Game Design and Tuning Workshop

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Game Design and Tuning Workshop

• Party Game Elective

Marc MAHK LeBlanc GDC 2004
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What Youll be Doing

• Design
• Consider constraints
• Declare aesthetic goals
• Design a game (in groups)
• Test
• Play your game
• Analyze your game
• Tune
• Revise your game

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The MDA Framework
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MDA Terms

• Mechanics The rules and concepts that formally
  specify the game-as-system.
• Dynamics The run-time behavior of the
  game-as-system.
• Aesthetics The desirable emotional responses
  evoked by the game dynamics.

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Eight Kinds of "Fun"

• 1. Sensation
• Game as sense-pleasure
• 2. Fantasy
• Game as make-believe
• 3. Narrative
• Game as drama
• 4. Challenge
• Game as obstacle course

• 5. Fellowship
• Game as social framework
• 6. Discovery
• Game as uncharted territory
• 7. Expression
• Game as self-discovery
• 8. Submission
• Game as pastime

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Party Constraints

• What constraints are you operating under?

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Some Constraints

• Lots of party goers
• Standing room only
• Limited attention span
• Food in hand
• People arriving late
• Alcohol
• Limited resources
• Cocktail napkins, ballpoint pens

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Considerations

• Should the game involve everyone at the party or
  only those people interested in playing?
• What is the ideal complexity level for a party
  game?
• Structure When are rules explained? How long do
  people play? Can people play intermittently? When
  does the game end?
• Interface Materials? Access to rules? Scoring?

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Aesthetic Goals

• 1. Sensation
• Game as sense-pleasure
• 2. Fantasy
• Game as make-believe
• 3. Narrative
• Game as drama
• 4. Challenge
• Game as obstacle course

• 5. Fellowship
• Game as social framework
• 6. Discovery
• Game as uncharted territory
• 7. Expression
• Game as self-discovery
• 8. Submission
• Game as pastime