flexible times need flexible game design

by Mohini Dutta + Ben Norskov

www.playistheantidote.com | @helloAntidote

FLEXIBLE TIMES NEED FLEXIBLE GAME DESIGN

HOW DO WE GAME?


PLAY is older than culture, for culture, however inadequately defined, always presupposes human society, and animals have not waited for man to teach them their playing

Image: Johan Huizinga

Everyone plays, and we play the games we are familiar with, grew up with, or heard stories


Image: “Pallankuzhi Board”, South Indian Mankala style game

ANCIENTGAMES

MODERN GAMES


THIS IS THE FUTURE, KEN!

Games are imitating life, and life is imitating games

HOW DO WE MAKE GAMES?

*GAME POLICE assures us that All Gamers Look Like This


WAYS WE MAKE GAMES


Image: The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell

Techniques differ, but priorities don’t


Image: Dan Cook, Skill Atoms, Game Loops & Arcs


Image: Dan Cook, Skill Atoms, Game Loops & Arcs

WHAT IS MISSING?

CULTURE


Our design methodologies account for system, interaction, narrative, & aesthetic,

but are homogenous about both play culture & player culture

DO GAMES AND CULTURE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER?


IT’S LIKE I DON’T EVEN KNOW

WHO YOU ARE...

WHY DO WE NEED OTHER WAYS OF DESIGN?


DIFFERENT BRANCHES FOR DIFFERENT GOATS!

¡VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

IMPERIALISM


Forcing people to play games the way you play games is cultural imperialism.

WHO ARE Y’ALL AGAIN?

MEOW…?

CAN WE MAKE GAMES FOR PEOPLE WE DON’T KNOW?


CULTURE MEDIATESPLAYERS AND THEIR PLAY


MY PLAY IS MY UMWELT!

CAN GAMES BE DESIGNED WITHOUT SPECIFICTRAINING & CRAFT?


TWISTY LITTLE BRANCHES!

COMBINATORICS!

DESIGNING FOR UNIQUE & VARIED EXPECTATIONS IS HARD!


RAWR?

MOO!

HISS..

CHIRRP!

A Framework for Combating Cultural Bias in Game Design Methodologies

MINDFULPLAY


Image: humanitariansoftinder.com


FORGET YOUR PLAY CULTURE

1

Image: Monopoly Image: Call Of Duty Black Ops 2


Co-Design Workshop, Philippines 1ADAPT

USE LOCAL OR FAMILIAR

GAME ASSETS


Image:“Stick & Bottle Game”, Co-Design workshop, Indonesia

2


Humans Vs. Mosquitoes (Kenya Version) 2IMPROVISE

DESIGN FOR THE CONVERSATION


Image: Lampat Banjir, Co-Design Session, Indonesia

3The goal is to create a

meaningful dialogue

TWIST IN THE TALE


Driving Force! 3

AVOID ON THE NOSE

DESIGN


4

The obvious is rarely engaging

TRYING TOO HARD, GOAT...

MISDIRECTION


Broken Cities 4

WE ARE PART OF A CHANGING LUDIC LANDSCAPE


Mohini Dutta + Ben Norskov

www.playistheantidote.com @helloAntidote

GAMES! GAMES! GAMES!I SWEAR

I WILL JUMP.

flexible times need flexible game design

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