Unit 30 – Design for Games

AO4AO4

Develop the Game'sDevelop the Game'sCharacters Characters and and StoryStory

AO4 asks you to develop the story and characters for your game.

You will do this a little like AO2, by completing a summary table and providing additional information.

●How stories work in other media●Mythic structure in stories and games●Interactivity●Theme, genre and tone●Structure and pace

Story

Characters

●Appearance●Backstory●Role in the game●Movement●Abilities and strengths●Weaknesses and vulnerabilities●Built in behaviours

Story – Stories in Other Media

We are used to stories from books, plays, films and other sources as having a beginning, a middle and an end

We are also used to soap operas which seem to have no start or end but lots of narratives with their own structures

On the form – Where we get our stories from

In additional information – different types and structures of story in other media and how they might apply to your game ideas

Mythic Structure and Games

On the form, show a basic understanding of how games use mythical structures in their storytelling

In additional information – an understanding of Propp's and/or Todorov's theories of narrative and how they might apply to your game ideas.

Interactivity

Outline some simple ways that your game story will be interactive

In the additional information – consider how you can control the narrative (as designer) whilst creating the impression of interactivity (look back at the AO1 reading list).

Theme, Genre and Tone

Briefly explain what you game is about (in 'real world' terms – leadership? The right and wrong of using violence? Gender?) - what the genre/subgenre is and what tone your game will have – Sombre? Cheerful? Scary?

In the additional information:-

How will you develop your generic conventions?How will your theme develop within the game? How will you anchor particular connotations to show preferred readings of representations? How will you develop the tone of your game?

Structure and Pace

How do you progress through your game? How do you move from stage to stage? How do you win? How does the game maintain pace?

In the additional information – draw an 'intensity graph' for your game narrative – Set out the main narrative beats in each level – how does the rising tension keep you involved and interested- how do the challenges increase in difficulty as the game goes on.

Characters - Appearance

Who are your main characters and what do they look like?

In the additional information:- sketches and designs of characters in motion and at rest, with different costume ideas, how they will look when strong / when weak

Characters - BackstorySummarise the history of your main characters

In the additional information:-

● Complete character sheets for main characters

● List information to back up the information in your character sheets

● Pull together backstories in a paragraph for each main character

Characters – Role in the Game

Identify the archetypal roles your main characters fulfil in your game design.

In the additional information:-

Go through a list of archetypal roles (The Villain, The Donor, The Helper, The Princess, The Dispatcher, The Hero (or victim), The False Hero) and show how they fit into your narrative plans.

Characters - Movement

What normal and special movement modes do your playable characters have?

In the additional information:-

● What can boost characters' movement skills? Energy / vehicles / magic?

● How do characters (and players) learn new movements? (New fighting moves, for example)

Characters - Abilities

What particular abilities do your main playable characters have?

In the additional information:-

● How are abilities determined at the start of the game?

● How do they develop?

● How can they be enhanced – in the short or long term?

Characters – Weaknesses and Vulnerabilities

What are the main characters weaknesses and vulnerabilities?

In the additional information:-

● Are these weaknesses generated initially, as the price of other strengths?

● How might weaknesses develop?

● What can the player do to protect against their characters' weaknesses?

Characters – Built In Behaviours

Are there behaviours which your characters, or the NPCs, will always exhibit?

In the additional information:-

● How can you use built in behaviours (particularly of NPCs) to your benefit?

● How can you overcome built in behaviours in playable characters?

Presentation

All of your work needs to be posted on your blog.

Some work may need to be scanned, with the .jpg files uploaded as images.

You can link to other images, audio and video content which is already online as well as uploading your own

content.

AssessmentAssessment

All of the above work is required to complete AO4

Pass – You create basic story outline and basic characters, with depth, detail, structure and efficacy all to a minimum standard.

Merit – You outline a sound story and have imaginative characters, with depth, detail, structure and efficacy all to a good standard.

Distinction – Game stories and characters to an extremely high standard, with depth, detail, structure and efficacy all highly creative.

These tasks are designed so that if you complete them in full you should be working to Distinction.