Game Design Video games have images and sounds just like movies but video games are different because they are also interactive They require input from players who use a controller to tell the game what to do next Video games are entertaining because they challenge players by giving them fun abilities to master like jumping and shooting and goals that test whether the player has mastered them Many video games also tell a story that adds meaning to the goals like jumping to rescue a princess or shooting to defend Earth from alien invaders Game design is the process of creating those challenges and stories Video games are designed to require focus and skill 6
Game designers create mechanics systems of abilities rules goals and feedback that define how the player interacts with the game After thinking of fun mechanics the designer writes a story that fits the challenges of the game and the order in which the player will complete them Because video games are both stories and challenges a game designer can begin their work with an idea for either the mechanics or the story STEAM Fast Fact Nintendo’s 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong is considered to be the first game to feature jumping over objects as a mechanic It was also one of the first games to have a story shown on the screen instead of in an instruction manual 7
STEAM Spotlight Pong was designed by Nolan Bushnell and released in 1972 It was not the first video game ever made but it was one of the first arcade games It was simple based on the rules of tennis and the instructions printed on the arcade cabinet were just as simple 1 DEPOSIT QUARTER 2 BALL WILL SERVE AUTOMATICALLY 3 AVOID MISSING BALL FOR HIGH SCORE Since most people had never played a video game before it was important to design a game that was easy to explain Think of your favorite video game Can you describe the goal of that game in fewer words than the instructions for Pong Well-designed games usually have rules and goals that the player can easily see and understand 8
A designer must understand the other jobs in the development process to be able to explain their ideas and to work within a specific budget to finish the game on time Designers also work with game testers to help them understand what the game is supposed to play like when it is finished Game designers must work well in teams and have at least some skill in all STEAM subjects particularly art technology and mathematics Game designers help the development team look at the big picture of what the game is supposed to be 9
