Game Development Software Development Summary

 

¢ Components of DirectX

¢ Using Visual C++ and DirectX: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb384840.aspx

¢ Using Visual Basic with DirectX (Direct3d): http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb384840.aspx

 

Proposal Document	Principles of Game Design	Storytelling	Project Lifecycle
Genre	Genre-Specific Issues	Development Team	The Business

 

Proposal Document (To Obtain Financing)

  Overrall Concept

  Target Market

  Target Hardware Platform

  Estimated Schedule and Budget

  Comptetitive Analysis

  The Team

Genres (Which One Would You Select?)

  Adventure

  Action

  Role-Playing

  Strategy

  Simulation

  Sports

  Fighting

  Educational

  Puzzle

Principles of Game Design

  Player Empathy

     Put yourself in player's shoes and anticipate his reactions.

 

  Feedback

     Every player input should receive a response

 

  Grounding the Player

     Player should know where he is in the game and why he is doing what he is doing

 

  Moment-to-Moment Experience

     Hold the player's attention constantly.

 

  Immersion

     Player is completely drawn into the game and the real world disappears

 

  Writing

     Good writing is critical

 

  Design Within Limits

     Attempt to do only what you are capable of and within your budget

 

  Remove  Impediments

       Disc Swapping

       Load Times

       Game Interruptions - Breaks, etc.

       Allow Saves

       Allow Pauses

       Remove Bugs

 

  Good Interface Design

      Screens and Ease of Use

 

  Good Start Up Screen

     Introduce the game and, if appropropriate, obtain information about user

 

  Incorporate Customizable Controls

 

       Give user as much control over the game as possible

 

  Incorporate Cheat Codes

 

       Let the player decide what is fun for him

 

Some Genre-Specific Issues

  Action Games

 

       Point of View

       Weapons

    

  Role-Playing Games

 

       Character Growth

       Story

 

  Adventure Games

 

       Story

       Puzzles

       Exploration

 

  Strategy Games

 

       Resources

       Teams

       Units and Weapons

       Realism Versus Fun

       Artificial Intelligence

       Missions

 

  Simulations

 

       Interface

       Keep it Fun

 

  Sports Games

 

       Know the Rules

       The Look

 

Storytelling

  Plot: The Three Act Structure

 

       Beginning

       Middle

       End

 

  Setting

 

  Character Development - Growth

 

  Interactivity

 

  Tools of the Trade

 

       Cut Scenes

       Scripted Events

       Dialog

Development Team

  Vision

 

  Production

 

       External Producer

       Internal Producer

       Assistant and Associate Producers

 

  Design

 

       Game Designer

       Writer

 

  Programming

 

       Technical Lead

       Code Writers

 

  Art

 

       Art Lead

       Concept Artist

       Character Modeling Artist

       Animation Artist

       Background Modeling Artist

       Textures Artist

Project Lifecycle

  Concept Development

  Project Proposal

  Preproduction - Proof of Concept

  Development

  Alpha Version

  Beta Version

  Code Freeze

  Release to Manufacture

  Patches

  Upgrades

The Business

  How Games Are Sold

  The Publishing Team

 

        Public Relations

        Marketing

        Sales

 

  Promotional Tools

 

       Demos

       Interviews

       Screenshots

 

  Business Development

 

       Advances

       Royalties

       Milestones and Deliverables

       Rights

       Proprietary Technology

       Confidentiality

ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT DECISIONS

High-Level Language: C++, Visual Basic, or Java

Hardware Interface: OpenGL and/or DirectX