So you want to be a Game Designer?

Study Notes

Understanding Game Design

Game designers play existing games to learn from them and understand how they work.
Analyzing a successful 2D story-driven platformer, Never Alone, helps in understanding game design components.

Setting of Never Alone

The game's setting stands out with its unique look and feel, which affects gameplay.
The Arctic environment, inspired by Inuit stories, was chosen by the developers to convey a specific atmosphere.

Components of Never Alone

The two main characters, Nuna and Fox, have a symbiotic relationship that affects gameplay.
The developer chose these characters to emphasize the importance of cooperation and teamwork.
The characters' relationship is central to the gameplay experience.

Objectives of Never Alone

The game aims to provide more than just fun, but also an emotional connection with the characters.
Inuit stories play a significant role in the game's objectives, adding cultural depth to the experience.
In one sentence, Never Alone is about guiding Nuna and Fox through a challenging Arctic environment.

Core Mechanics of Never Alone

The player interacts with the game world through the actions of Nuna and Fox.
The two characters have different abilities, which work together to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles.
The mechanics encourage emotional investment in the characters and their relationship.

Challenges in Never Alone

Obstacles in the game include environmental hazards, enemies, and puzzle challenges.
These challenges require cooperation and strategic thinking to overcome.

Rules of Never Alone

Rules define what the player can and cannot do in the game, such as time limits or limited attempts.

Objectives of Never Alone

The player's objective is to guide Nuna and Fox through the Arctic environment, overcoming challenges and obstacles.

Setting of Never Alone

The game takes place in the Arctic environment, which affects gameplay and atmosphere.

Components of a Game

A game is composed of six core components: setting, components, objectives, core mechanics, challenges, and rules.
Understanding these components is essential for designing and developing a game.

Description

Get ready to dissect a successful 2D story-driven platformer, Never Alone, to understand its key features and design elements. Learn from an existing game to improve your own game design skills. Explore the game's setting, look, and feel to discover what makes it stand out.