CS/INFO 4154:Analytics-driven Game Design

Level Design and Progressions

Lecture 5:

Game design document Converge on one idea Plan for the development cycle Identify unknowns in the design Due FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18th at 11:59pm

Throwaway Prototype Pick some piece of your game and build it

Avatar moves/jumps on flat land Hexagonal grid with nothing on it Background artwork

In class on Tuesday, September 22nd

Pong / Asset Creation Resubmission

Thursday, September 17th, 11:59pm

Previously: Learnability

Previously: Flow

Skill

Cha

lleng

e

Anxiety

Boredom

Today: Progressions

learnability + flow = progression

Level design techniques Progress through mechanics Progress through decisions Use design patterns

Level design techniques Progress through mechanics Progress through decisions Use design patterns

Level

Mec

hani

cs

Anxiety

Boredom

Level

Mec

hani

cs

jump

dash

shoot

Reinforcement How long to “dwell” on a mechanic before

introducing a new one?

Actions:A = jump B = dash

A A A BA B vs.

Level

Mec

hani

cs

jump

dash

shoot

Level

Mec

hani

cs

jump

dash

shoot

Recombination How often to combine mechanics with other

mechanics?

Actions:A = jump B = dash C = shoot fireball

A AB ABCA B C vs.

Rei

nfor

cem

ent

Recombination

A, B, C, D, E

A, A, A, B, B, B

A, AB, ABC, ABCD, ABCDE

A, A, B, B, AB, AB

Level

Mec

hani

cs

jump

dash

shoot

Level

Mec

hani

cs

jump

dash

shoot

Level

Mec

hani

cs

jump

dash

shoot

Level

Mec

hani

cs

jump

dash

shoot

“The Pit” in Braid

Portal 2 Mechanics

Level

Mechanic

Recombination

Robot Unicorn Attack

Robot Unicorn Attack Progression

Mechanics:A = jump B = dash

A A A B A A BHigh reinforcement, low recombination

Hello Worlds

Mechanics:A = move B = two worlds C = close world

A

AB

AB

ABC

ABC

Hello Worlds

ABCABCABABA

Moderate reinforcement, high recombination

Mechanics:A = move B = two worlds C = close world

Starcraft

Starcraft

ABCDABCABA

DCBA

A A A A

Low reinforcement, high recombination

What’s the best? No correct answer Some reinforcement but not too much Some recombination but not too much

Level design techniques Progress through mechanics Progress through decisions Use design patterns

Level design techniques Progress through mechanics Progress through decisions Use design patterns

Sid Meier

a series of interesting decisions

(GDC 2012)

AILevel Solution

Complexity Analysis

Rock

Me

Rock

Me

Rock

Rock

Me

Enemy

Level design techniques Progress through mechanics Progress through decisions Use design patterns

Level design techniques Progress through mechanics Progress through decisions Use design patterns

Design Patterns Conventions of your genre

Arena

Stronghold

Sniper spot

Choke point

What are the design patterns for: Tower defense? Puzzle platformers?

Level design techniques Progress through mechanics Progress through decisions Use design patterns

Level design techniques Progress through mechanics Progress through decisions Use design patterns

Group activity #1: Play Thermo

Level

Mec

hani

cs

Mech. 1

Mech. 2

Mech. 3

Group activity #2: design your levels

Level

Mec

hani

cs

Mechanic 1

Mechanic 2

Step 1. Make this chart for your gameStep 2. Design a level that reinforces a mechanicStep 3. Design a level that combines two mechanicsStep 4. Show to group behind / in front of you

CS/INFO 4154:�Analytics-driven Game DesignGame design documentThrowaway PrototypePong / Asset Creation ResubmissionPreviously: LearnabilityPreviously: FlowToday: ProgressionsLevel design techniquesLevel design techniquesSlide Number 10Slide Number 11ReinforcementSlide Number 13Slide Number 14RecombinationSlide Number 16Slide Number 17Slide Number 18Slide Number 19Slide Number 20“The Pit” in BraidPortal 2 MechanicsSlide Number 23Robot Unicorn AttackRobot Unicorn Attack ProgressionHello WorldsSlide Number 27Slide Number 28Slide Number 29Slide Number 30Slide Number 31Hello WorldsStarcraftStarcraftWhat’s the best?Level design techniquesLevel design techniquesSid MeierSlide Number 39Slide Number 40Slide Number 41Slide Number 42Slide Number 43Level design techniquesLevel design techniquesDesign PatternsArenaStrongholdSniper spotChoke pointWhat are the design patterns for:Level design techniquesLevel design techniquesGroup activity #1: Play ThermoGroup activity #2: design your levels