Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
not want to become a game designer you have enough interest and creativity
to appreciate game design creation. Many of you may not be able to paint or
draw, say, but I'm sure you all appreciate the skills and the creative process
behind the act of painting.
All creativity is driven by the individual having a constant stream of ideas
with which to work. Central to game design is the ability to come up with
enough ideas that can be adapted into gameplay mechanics, either on the
part of the individual or during brainstorming sessions. Contrary to what
seems to be general belief that ideas are ten-a-penny, my feeling is that only
bad ideas are that cheap. Good ideas are a much more valuable commodity.
If they weren't we'd never again see a bland film, read a tedious book or play
an uninspired game.
Sometimes, though, even a relatively weak idea can be made much better
through proper development.Very few great ideas spring into the mind fully
formed, ready to be implemented; even the best ones need love and attention
to make the grade.
Developing ideas
To illustrate the importance of developing the ideas - the true game design
process, as it were - I am going to imagine I have just come up with the
concept of Rocket Boots. Not stunningly original, I know, but part of the
design process is exploring all possibilities in the hope of creating something
good from humble beginnings. So how is this idea to be incorporated into
the 3D action adventure game I am helping to design?
There are times when an idea will get us so fired up from the start we
begin to work on it immediately. Quite often, though, ideas need to mature
and develop, becoming full-bodied as they work away in the subconscious
areas of our minds. Giving your mind time to mull over them allows you to
separate the wheat from the chaff and discard any that are undeserving of
more attention.
As any writer knows, much of the creative process comes in taking those
initial ideas and developing them through a series of 'what if ' thought
processes. What if the player character is wearing wings? What if the ball
bounces randomly? What if the alien creatures can absorb the energy from
the laser pistols?
It could be that the game designer, myself in our example, asks these
questions alone, but a better solution could be to have a brainstorming
session to discuss the merits of the idea or multiple ideas.
