Founder-Game Director Workshop (Session 2)
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The document outlines the roles and responsibilities of game directors and designers in the game development process, emphasizing the importance of narrative coherence, gameplay mechanics, and player engagement. It details the production process, technical requirements, and artistic vision necessary for creating a cohesive game experience. The director's role is focused on the overall vision and coordination, while designers handle the implementation and detailed aspects of game design.
Founder-Game Director Workshop (Session 2)
- 1. FOUNDER-DIRECTOR Leading Game Development Teams Amir H. Fassihi
- 2. 2-EXECUTON
- 3. HOW TO MAKE A GAME?
- 4. Based on the Desired Experience Look and sound?
- 5. Based on the Desired Experience Look and sound? Behavior in time?
- 6. Based on the Desired Experience Look and sound? Behavior in time? Software creation?
- 7. Based on the Desired Experience Look and sound? Behavior in time? Software creation? How should people work?
- 8. Based on the Desired Experience Look and sound? Behavior in time? Software creation? How should people work? ART
- 9. Based on the Desired Experience Look and sound? Behavior in time? Software creation? How should people work? ART DESIGN
- 10. Based on the Desired Experience Look and sound? Behavior in time? Software creation? How should people work? ART DESIGN TECH
- 11. Based on the Desired Experience Look and sound? Behavior in time? Software creation? How should people work? ART DESIGN TECH PRODUCTION
- 13. Production Process Loop 1 - Define what to do. 2 - Breakdown the work 3 - Assign work to people 4 - Asses the work 5 - Provide feedback 6 - Repeat step 1
- 14. Director and Game Design
- 15. Design Level Design Combat Design Puzzle Design Narrative Design Gameplay Design System Design Economy Design UX Design Writing AI Design Accessibility Design ...
- 16. IS THE DIRECTOR A GAME DESIGNER?
- 17. NO!
- 18. Game Design has solutions to your problems
- 19. What is your problem?
- 20. Creating the Player Experience!
- 22. ENGINE CODE
- 24. ENGINE CODE CHARACTER ASSETS ENVIRONMENT ASSETS
- 25. GAMEPLAY CODE ENGINE CODE CHARACTER ASSET ENVIRONMENT ASSET
- 26. GAMEPLAY CODE ENGINE CODE CHARACTER ASSET ENVIRONMENT ASSET LEVEL DESIGN
- 27. GAMEPLAY CODE ENGINE CODE CHARACTER ASSET ENVIRONMENT ASSET LEVEL DESIGN GAMEPLAY DESIGN
- 28. GAMEPLAY CODE ENGINE CODE CHARACTER ASSET ENVIRONMENT ASSET LEVEL DESIGN GAMEPLAY DESIGN STORY & CONCEPTS
- 29. GAMEPLAY CODE ENGINE CODE CHARACTER ASSET ENVIRONMENT ASSET LEVEL DESIGN GAMEPLAY DESIGN STORY & CONCEPTS GAMER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
- 30. GAMEPLAY CODE ENGINE CODE CHARACTER ASSET ENVIRONMENT ASSET LEVEL DESIGN GAMEPLAY DESIGN STORY & CONCEPTS GAMER EXPERIENCE DESIGN Director
- 31. Director Holistic Understanding of Game Design. An awareness of how design decisions impact user experience. Knowledge of the industry and player expectations. Ability to foresee how different elements of the game will be received and interpreted by players.
- 33. Director Responsibilities: Overall vision for the game's story. Deciding the tone, style, and major narrative arcs. Ensuring the story aligns with the game’s broader goals. Designer Responsibilities: Implementing the narrative within the game through level design, dialogue, and quest design. Working with writers to create engaging plot points and character dialogue that fits the narrative structure. Crafting scenarios and environments that support and enhance the storytelling. Example 1: Narrative Development
- 34. What the Director Should Know Narrative Coherence Player Engagement engagement and gameplay experience. Cross-Discipline Collaboration
- 35. Director Responsibilities: Setting the core gameplay vision and goals (e.g., should the game be challenging, accessible, etc.). Deciding on key gameplay features that define the game's unique selling points. Overseeing the balance between innovation and accessibility in game mechanics. Designer Responsibilities: Detailed design and tuning of game mechanics as specified by the director. Prototype testing and iteration based on player feedback to refine gameplay. Integrating mechanics with other elements of the game such as story, art, and sound. Example 2: Gameplay Mechanics
- 36. What the Director Should Know Mechanics-Story Integration Player Psychology Feedback Loops
- 38. Example: Metroidvania Side-Scroller Game Game Director Responsibilities: Vision and Concept: The director should define the overarching theme and goals of the game. For a Metroidvania, this might include a focus on exploration, gradual power accumulation, and backtracking with new abilities to access previously unreachable areas. Setting the tone, whether dark and mysterious or bright and adventurous, and ensuring it's consistently applied across all game elements.
- 39. Example: Metroidvania Side-Scroller Game Game Director Responsibilities: Player Experience and Journey: Ensuring the game provides a continuous sense of discovery and accomplishment, which are core to Metroidvania games. Overseeing the creation of the game world in a way that encourages exploration but also guides the player to avoid frustration.
- 40. Example: Metroidvania Side-Scroller Game Game Director Responsibilities: Integration of Story and Gameplay: Deciding how the story unfolds through the gameplay without excessive exposition. For example, using environmental storytelling or finding items that provide backstory. Making sure the narrative complements the gameplay mechanics, enhancing the immersive experience without overshadowing the gameplay.
- 41. Example: Metroidvania Side-Scroller Game What the Director Should Know: Non-linear Gameplay Design: Understanding how to design game worlds that are non-linear yet intuitive to navigate, ensuring players enjoy exploring without getting lost. Progression Systems: Knowledge of balancing character progression with the challenge level of the environment and enemies to maintain a satisfying difficulty curve. Engagement Mechanics: Familiarity with keeping players engaged over time through mini-goals, hidden secrets, and gradually unfolding story elements.
- 42. Example: Metroidvania Side-Scroller Game Game Designer Responsibilities: Level Design Mechanics Development: Feedback and Tuning:
- 43. Example: Metroidvania Side-Scroller Game What the Game Designer Should Know: Player Psychology: Understanding how players react to challenges and rewards, optimizing level and enemy designs to be engaging but not overwhelming. Usability Testing: Proficiency in evaluating gameplay flow and identifying areas where players may struggle or become bored. Dynamic Content Creation: Skills in creating content that enables re-visitation, which is vital for a game that encourages backtracking.
- 45. Designer Director Narrow Scope Wide Scope Tactical Strategic Specialization Leadership Key Differences
- 46. A game director doesn't need to be an expert in every technical detail of game design, but they should have a comprehensive understanding of how different aspects of the design contribute to the overall player experience. This broad yet detailed knowledge enables them to lead the project effectively, ensuring that the game's vision is realized while meeting the expectations of its target audience. Director and Game Design Summary
- 49. Implementation
- 51. Requirements?
- 62. Technical Director Questions Which platforms?
- 63. Technical Director Questions Which platforms? Is this a prototype?
- 64. Technical Director Questions Which platforms? Is this a prototype? Should we support gamepads?
- 65. Technical Director Questions Which platforms? Is this a prototype? Should we support gamepads? What genre is our next game?
- 66. Technical Director Questions Which platforms? Is this a prototype? Should we support gamepads? What genre is our next game? Will the scope increase?
- 67. Communication!
- 70. Technical Judgement 1 - Understand Basic Technical Concepts Software Development Lifecycle Programming Fundamentals Game Engine Architecture Graphics and Rendering Hardware & Platforms Networking AI in Games Performance Metrics Quality Assurance
- 71. Technical Judgement 2 - Rely on Technical Leads and Feedback
- 72. Technical Judgement 2 - Rely on Technical Leads and Feedback 3 - Use Quality Assurance Teams
- 73. Technical Judgement 2 - Rely on Technical Leads and Feedback 3 - Use Quality Assurance Teams 4 - Leverage User Testing
- 74. Technical Judgement 2 - Rely on Technical Leads and Feedback 3 - Use Quality Assurance Teams 4 - Leverage User Testing 5 - External Technical Audit
- 75. Technical Judgement 2 - Rely on Technical Leads and Feedback 3 - Use Quality Assurance Teams 4 - Leverage User Testing 5 - External Technical Audit 6 - Benchmarking against Standards
- 77. Director and Art
- 78. What should a director know?
- 79. Art Styles and Genres Character Design Environment & World Building Animation Basics UI/UX Design Concept Art Collaboration with Artists Asset Pipelines
- 80. Art Judgement
- 81. Art Judgement 1 - Understand Art Fundamentals
- 82. Art Judgement 1 - Understand Art Fundamentals Composition Color Theory Lighting and Shadow Texture Perspective and Depth Anatomy and Proportions Typography Motion Principles Symbolism Visual Storytelling
- 83. Art Judgement 2 - Define and Communicate the Artistic Vision
- 84. Art Judgement 2 - Define and Communicate the Artistic Vision 3 - Collaborate Closely with the Art Team
- 85. Art Judgement 2 - Define and Communicate the Artistic Vision 3 - Collaborate Closely with the Art Team 4 - Leverage Concept Art and Mood Boards
- 86. Art Judgement 2 - Define and Communicate the Artistic Vision 3 - Collaborate Closely with the Art Team 4 - Leverage Concept Art and Mood Boards 5. Utilize Playtesting and External Feedback
- 87. Art Judgement 6 - Stay Informed About Art Trends and Technology 7 - Benchmark Against Other Games
- 88. Ask your Art Director:
- 90. Kim Swift Amy Hennig Jade Raymond Robin Hunicke Siobhan Reddy Shannon Studstill Carol Shaw Bonnie Ross
- 91. How do you see your artistic vision supporting the narrative and gameplay mechanics of the game? Vision
- 92. Can you describe how the art style enhances the game’s themes and player experience? Vision
- 93. How will you ensure consistency in the art style across all game assets, including characters, environments, and UI elements? Consistency
- 94. What are the potential technical challenges with your proposed art style, and how do you plan to address them? Technical Feasibility
- 95. What are the resource requirements for your art department to achieve the desired quality within our current timeline and budget? Resource Management
- 96. How does the proposed art style set our game apart from competitors in the same genre? Innovation
- 97. What is your process for incorporating feedback from playtests and other departments into the art development cycle? Feedback
- 98. How will you communicate ongoing art developments with the rest of the team, especially programming and game design departments? Collaboration
- 99. Can you provide examples of how visual elements have been specifically designed to improve user experience or gameplay clarity? Player Engagement and Experience