Æliens

schedule(s) -- common(s) / register! / request for grading

participant(s) / lab(s) / assignment(s) / CA3

1. introduction -- topic(s) & challenge(s)
2. exploration(s) -- platform & production requirements
3. planning -- concept & application development
4. concept(s) -- mechanics, story, aesthetics, technology
5. consideration(s) -- infrastructure & realization
6. background(s) -- basic media and communication theory
7. context(s) -- creative application(s)
8. production(s) -- delivery and presentation of final application(s)

(*) no lecture at 1/3 and 28/6 (exam math), otherwise (in principle) every monday

co-instructor(s):

• Dhaval Vyas (...) -- wwwhome.cs.utwente.nl/~vyasdm
• artist(s) in residence -- tentative
  • Victor Onstein -- color(s)

basic exercise(s) / CA3

• mini game(s) -- in unity

final application(s) / CA3

• interactive space(s) -- critical game(s) & installation(s) / CTSG

www.writingstudio.eu / tip(s) / how to write an essay? / CA3

• interactive space(s) -- design, development, technology
• game design -- aspirations & responsibilities
• innovation(s) -- societal problems & (technological) solution(s)

deliverable(s) -- have fun and play!

document(s) / scenario(s) / format(s)

1. concept(s) -- (short) synopsis, with (optional) sketches
2. requirement(s) -- with shareholders, planning, MOSCOW
3. story board -- storyline(s), non-linear storygraph, assets
4. prototype(s) -- partial version(s) of interactive application(s)
5. final application -- full interactive application
6. accompanying website -- with application and support
7. promotional clip -- one/two minute trailer
8. justification -- explanation of design decisions, reflection(s)
9. package -- all the material with documentation

session(s): have fun and play!

CA3: 1

• prepare -- lab(s) / game(s)
• introducing -- abbreviation(s)
  • project -- cooperative artefact memory
• challenge(s) -- CTSG
  • interactive space(s) -- story & task(s)
• disclaimer(s) -- have fun and play = work for you!

lens 02 <> surprise

_ .. []: << >> / _ / .

... remind yourself to fill your game with interesting surprises:

• what will surprise players when they play my game?
• does the story in my game have surprises?
• do your rules give players ways to surprise eachother?
• do your rules give players ways to surprise themselves?

Surprise is a crucial part of entertainment -- it is at the root of humor, strategy and problem solving. Our brains are hardwired to enjoy surprises.

play / social(s) / machine(s) / method(s) / cycle(s)

lens 03 <> fun

_ .. []: << >> / _ / .

... fun is desirable in almost every game, although sometimes fun defies analysis.

To maximize fun ask yourself the these questions:

• what parts of my game are fun?
• why?
• what parts need more fun?

play / social(s) / machine(s) / method(s) / cycle(s)

lens 04 <> curiosity

_ .. []: << >> / _ / .

... think about the player's true motivations -- not just the goals (y)our game has set forth, but the reasons the player wants to achieve those goals:

• what goals does my game put into the player's mind?
• what am I doing to make them care about these questions?
• what can I do to make them invent even more questions?

For example, a maze-finding videogame might have a time-limit goal at each level. A way to make players care more is to play interesting animations when they solve each maze ...

play / social(s) / machine(s) / method(s) / cycle(s)

lens 06 <> problem solving

_ .. []: << >> / _ / .

..., think about the problems (y)our player must solve to succeed at (y)our game, for every game has problems to solve:

• what problems does my game ask the player to solve?
• are there hidden problems to solve that arise as part of gameplay?
• how can my game generate new problems so that players keep coming back?

play / social(s) / machine(s) / method(s) / cycle(s)

lens 07 <> mechanics / story / aesthetics / technology

_ .. []: << >> / _ / .

... take stock of what element(s) (y)our game is truly made of:

• is my game design using elements of all types?
• could my design be improved by enhancing any element?
• are the elements in harmony, reinforcing eachother and working together towards a common theme?

Together, the elements are also referred to as the elemental tetrad.

play / social(s) / machine(s) / method(s) / cycle(s)