Category: Game Design Studio 1

1. In my opinion, every game should have a good reason to play it. Do you want to play it because the art is pretty? Because it is a beloved childhood game featuring your favorite artistic license? Because the idea of an ever-changing set of rules intrigues you?
2. For all the games I’ve played, please see the attached file. Note, this list is nowhere near conclusive, I just don’t have a great memory.
3. I’m not sure what my favorite game is, so I’m not sure if the three act structure applies to it. Some games I have enjoyed include Dragon Age 2 (video game), Hand and Foot (card game), and Red Dragon Inn (board game). Dragon Age 2 definitely has a three act structure, as it is telling a story. How long you spend in each act depends on how many of the side quests you do and what story paths you choose. Hand and Foot has a ‘setup’ bit, a ‘meat of the game’ bit, and a ‘conclusion’ bit within each round, but also across the whole game if you count trying to win as the conclusion. Finally Red Dragon Inn could probably be considered a three act structure if you think about it really hard. I tend not to think too hard for that game and just enjoy knocking people out of the Bar.
4. When coming up with the ideas for a game, I find myself doing a mix of both mechanics and metaphors, though I would probably lean more toward the metaphor and working out a mechanic to fit it.
5. Over the course of this semester, I would like to collaborate with all of the graduating seniors. They have seen the change from Interactive Media to UX/UI design and they’ve been around the RMU block a few times. I would like to be able to learn from their experiences going forward as a ‘new’ student.

1 Every game should have an appropriate level of complexity if it is a family friendly game the complexity should be different from a high adrenaline FPS. The complexity of the levels and the story is why I there my favorite.

2 doom eternal, battleship, cards against humanity, cyberpunk 2077, talltale walking dead, halo wars, halo wars 2, halo 4, cod ww2, cod advanced warfare, cod black ops 4, cod black ops 3,cod ghost, cod infinite warfare, cod modern warfare 2, cod modern warfare 3 (2011), cod modern warfare (2009), cod vanguard,  cod modern warfare (2019), battle field 5, evil within 2, call of Cthulhu, sniper elite 4, pinball, pac-man, skeet ball, raving rabbids, Mario party, Mario cart, super smash bros, Minecraft, Lego star wars the complete saga, Lego harry potter, star wars fighter pod, connect four, arcade connect four basketball, uncharted arcade, halo arcade, walking dead arcade, scooby doo DS, battlefield 3 (2011), battlefield 4 (2013), uno, monopoly, castle crashers, air hocky, plants vs zombies, angry birds, flappy bird, halo infinite, Skylanders series, Lego boardgame, temple run 2, Seawolf arcade, wii sports, wii sports island, Mario world, FIFA series, Lego pirates of the Caribbean, Lego Indiana jones, SpongeBob DS, nerf arcade, nerf wii, arcade basketball, pac-man battle royale arcade, worlds largest pac-man arcade, worlds largest space invaders arcade, fruit ninja, miss pac-man, apples to apples, headbands, band words, war, left right center, GTA 5, ghost recon, left 4 dead, cod modern warfare 4

3 The 3 act structure can be found in my favorite games. The length of the acts depends on the type of game but for the most part the first act is the shortest with the second and third acts being the longest. The first act usually ends after the set up in video games that is the reason for the game to start with physical games it ends after learning the rules.

4 When coming up with ideas I start with a basic mechanic concept like getting from one side to the other or how far you can throw a thing.

5 over this semester I would like to collaborate with Luke at some point because I know that he can come up with good ideas. I would also like work with some of the people that I don’t to get more opinions.

In your opinion what should every game have? Why do you like your favorite game?

I think that every game should offer some sort of ability to strategize. Games based purely on chance, don’t feel like games and aren’t fun to me. My favorite game genre is almost any Pokemon game. You can’t beat a Pokemon game without some semblance of hard work and strategy

List the games you’ve played and currently play.

Currently I have perfected the Legends of Arceus Pokedex (and I mean every single research task attributed to every single pokemon). I have modified my original gameboy color in order to add a backlight and I’ve decided to complete at least one pokemon game from every generation (including the pokedex). I’m also going to replay Zelda BOTW before the sequel is released. I also enjoy Rocket League and the Halo series. On rotation my wife and I enjoy playing Life, Yahtzee, Boggle, Monopoly, Skip-Bo, Fill or Bust, and Pigs.

*In progress is a complete compendium spreadsheet of every game I have ever played*

Can you apply the three act structure to your favorite game? What is it’s pacing and how long do you find yourself in each act?

Yes, generally the first act of a Pokemon game is setting establishing what region you are living in, who the Pokemon Professors/Researchers are, who your friends/rivals are, and what the three starter Pokemon choices are. This choice effects the way that you play through the second act. The second act is your adventure through your Pokemon region in your quest to become the Pokemon Champion. You must level up your pokemon through battles, and catch others to add to your team. Having different types is ideal as it effects the success of your battles. Once you have collected all the gym badges you must face the elite 4 (or some sort of champion) to be a Pokemon master. As a result you also get to automatically catch the Legendary Pokemon associated with the game. The push to become champion would be the third act.

When coming up with ideas where do you find you start, with the metaphor or the mechanic? 

I find that I almost always start with a metaphor. Your imagination is your oyster, so finding mechanics to fit my ideas and make them seamless seems like less hassle than fitting my awesome idea into mechanics that I’m not willing to change. Plus it’s easier to manipulate and change a metaphor than a mechanic.

Over the course of this semester, who would you like to collaborate with and why?

One person I’d like to collaborate with is Max. I feel like when it comes to design I often let my “adult brain” get the better of me and I don’t stay as open minded as I would like. I feel like Max let’s his kid brain roam free and I love that and want to learn more about how he develops ideas and thinks. He might be a mad genius like King Bumi in Avatar Last Airbender.

1.) In your opinion what should every game have? Why do you like your favorite game?

I believe that there are a few key factors that every game should have, things like competition, interaction, replayability, and a good hook. I like my favorite game because of it’s adaptability. Despite the rules staying the same, the game is able to change and variate depending on the people playing it, which I think keeps it interesting and fun.

2.) List the games you’ve played and currently play

3.) Can you apply the three act structure to your favorite game? What is it’s pacing and how long do you find yourself in each act?

Yes, I would say that the three act structure can be applied to my favorite game. The pacing of the game really depends on the players. While the first act usually starts off slow, it can also pass rather quickly if the players know what they are doing. Then you’re faced with the second act, which is what usually takes up the majority of gameplay. It’s easy to get “stuck” in the second act, especially as players get more competitive and rules sometimes get more complicated. Once you reach the final act, the game usually moves relativley quickly until it’s over, but not always. Sometimes the win can come seemingly out of no where and the game is over just like that. And other times, you can see it coming miles and miles before it actually does.

4.) When coming up with ideas where do you find you start, with the metaphor or the mechanic? 

I don’t know if I would say that I really have one method I use more than the other. I think that my process involves a lot of mix and matching. I come up with a handful of metaphors and a handful of mechanics, and from there I sort of see what works with what and what I can put aside for something else. Although if I had to pick one I start with more than the other, I would say I tend to go with the mechanics of a game first, and then the theme.

5.) Over the course of this semester, who would you like to collaborate with and why?

Someone I would like to collaborate with over the course of the semester would probably be my brother. He’s always been someone I can brainstorm with when I get stuck on something, and a part of that is because his brain functions sort of opposite of the way mine does. We balance out pretty evenly, and I think that he’s someone who could push me in a different direction and help me create something new. 

!. I feel every game should have a “wow” factor. I know that’s kinda broad but something has to be eye-catching or at least seem interesting enough for someone to play. Whether it’s the art style, colors, format, narrative, or music. Something about each game has its own “wow” factor. My favorite game at the moment is “Taiko no Tatsujin” This game has different music you play on the taiko drum. I enjoy this game because of the music and the bright colors what makes this game fun is that it has different skill levels ranging from easy to extreme. Also, not every song has the same easy level. Depending on the intensity of the song whether it’s a slow song or a fast song, it has certain intensities. I feel it gets addicting by wanting to clear each song and level.

2. Mario cart Wii and 8. Mario Party 8, superstars and all-stars. Black ops 2, modern warfare, and ghost. Left for dead 1 and 2. Grand theft auto. Animal Crossing, Minecraft, smash bros, just dance, Wii sports, battle box theater fall guys, until dawn, the quarry, corn hole, Rumi 500, Pacman, monopoly, cards against humanity, apples to apples, clue, Sorry, twisters, Pictionary, guitar hero, taiko, subnautica, slime rancher, FNAF

3, I would think so. The first act would be choosing a song and difficulty. This sets the stage for how difficult the journey is and what to expect. The second act would be the time playing the song and struggling for victory. If you miss too many notes you won’t complete the song. The third act is right at the end of the song finding out if you passed. I also feel that the acts are short. The pacing depends on the song. Some songs are long some are short.

4. Mechanic

5. Probably my brother Caden because I feel we would work well together and we have a lot of the same interests with playing video games

There are many things that make a good game. The first and arguably the most important thing is that the rules must be clear and understandable. Players should be able to get a clear understanding on how to start the game, proceed through it, and win. The mechanics of the game are also important. A good game has mechanics that are easy to understand and execute, unique mechanics also can make for a fun game. A game should also have some kind of narrative or goal to draw the person in and make them want to play or continue playing. Finally a game should be fun or enjoyable for the person playing it. Not all games are perfect and some execute these things better than others *cough* *cough* Monopoly but even games that can be frustrating have an appeal that draw us back. Some people also just like to win.

All of the games I’ve played have been memorable ones, but I’ve grown to enjoy some more than others. Thats what a good game should be. A good game is something that brings people together for a fun time. It’s competitive, yet fun. It’s a challenge, yet easy going.

A good game should be easy to learn and play, and made sure it’s tailored to the right audience. Every game should be unique in its own way, and should have new experiences with each play through.

There’s so many technical things that can make a good game. Having simple rules are one of the few things that make a good game. There’s nothing more difficult to starting a game than having rules that don’t make sense or there are too many. I also believe that having too many mechanics can ruin a game as well. There are games that have many mechanics, and are really fun to play, but if there isn’t a purpose to having certain mechanics then it’s a waste to have them.

Ultimately and truthfully, what makes a great game? If you like to play it. Any game that you enjoy playing is a good game. Games that don’t get played are really the ones that aren’t good. If you like playing a game, and you enjoy all the mechanics and the rules are perfect for you, then that makes a good game. Playing games is really important because they’re always a learning experience no matter what. The best games and the good games are the ones that we enjoy playing.