Roles responsibilities of game development
  team
• Genres
• Platforms systems
• Game theory
• Storytelling
• Character design
• Scene design
• Level design
• User interface design
• Community design
• Music sound design
• Future trends

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History

• PLATO Spacewar, Airfight, Talk-O-Matic, Avatar,
  Oubliette
• Dialup Electronic Arts (Modem Wars), Sierra
  Network Xerox PARC
• Text adventures Adventure, Zork
• 2D Macintosh Uninvited, Shadowgate
• Online Services CompuServe, Genie AOL
  (QuantumLink) Islands of Kesmai, Air Warrior,
  Habitat
• LAN Doom, Quake, Diablo
• Console Playstation, Game Boy, Gamecube, Xbox,
  Dreamcast              
• Game aggregators player-matching TEN/Pogo,
  Mplayer, Battle.net, GameSpy, MS Gaming Zone,
  Sony Station
• MMORPGs Everquest, Asherons Call, Dark Age of
  Camelot, Earth Beyond, World of Warcraft, The
  Sims Online
• Mobile gaming Nokias N-gage

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Game Development Team

• Producer
• responsible for entire project creative,
  technical and commercial
• accomplished through facilitation of other team
  members
• Designer
• responsible for creative control of project
  how it generates entertainment value
• game design is designers expression and plan of
  this vision
• Programmer
• responsible for technical aspects of project
  expressed in code design
• Artist
• responsible for managing large amount of art in
  most projects, and interpreting designers vision
  into specific graphic and audio expressions

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Genres

• Action
• Adventure
• Simulation
• Casual
• Toy
• Fighting
• Sports
• Educational
• Puzzle
• FPS Firs t-person shooter
• RPG Role-Playing Game
• RTS Real-Time Strategy (vs turn-based)
• MMORPG Massively Multiplayer Online Role
  Playing Game

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Platforms Systems

• Console (XBOX, PS2)
• Computer (LAN-based)
• Mobile
• Online (MMORPG)

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Features of MMORPGs

•  Mutual design
• Dynamic
• Persistent
• Social interaction
• Simulation
• Subscription-based

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MMORPG Game Theory

• Prosumerism (individual/active)
• Coopetition (social interaction)
• Simulation (problem-solving)
• Open system
• Dynamic
• Persistent
• Communication system
• Global
• Hyperlink
• Immersive
• Hunter-gatherer

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Storytelling

• Features of compelling storylines
• Game storytelling vs cinematic storytelling
• Story treatment plotting
• Narrative vs interactive storytelling
• Collaborative non-linear storytelling    

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Character Design
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Character Design
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Character Design
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Character Design
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Character Design
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Scene Design
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Scene Design
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Scene Design
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Game Storyboarding
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Level Design
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Level Design
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Level Design
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Level Design
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User Interface Design
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User Interface Design
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User Interface Design
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Music Sound Design

• Unique features of game audio
• Composition, production, implementation
• Music licensing work-for-hire
• Software options
• Roles music supervisor, composer, music editor,
  post-production supervisor

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Customization

• 1) Customization
• Dark Age of Camelot customizable character
• appearances trade skills through practice
• Ultima Online players create own shops
• and hire character vendors to sell their wares
• decorate virtual homes variation allows
• learners to construct meanings individually
• Neverwinter Nights players can build their
• own games using proprietary software tools
• World of Warcraft players can build their
• own games using proprietary software tools

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Social Interaction

• 2) Team-building
• The Sims Online success based on social
• interaction, avatars, chat, roommates better
• than living alone
• Everquest altruism, friendships, learning
• through interaction
• Earth Beyond when up to 6 players join
• forces temporarily, they all gain bonuses
• benefits greater to those who cooperate

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Simulation

• 3) Simulation
• Americas Army recruiting tool simulates
• Army career path 400,000 copies downloaded
• during first weekend
• Ultima Online functioning virtual ecology
• closed economic system limited resources
• Civilization III found a civilization, grow it,
• and dominate planet match wits against
• historical figures diplomacy, trade, culture,
• combat
• The Sims Online simulating real life

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Future Trends

• Millennial Generation
• collective
• Internet technology
• online communication

• Mobile Gaming
• types
• strengths limitations
• unique features
• Online Distance Learning
• active learning
• social interaction
• problem-solving