What is the difference between a game designer and a game developer?
When I think game designer, I think of someone making a board game. Can you call that analog? When I think game developer, I think computers.
What commonly occurs during the game development process?
Multiple steps backwards.
What are the challenges of balancing a game?
Keeping it rewarding, while not handing things away.
What should every player of your game believe? Why?
I think they should believe in your rules. Even if the rules have an error, play until you encounter that, and deal with it accordingly. Nobody’s going to have fun if you’re looking for problems.
How can you avoid stealing players fun?
Stay out of the game, as the game maker.
What 10 maxims should you follow when writing rules?
Use no intermediary terminology
Use real words
Make no more work than necessary
Add flavor (but not too much flavor)
Make your text no smarter than your reader
Discard rules that can’t be written
Take a breath
Go easy on the eyes
Get your final version playtested
Fix it in the FAQ
How has play testing changed your game?
I can think whatever I want about something I make, but there can be a lot of things that I could – and did – miss.
Who from class would you like to play test your next game or version 2 of your first game?
Ronan.
Who is the audience for your game?
People who like to have fun.
Who should play test your game outside of class?
My roommates.