Task 3
20/04
Creating games is no easy task for anyone. Firstly, I need to think of rules that will be easy to apply and to be quickly understood by players. Otherwise game might be unplayable for too many people, greatly narrowing the audience.
Secondly, I need to think how to make this game FUN. It is simple - if game is not interesting nor entertaining, nobody will play. Because of that I will have to analyze other games and how they appear fun and attractive for player.
Thirdly, I will need to research other artists and developers in order to find out more about designing character, areas, scenes and how to make them come well together.
There is probably much more to research, however, for now I would like to focus on these three aspects of creating games and eventually research further.
Research
Research Log
30/03
Although, I am not going to create concept for a board game but a video game, I found this article very interesting and helpful. It explains how to write instructions for new players so they play the game without being confused.
The last part was the most helpful of all.
"Start with the most familiar aspect of the game, and build on any foreign concepts off of the familiar aspect.
If you find it difficult to explain your game, then it's going to be even more difficult to learn. If you have this problem, you should consider simplifying the game.
Make sure your instructions tell players how to start the game. How to play the game. And how to end the game. Players should know when the game is over and who won from your instructions."
It made me think a lot. There are some conclusion;
Game must start with a simple idea, before it gets more complicated to give players time to understand each new rule of the game.
If I cannot explain how my game works then game is too complicated.
Game must be intuitive, so everyone knows what to do from the start.
It must be clear how to proceed in the game and how to finish as well as when game is finished.
Game Instructions
Looking for some more material I have found a video created by Tomasz Drabik, who explains term Kishoutenketsu.
Basically, Kishoutenketsu is a technique used for creating games, orginated from poetry. It separates story into 4 parts.
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"Introduction (ki): introducing characters, era, and other important information for understanding the setting of the story.
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Development (shō): follows leads towards the twist in the story. Major changes do not occur.
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Twist (ten): the story turns toward an unexpected development. This is the crux of the story, the yama (ヤマ?) or climax. In case of several turns in the narrative, this is the biggest one.
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Conclusion (ketsu), also called ochi (落ち?) or ending, wraps up the story." - Wikipedia Page
The most fascinating thing about this technique is that it was used to create one of the most iconic and greatest levels in the gaming history - first level of the original Mario Bros. game. Just as Tomasz explains in his video, players are firstly introduced to the main character, Mario, whom they use to move and jump. In a moment they are being approached by the first enemy. Players either avoid or defeat this enemy, even though they was not told to.
In other words; this game is so easy to understand that developers did not need to give even a single line of instructions on how to play.
Game Rules
Game Rules
30/03
I found this video so inspiring that I have created an initial concept for rules in my game.
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KI
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Player can move and jump - cannot hit or kick. This way a player will have a way to travel around the level and avoid enemies.
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Player can move, grab and throw objects. This way a player will be able to get to new areas and defend themselves.
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SHOU
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Player can throw objects at enemies. This way a player will be able to defeat enemies.
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TEN
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Player can move, grab and throw enemies. This way a player will be able to use enemies to defeat enemies more efficiently (for example use exploding enemies to knock out tougher enemies).
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KETSU
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Player will use all moves available to finish the last boss. This way players will be able to use all their knowledge. This way all players will feel a great accomplishment.
For this task I have created a page devoted solely to my research on creating games and everything in that area. This task involved reading articles and interviews as well as watching tutorials. I did that in order to gather as much information as possible in order to create a professional-looking product of a high quality that will be able to reach and satisfy my client's needs.
When compared with other units, this unit's research seem different. It is so because I have decided to use more different sources and did it over a longer period of time. This difference might be even clearer after I finish this task with much more research.
I think that I have conducted my research well so far. I think so I have been able to find some interesting concept, such as Kishoutenketsu, I have never heard of. This research was successful because I have been able to pinpoint important information and reflect on it.
In order to pass finish this task successfully I will have to work outside college and conduct both primary and secondary research as it will leave more time in class to analyze results.
26/04
In order to have a better grasp on the project I have decided to ask actual players a few question. I have asked them what do they seek in games, what makes them interesting, what they like to play and how they learnt how to play. I found their answers quite fascinating.
What kind of games do you play?
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I like to play games like Overwatch or GMod (First Person Shooters).
Why do you like play those games?
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It is fun to shoot other players. It shows who reacts quicker and is more skilled. I like how I get better with every match.
How did you learn how to play?
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I knew how to play from my experiences. I used to play shooters on my console in the past. Friends gave me them and shown how to play them.
What kind of games do you play?
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I play League of Legends (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena).
Why do you like to play this game?
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I don't. It's quite frustrating but fun when played with friends.
How did you learn how to play?
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There was a tutorial at the beginning. It taught me basics.
Later I introduced this person to a similar game (Master X Master, which is a MOBA as well). However, this time there was no tutorial (I told him to skip it). That person found game very difficult.
What kind of games do you play?
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Games like Guitar Hero (Rythmic Game) and Sonic or Mario (Platformers). (This person did not tell me specific titles)
Why do you like to play those games?
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They are really fun. I like how simple they are how they are built.
What do you mean?
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In Guitar Hero tracks get more difficult later in the game. You get more lines and buttons. They also get in weird formations so it is hard to get all points. In Sonic all levels are quite crazy. The only thing you know is to run and avoid enemies. Later in game some platforms start to move and enemies are more dangerous. It is the same for Mario.
How did you learn how to play?
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First track in Guitar Hero was a tutorial, I think. There was no thing in Sonic, but it was more straightforward.
I have interviewed some more people but their responses were more or less like these above.
Interviewing
27/04
Additionally, I have also asked other students to complete a short survey for me. Questions were similar to ones from interviews.
Q1: What kind of games do you like to play? (Genre or title)
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3D Roaming/RPG (Dark Souls)
Q2: Why do you like this game?
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I like the difficulty of this game and how it gives me a challenge.
Q3: Is in this game anything you do not like?
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I don't like when people can come and raid your game and kill you.
Q4: Is there anything you would like to change about this game?
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I think they could go into more depth with the story.
Q5: How did you know how to play?
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I learned from the tutorial and my cousin.
Q1: What kind of games do you like to play? (Genre or title)
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RPG
Q2: Why do you like this game?
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Easy and fun to play
Q3: Is in this game anything you do not like?
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Hard to level up after a certain point
Q4: Is there anything you would like to change about this game?
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Make the game have Leveled areas with enemies the same level as you.
Q5: How did you know how to play?
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Tutorial at the start
Q1: What kind of games do you like to play? (Genre or title)
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Color
Q2: Why do you like this game?
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It is interesting as I want to get as far as I can with the ball
Q3: Is in this game anything you do not like?
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It is quite hard and pissing me off sometimes
Q4: Is there anything you would like to change about this game?
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giving chances so I won't lose just by making a little mistake :( I deserve a second chance
Q5: How did you know how to play?
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it was actually clear
I was unable to find that game; simply too many "Color" games to find this specific one.
Q1: What kind of games do you like to play? (Genre or title)
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FPS/MOBA/MMO/RPG
Q2: Why do you like this game?
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these games are really funny to play with friends
Q3: Is in this game anything you do not like?
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the developer take there time patching bugs
Q4: Is there anything you would like to change about this game?
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campers punished
Q5: How did you know how to play?
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years of playing
Q1: What kind of games do you like to play? (Genre or title)
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Tekken (fighting games)
Q2: Why do you like this game?
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It has a good variety of characters, each with a backstory some of which are linked with each other. The fighting is fun and complex but simple to learn. Also the characters look cool. Each fighter is different and have strengths and weaknesses in movesets, combos and abilities. Another thing is that you can dress up the characters and it's fun
Q3: Is in this game anything you do not like?
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Some combinations for moves are ridiculously hard and I don't have the time of day to get good enough to play against some people online.
Q4: Is there anything you would like to change about this game?
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The story mode, although I like the story, it isn't very different from playing a normal match against someone. Just like 10 fights and a boss.
Q5: How did you know how to play?
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I just started off button mashing and over time I learnt some combos, then I looked at the combo lists and tried to practice with a single character that I liked and eventually got better at using a variety of characters.
Q1: What kind of games do you like to play? (Genre or title)
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Rhythmic
Q2: Why do you like this game?
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I find this game easy to play, especially ones which involve using my tablet and pen.
Q3: Is in this game anything you do not like?
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Nope
Q4: Is there anything you would like to change about this game?
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No
Q5: How did you know how to play?
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There was a tutorial and I liked to watch people play the game on Twitch and Youtube
Q1: What kind of games do you like to play? (Genre or title)
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MMORPG,RPG,MOBA
Q2: Why do you like this game?
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There are multiple roles you can fill in an MMORPG plus you can play and compete against other online players
Q3: Is in this game anything you do not like?
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There seems to be alot of problems that come from online games such as people being salty as they do not like being killed for example.
Q4: Is there anything you would like to change about this game?
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Spam filters, repetitive content.
Q5: How did you know how to play?
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Tutorial
Q1: What kind of games do you like to play? (Genre or title)
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first-person shooter with role-playing -Bioshock,Farcry,Dead island
Q2: Why do you like this game?
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I find these games really interesting, and makes me forget about everything else.
Q3: Is in this game anything you do not like?
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No not really.
Q4: Is there anything you would like to change about this game?
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With dead island, i think they could make it so that you don't have weapons that break on you as it is a hard game, and hard to find weapons.
Q5: How did you know how to play?
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My dad use to have a ps2 so he would let me on it, and teach me how to do missions and use the weapons in the games.
Survey
27/04 and 03/05
This week I have decided to expand my research and cover primary research in addition to the secondary research I have conducted the other week. This way I was able to collect more useful information about games in general.
This task invovled creating a survey using SurveyMonkey and asking other students to give me their opinions. Also, this task involved asking different players about their experience with games.
I have chosen to interview people and create a survey instead of any other way of researching (like trying out games myself), as I have assumed that this way I will gather much more dependable data; gaming community is quite enormous nowadays, making it really diverse - people of all ages, genders and backgrounds play games. Knowing that, I have decided that I need to ask many people to get lots of reliable data.
I found results both helpful and fascinating. Firstly, it prove my thesis that the gaming community is very diverse. Secondly, it taught me what I should do for this project, more or less.
Now I know that people play games to forget about their problems, because they are entertaining or to be challenged. Knowing that I can make my concept so it will cover all those areas.
It also taught me a bit about playing alone or with other players. Looks like people enjoy games more with friends more than alone or with random people and enjoy playing with random people more than playing alone. So what if players in my game could choose who they want to play with? What if my game should require co-operation or be competetive? This week's research started altering my initial concept and I think that it is going into much better direction.
Another interesting thing from my research is how players learn how to play. It looks like they were either told how to do it or did it by themselves. It made me ask myself again: Should my game have a tutorial or not? Will players have more fun if they learn more things by themselves?
Games such as Borderlands 2 are to be played in the co-op mode in local or network multiplayer.
Games such as Call of Duty can be played in any way.
Games such as Quake are to played in the competetive multiplayer.
Chaning multiplayer in those games would change them entirely.
20/04
04/05
Games such as Minecraft do not have tutorials (except for the consoles, which have tutorial map). It results in players trying to find out how game works on their own.
Games such as League of Legends have tutorials. Thanks to the tutorial players are not confused by the deep gameplay.
04/05
Teacher suggested a few things that I would like to think about, whilst I am still researching. One of those things was to research demographics of the industry.
Because of that I have decided to use two sources; an online document published by Entertainment Software Association and posters in the classroom. Both sources talk about diversity in the industry, however, they have been published in different years and tackle information about United States and All sales respectively.
I have read both ESA's document and posters, and found result interesting. Both sources state that 2 out 5 gamers are female (41%). Games are being played in around 65% Households. Average age is 32 years (35 years in 2016) and around 50% players are aged between 18 and 49.