Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Discussion Activities
Think about games you've played recently and find an example of a visual motif: a
recurring use of shape, color, or representational imagery that relates to some aspect
of how the game works. What did this motif represent, and what did you learn from
seeing it appear repeatedly? Were there times when this motif—or a visual that
resembled it—was confusing or misused?
.
Can you imagine a scene in this game—or any game—where it might be useful or
challenging to the player to disrupt the conventions established by a visual motif?
Discuss some scenarios and how they might shape gameplay. As the creator of a game,
why might you want to deliberately confuse the player?
.
Name one of your favorite characters from a game you've played or one that you found
particularly memorable. This character doesn't necessarily need to be the protagonist
of the game; it could be an enemy or another character not controlled by the player.
Describe the visual elements of this character's design that stood out for you: the
silhouette of the character, use of color, and what various aspects of the visual design
represent. How do those elements relate to the role that this character plays—their
behavior and the way they affect gameplay?
.
Describe the soundtrack or sound effects of a game that were especially memorable
for you. What do those sounds represent, emotionally? What does hearing that sound
make you remember, and how do those associations relate to the way the game works
or events that happened in the game?
.
Choose a game that you've already discussed, that you used for an exercise from a pre-
vious chapter, or that we've talked about in this topic. What role does the camera play?
Is it fixed or moving? From what point of view does the camera let you see the action?
How does this point of view affect your perception of what's going on in the game as a
player?
What would this game be like if it used a different camera with another point of view?
If the game's camera shows scenes in the game from an overhead perspective, like the
camera in Pac-Man , describe what the game would be like if the player saw everything
from Pac-Man's point of view. How does the game change?
.
Group Activity
As a group, come up with an existing game that you're all familiar with. This could be a board
game as well as a digital game, but should be something with a recognizable visual theme.
Monopoly , for example, suggests the blocks of a city, with railroads criss-crossing it.
Design a very different visual theme for this game. Don't change how the game works, but
come up with new visual representations for all the elements of the game. Sketch what these
new elements might look like. What if Monopoly
took place in a cemetery or an entire solar
 
 
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