Game Mechanics - A Presentation PDF

Game Dr. Yaser Saleh Design Slides by Dr. Muhanna Muhanna 08 Game Mechanics 08 Game Mechanics Outline Game mechanics Types of game mechanics Mechanics Hazards Props Puzzles 08 Game Mechanics Game Mechanics Video game mechanics are objects that create game...

Game Dr. Yaser Saleh Design Slides by Dr. Muhanna Muhanna 08 Game Mechanics 08 Game Mechanics Outline Game mechanics Types of game mechanics Mechanics Hazards Props Puzzles 08 Game Mechanics Game Mechanics Video game mechanics are objects that create gameplay when the player interacts with them. They can be jumped on, activated with a button press, or pushed around. 08 Game Mechanics Game Mechanics There are four types of mechanics: Mechanics (physics) Hazards Props Puzzles 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Some of the more common video game mechanics include: Moving platforms Opening/closing doors Push-able blocks Switches and levers Cranks Slippery floors 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Moving Platforms Platforms are a beloved mechanic of action game designers. They come in a wide variety of styles and flavors that can be used to bedevil and delight players. https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=llEzFttpoKA 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Opening/Closing Doors Think about how the player is meant to open a door. Normally? Carefully? Aggressively? Remember, the character’s personality comes into play when you’re thinking about this. Be mindful of which way your door opens. Does it open in? Does it rise up? Does it lower down? Does it swing out? All these opening actions can lead to different gameplay scenarios. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Opening/Closing Doors You can turn opening a door into gameplay. Some multiplayer games have players work together to crank open a door simultaneously. Make sure your player doesn’t get caught on doors and doorway geometry You can use doors as level gating mechanisms. You might not be ready to let the player enter the next room or level. He might have to find the right key or solve the right puzzle 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Opening/Closing Doors Some doors are just not meant to be opened. Locked doors are perfect for getting players to find another route through a level, but just make sure it’s super clear why they can’t get through. Locked doors are often used to introduce this common gameplay scenario: the quest to find the key.2 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Switches and Levers If you do use switches and levers, keep them visually simple. Consider placing a visual effect like a glow or an icon on your switch or lever to make them visible. Make sure the player sees the effect of activating the switch or pulling the lever (camera cut, sound effect, etc.) to indicate what has happened. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Switches and Levers The switch or button should change appearance to show that it is in a new state. Have it change color, position, or shape. If you use a one-way switch (one that operates only once), play a nice sound effect to indicate that it’s permanently changed its state. If it’s a resetting switch, play a “timer” sound effect to indicate that that switch is going to revert back to its original state. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Cranks Cranks are like levers and switches that take time for the player to activate. Some cranks are operated by pressing a button and holding it, whereas others require furious button mashing to open One common gameplay scenario is to have the player operate a crank to open a door and then have to run back to the door before it closes. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Pushable Block While this mechanic is known for being slow, unrealistic, or boring, the pushable block mechanic continues to be used by designers because it’s flexible. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Unfortunately, our hero’s path is blocked by a large stone block. But if we push it aside, we can enter. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Now our hero has to get up to that ledge. No problem. We just push a block to create a platform that he can jump up onto. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Ah, the old switch gate. If our hero stands on the switch, the gate will open, but when he steps off, the gate closes. What to do? Let’s drag that block on top of the switch, its weight will keep the gate open! 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics What’s this? A vent shooting a jet of fire? Let’s have our hero push the block over it. Now the fire is blocked and our hero can progress without getting roasted. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics These pushable blocks have letters on them. It must be a puzzle! Nobody said we would have to think in this game! By pushing these blocks into the proper sequence, our hero can E-X-I-T the room! 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Who put a pit of acid in our way? That’s a dirty trick! Fortunately, our hero can push a block into the pit and use it as a stepping stone. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics This monster is looking for us! But the monster can’t see our hero when he’s standing behind the block. Maybe if he alternates between pushing and hiding, he can escape being captured! 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics That skeleton archer is making life difficult for our hero. But if he pushes the block and uses it for cover, he can survive to reach the far end of the room. 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Oh no! How is our hero going to get past that monster guard? Pushing that block off the ledge onto to his head might do the trick! 08 Game Mechanics Mechanics Pushable Block That’s a lot of flexibility for just one pushable block! And we haven’t even explored pulling the block! Be mindful that it is possible for players to get bored with mechanics if they are repeated too often, so think about the context in which they are used. A good mechanic is like a baseball pitcher. You need to rotate them in and out of your game to keep them fresh and effective. 08 Game Mechanics Game Mechanics There are four types of mechanics: Mechanics Hazards Props Puzzles 08 Game Mechanics Hazards Hazards look like mechanics, often act like mechanics, but will kill a player just for snoring too loud. Hazards may also resemble enemies, but the key difference is intelligence and/or mobility. All hazards have predictable patterns and limited movement and usually aren’t very smart. 08 Game Mechanics Hazards Hazards are things like: Spiky pits Smashing blocks Blasting flames Exploding barrels Laser-guided missiles 08 Game Mechanics Hazards When you are designing hazards, the first rule is to make sure that they look dangerous. That means spiky, flamey, frosty, sparky, poison- y. Slap a big death’s head on it if you have to. Use shape, color, sound effects, and particle effects— anything to make it clear to players that they WILL get hurt if they touch or collide with this hazard. 08 Game Mechanics Hazards Instant death hazards just suck. They are cheap and mean- spirited. If the player dies because of a hazard, it should be because he didn’t pay attention or get the timing right. Death is never a good way to educate the player. It just makes the player frustrated and sad. 08 Game Mechanics Hazards Difficult vs. Challenging Games A difficult game does whatever Difficulty = Promotes pain and loss it can to punish the player. A challenging game confronts Challenge = Promotes skill and the player with obstacles that improvement can be overcome with skill and knowledge. A challenging game is much more rewarding than a difficult one. 08 Game Mechanics Hazards Difficult vs. Challenging Games Some gamers absolutely love Difficulty = Promotes pain and loss difficult games. It is quite an accomplishment to finish a Challenge = Promotes skill and difficult game, but those who improvement do are in the minority. If you want players to play your game to completion, your game needs to be challenging, not difficult. 08 Game Mechanics Game Mechanics There are four types of mechanics: Mechanics Hazards Props Puzzles 08 Game Mechanics Props Props are mechanics that don’t move. Designers and artists can place these items into the level to make it feel more like a real place. Desks and chairs Fire hydrants Parked cars Mailboxes Barricades Filing cabinets and tool Statues and boxes gravestones Computer consoles Refrigerators Tables, wardrobes, and Fences and walls dressers Coffins and alters Crates Potted plants and water coolers 08 Game Mechanics Props Don’t be satisfied with merely thinking up items to decorate your world; allow your players to interact with them. Start with natural reactions. If you shoot a water cooler, for example, it should explode in a watery splash. You can shoot or smash props to access new areas or yield treasure. 08 Game Mechanics Game Mechanics There are four types of mechanics: Mechanics Hazards Props Puzzles 08 Game Mechanics Puzzles Puzzle mechanics can be tricky; not just because they can be difficult to design or because they often require unique assets to create. It’s just that puzzles are tricky to classify. Puzzles in video games are essentially gating mechanisms. If you have lots of puzzles, make sure there are multiple paths of progression. Tell players whether they are close to finding the solution... or not. 08 Game Mechanics Puzzles Types of puzzle games: Logic puzzles are often found in adventure games like the classic games. They rely on players finding inventory items and then combining them to solve the puzzle. Match three puzzles like the Bejeweled series or Dungeon Raid series, players match three or more icons for points 08 Game Mechanics Puzzles Types of puzzle games: Math puzzles challenge players with arithmetic, subtraction, multiplication, division, geometry, and number ordering Rigid body physics puzzles like Angry Birds. Weight, density, momentum, force, velocity, and kinetic energy become design tools to create challenges. 08 Game Mechanics Puzzles Types of puzzle games: Knowledge puzzles (trivia) Traditional puzzle games like Sudoku and crossword puzzles Visual puzzles, especially hidden object games Word puzzles like Scrabble 08 Game Mechanics Case Study 1. Start your player character moving 3. Add a second mechanic, and let the through the world with simple player learn that one too. Then combine the first one with the movement challenges: walking, second jumping, and collecting goodies. 4. Make things exciting with a hazard. 2. Start with one mechanic. Repeat it Let the player get used to doing the a couple of times so the player things he would normally do in the game (traversal, collection, understands how it works. interaction with mechanics) but now with the hazard being part of the equation. 08 Game Mechanics Case Study 5. Now come the enemies! Give the 7. Finally, just as the player is getting player a chance to learn how to used to all these game elements, fight them. toss one of themon its head just to keep the player on his toes! 6. Combine the enemies with the hazards for more excitement. 08 Game Mechanics Outline Game mechanics Types of game mechanics Mechanics Hazards Props Puzzles