“The best way to learn games is to play games. The best way to make games is to work.” – Alan Emrich
Weekly Homework:
Inception Document: Write up an Inception Document (as you have done in Survey of the Game Industry and Gameplay & Game Design) for an original game that you will be making a complete prototype of for next week’s homework assignment (worth up to 4 points). As a reminder, an Inception Document includes:
The game's title (and subtitle)
The game's High Concept, Hook, and One-Sentence Marketing Description
A bullet-point listing of the game's key features
A succinct narrative description of actual gameplay
The game’s subject (or theme) is on some sort of conflict that is common knowledge or can be easily researched.
This game must be:
- A conflict simulation game (that is, a game about a battle or combat using simulation technique: quantification, the laws of probability, and a role-playing element
- Taken from any well know source from fantasy, science-fiction, history, or contemporary; it must be a subject that can be easily researched
Examples from, say, The Lord of the Rings might include the Battle of Pellanor Fields, the Siege of Minas Tirith, the Battle of the Dark Gate, or Gandalf vs. the Balrog. From Star Wars you might have the Battle of Hoth, the Capture of Princess Leah (a.k.a. Storming the Tantive IV, which was her counselor ship’s name), Lightsaber Duel: Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader, or Millennium Falcon Escape. From history you might choose the Battle of Gettysburg, the Invasion of Iwo Jima, or the Siege of Sevastopol. So, anything from a bar fight at Mos Eisley spaceport (Star Wars), to the War of 1812, to a fantasy duel between two wizards or a party of six adventurers versus a horde of ware rats, to Operation Iraqi Freedom is acceptable. Remember, it needs to be some kind of battle or fight.
Don’t envision too big a scope for this game! You’re going to make a ‘mini-game’ prototype of it for your homework next week.
Your Graded Course Project Digital Game Prototype:
1. You will be making your Graded Course Project game with Game Maker software. Go to http://www.cs.uu.nl/people/markov/gmaker/index.html to download the latest free version. Note that you need to upgrade to the full version, however, and it is well worth the approximately $25 that you’ll spend on it. Think of it this way… it’s cheaper than a new textbook and a heck of a lot more fun!
2. I strongly suggest spending a few minutes looking over the web site and seeing the types of games that have been created using Game Maker. This should get you thinking about the kind of game that you might create for your Graded Course Project. Details about your Graded Course Project assignment can be found on the web site here.
3. If you don’t have a Memory Stick, Flash Drive, or some other type of portable computer media storage device, get one. Put Game Maker on it and get in the habit of bringing it with you to class each week and working on it during any ‘down time.’ Starting on Week 5, you’ll be primarily working on your Game Maker design and be saving it on your Flash Drive, so don’t lose it!
4. Find a moment this week to have fun with gaming in general. Try to remind yourself why you’re working so hard on a Bachelors Degree in Game Art & Design by having a little fun either making or discovering a new game. You deserve it!
