Game Design For Teens

by Pardew, Les; Pugh, Scott; Nunamaker, Eric; Iverson, Brent L.; Wolfley, Ross

• ISBN13: 9781592004966
• ISBN10: 1592004962
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-30
• Publisher: Cengage Learning Ptr

Summary

You might have a truly amazing idea for a game, but do you know what to do with it? Transforming your idea into an actual game can be a daunting task. You must have an understanding of game art, programming, audio, and business in order to produce the solid game design document that can turn your really cool idea into a really cool game. "Game Design for Teens" is here to help you develop the skills you need to do just that. Study several real-world examples and learn from the experience of industry professionals as you focus on the techniques and elements that go into creating a game design document. Get ready to set your idea into motion as you turn it from a concept into a reality!

Author Biography

Les Pardew has contributed to more than 100 video game titles, Pardew currently serves as president of Alpine Studios

Table of Contents

Introduction	xvi
What Is Game Design?	1	(20)
What's in the Book?	1	(1)
How Are Games Designed?	2	(3)
Vision of the Game	3	(2)
The Game Layout Chart	5	(1)
Designing Gameplay	6	(1)
Designing the Story	7	(2)
Designing Characters	9	(1)
Character Description	9	(1)
Character Sketch	9	(1)
Designing Environments	10	(3)
Written Description	10	(1)
Environment Pictures	11	(2)
Designing Audio	13	(1)
Interface Design	13	(2)
Onscreen Interface Graphics	14	(1)
Designing Fun	15	(2)
Game Demo	17	(2)
Game Engines	17	(1)
Art for Demos	18	(1)
Sound for Demos	18	(1)
Non-Playable Demo	19	(1)
Summary	19	(2)
What Is a Game Designer?	21	(24)
The Game Designer	21	(9)
Love to Play Games	22	(1)
Creative Thinker	22	(1)
The Game Development Process	23	(3)
Solving Problems	26	(1)
Is It Fun?	26	(1)
Do You Like to Work?	27	(2)
Dedication to Games	29	(1)
Getting Started	30	(13)
Research	30	(1)
Create	31	(1)
Analyze	32	(5)
The Concept Document	37	(3)
Writing the Document	40	(1)
Character Design	40	(1)
Research	40	(2)
Creativity	42	(1)
Analyze	43	(1)
The Character Design	43	(1)
Summary	43	(2)
The Design Document	45	(18)
Layout of the Design Document	46	(2)
Design Document Elements	48	(14)
Introduction	48	(1)
Game Overview	48	(2)
Position the Game	50	(1)
Game Features	51	(11)
Summary	62	(1)
The Game Idea	63	(24)
Where Can I Find an Idea?	63	(2)
Examples	64	(1)
Read	65	(1)
Any Questions?	65	(1)
What Will the Game Do?	66	(1)
What Are the Goals of the Game?	66	(1)
Pick Your Genre, Any Genre	67	(17)
Action-Adventure and Bears, Oh My!	67	(2)
Fighting	69	(2)
First-Person Shooter	71	(1)
Hunting	72	(1)
Puzzle	73	(2)
Role Playing Games	75	(3)
Simulation	78	(2)
Sports	80	(1)
Strategy	81	(3)
Multiplayer	84	(1)
What's Your Story?	84	(1)
How Big Can I Make It?	84	(2)
What to Keep	85	(1)
What to Throw Out	85	(1)
Don't Keep It in Your Head	86	(1)
The High Concept	87	(18)
The Purpose of the High Concept	88	(1)
Writing the High Concept	88	(15)
The Game Statement	89	(5)
Why the Game Is Important	94	(1)
Why the Game Is Unique	95	(3)
Audience	98	(2)
Why Should the Game Be Published?	100	(3)
Summary	103	(2)
Visualizing the Game	105	(24)
Art Used in Game Designs	105	(23)
Storyboards	106	(8)
Level Layouts	114	(4)
Environment Illustrations	118	(3)
Character Designs	121	(3)
Model Sheets	124	(1)
Graphical User Interface (GUI) Design	125	(2)
Other Concept Art	127	(1)
Summary	128	(1)
Designing Audio	129	(28)
Character Voices and Speech	132	(7)
Script	132	(3)
Talent Search	135	(2)
Recording	137	(2)
For the Technically Curious	139	(6)
What We Hear	139	(4)
What the Computer Hears	143	(2)
Sound Effects	145	(4)
Realistic	145	(3)
Non-Realistic	148	(1)
Music	149	(6)
First Steps	149	(3)
Basic Organization	152	(3)
Summary	155	(2)
Game Flow	157	(14)
The Flowchart	157	(4)
The Oval	158	(1)
The Diamond	158	(1)
The Rectangle	158	(1)
The Circle	159	(1)
Sample Flowchart	159	(2)
An Alternate to Flowcharting	161	(1)
Take a Shower Textual Sequence	161	(1)
Manageable Pieces	162	(8)
Game Flow Design Methods	162	(1)
Main Game Flowchart	163	(1)
Gameplay Flowchart	163	(3)
One Player Career Flowchart	166	(2)
Two Player Career Flowchart	168	(1)
Race Flowchart	169	(1)
Summary	170	(1)
User Interface Design	171	(28)
What Is a User Interface?	171	(7)
How Does the Player Receive Game Information?	172	(1)
Can Interface Elements Be Incorporated into the Natural Play of the Game?	172	(1)
How Can the Interface Affect the Game?	173	(1)
How Can the Player Control the Game?	174	(1)
Controlling Your Controls	174	(4)
Feedback	178	(2)
Information Presentation	178	(1)
Personality	179	(1)
The Visual	180	(10)
What Is a Graphical User Interface?	180	(1)
Information Screens	181	(4)
Menus	185	(3)
Onscreen Displays	188	(2)
Creating Game Navigation Design	190	(4)
Creating Onscreen Elements	194	(4)
Summary	198	(1)
Technical Design	199	(14)
The Sections of a TDD	200	(11)
Target Hardware System(s)	200	(1)
Target Audience	200	(1)
Processor Use	200	(1)
Memory Use	201	(1)
Saving and Loading	201	(1)
Supported Input Devices	202	(1)
Supported Output Devices	202	(1)
AI	202	(1)
Multiplayer	203	(1)
Concerns and Potential Problems	203	(1)
Software Tools	204	(1)
Data Wrangling	204	(1)
Database Handling	205	(1)
Scheduling	205	(2)
Game Flow	207	(1)
Game Engine	208	(1)
Needed Assets	209	(1)
Languages	209	(1)
Audio Handling	210	(1)
Physics	210	(1)
Sample Art	210	(1)
User-Defined Worlds	211	(1)
Summary	211	(2)
Schedules and Budgets	213	(20)
What Comes First, the Chicken or the Egg?	214	(1)
Breaking Down the Tasks	215	(2)
Creating the Framework of Dependencies	217	(1)
Gantt Charts	218	(2)
Critical Path	220	(1)
Scheduling	221	(4)
Budgeting	225	(6)
Direct Labor Costs	225	(3)
Easy Adjustments	228	(1)
Putting the Budget Together	229	(2)
Summary	231	(2)
Special Considerations	233	(26)
Puzzle	234	(2)
Platform	236	(2)
Adventure	238	(3)
Racing	241	(2)
Fighting	243	(2)
Sports	245	(2)
Real-Time Strategy	247	(1)
Turn-Based Strategy	248	(3)
Shooters	251	(1)
Simulations	252	(2)
Role Playing	254	(2)
Massive Multiplayer Online	256	(2)
Summary	258	(1)
Appendix Design Document	259	(30)
Motocross Professional Circuit	259	(1)
Design Document by Alpine Studios	259	(1)
Table of Contents	260	(2)
Introduction	262	(1)
Game Overview	262	(3)
Platform	262	(1)
Genre	263	(1)
Target Audience	263	(1)
Languages	263	(1)
Street Date	263	(1)
Key Features	263	(1)
Unique Selling Points	264	(1)
Career Path	264	(1)
Game Structure	265	(4)
Camera Viewpoint	265	(1)
Camera	265	(1)
Modes of Play	265	(1)
Trick Mode or Free Ride	265	(1)
Motion	266	(1)
Trick Motions	266	(1)
Level Overview	266	(3)
In-Game Progress, Timers, and Clocks	269	(1)
Race Replay	269	(1)
Report Card	269	(1)
Reward or Trophy Screens	269	(1)
Model Production and Development	269	(2)
Equipment and Upgrades	270	(1)
Track Editor (In-Game)	270	(1)
Special Effects	271	(1)
Technical Design	271	(2)
Processor Use	271	(1)
Main Memory Map	272	(1)
Geometry	272	(1)
Animation	272	(1)
Graphics	272	(1)
Audio	272	(1)
Saving	272	(1)
Physics	273	(1)
AI	273	(1)
Art Development	273	(1)
Potential Trouble Spots (Risk Areas)	273	(1)
Player Control	273	(1)
Level Design	274	(1)
Texture Development	274	(1)
Bug Type Description	274	(1)
Game Features	274	(1)
Fun	274	(1)
Motorcycles	274	(1)
Game Play and Rewards	274	(1)
Art Style	275	(1)
Audio Experience	275	(1)
Game Structure	275	(2)
General Viewpoint	275	(1)
Modes of Play	275	(1)
Player Controls General Keystroke Controls	276	(1)
Technical Issues	277	(12)
Geometry	277	(1)
Main Memory Map	277	(1)
Animation	277	(1)
Graphics	278	(1)
Audio	278	(1)
Saving	278	(1)
Physics	278	(1)
AI	278	(1)
Art Development	278	(1)
Sample Art	279	(2)
Development Team	281	(6)
Schedule and Budget	287	(2)
Index	289