Prototyping - CS 4730 · Rapid#Prototyping# • Which#leads#us#to#rapid#prototyping# •...
Transcript of Prototyping - CS 4730 · Rapid#Prototyping# • Which#leads#us#to#rapid#prototyping# •...
CS 4730
Prototyping
CS 4730 – Computer Game Design
Credit: Some slide material courtesy Walker White (Cornell)
CS 4730
What is a Prototype? • In the simplest terms, it’s an incomplete model of your game – It usually has a reduced feature set – The selected features are usually the “most important”
• The idea is to get an idea for what the basic gameplay will be like – Try out a mechanic – Tune some parameters
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What is a Prototype? • Types of prototypes
– Throwaway – EvoluMonary – Incremental – Extreme
• Forms of prototypes – Physical – Digital (different system) – Digital (same system)
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Throwaway Prototype • With a throwaway prototype, you don’t intend to reuse any of the created “material” in the final product – This refers to the actual “things” created, not the knowledge gained
– Thus, all non-‐digital prototypes are by definiMon throwaway
– Your prototype due this week may or may not be throwaway (but probably will be)
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Why Throwaway? • Why spend the Mme to build something you know you’ll discard? – Usually, they are quick to create, quick to change – Good for geXng basic ideas “down on paper” – Good for convincing others you have a good idea – Good for looking at “slower” aspects of the game (i.e. stepping through each part of a player turn)
– O[en helps you refine and fully envision exactly what it is you want to make
– Can use other quick tools to build 5
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EvoluMonary Prototypes • With an evoluMonary prototype, you are building in the system you plan to build with
• Think of this more as “build and iterate” – The iniMal prototype is only a prototype in that it comes first
– Features are added for the next iteraMon of the prototype
– UnMl you have a “finished” product that just needs polish
– This is what you’ll do during your team project 6
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Why Digital Prototypes? • Paper can only do so much • Can test input methods be]er • Hard to test physics systems, networking systems, etc. without this
• Can use real assets
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Physical Prototypes • We did a throwaway physical prototype earlier this year – The game lab the first week
• Admi]edly, some games are easier to make physical prototype than others…
• Example: Thrones by MarMn Kellogg
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Physical Prototype • What other things can you use to make a physical prototype?
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Physical Prototype
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Physical Prototype
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Physical Prototype
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Some Games are Easier to Prototype
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Goals From Physical Prototype • Explore the core mechanics in a controlled, slower-‐paced environment
• Physically force you to consider different aspects of your game before coding them
• Get the team to talk about core decisions • Encourage collaboraMon • Test out value of resources in economy
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Your Physical Prototype • I won’t FORCE you to make a physical prototype for your team project…
• … but you’ll either do one or you’re going to storyboard the game
• I will ask for SOME physical design aspect of the game outside of the design doc itself!
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Digital Prototype • Digital prototypes come in many different forms – Wireframing (UX mock-‐ups) someMmes has funcMonality (o[en faked)
– Rapid prototyping tools/projects can be done by taking an exisMng project or demo and customizing it
– Custom prototyping can be very powerful, but can also take a great deal of Mme
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Wireframing • Wireframing comes from the term/idea that you are looking at a scaffold drawing of an object
• O[en done in image editors with some scripMng thrown in somehow to show transiMons
• Heck, it could even be Powerpoint
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Rapid Prototyping • Which leads us to rapid prototyping • O[en done with a toolset of some kind
– Many games come with modding tools or level editors
– Custom map creaMon and modding is one of the first steps many people take in geXng into the games business!
• Could be throwaway or evoluMonary • This is what you are doing for your pitches
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Rapid Prototyping • Is it worth the Mme?
– O[en it is! – You can test out a parMcular mechanic – Refine the code – Then import it over to your final project!
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Custom Prototyping • Can be a bit more intense • But allows for a lot more flexibility when tesMng and evaluaMng mechanics
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Tomb Raider
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BioWare
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Fez (Fezzer Level Editor)
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Super Mario World (Lunar Magic)
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Changing Values
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Custom Prototypes • Custom prototypes can be very powerful • Can take much longer to create • But can let you try TONS of “slider combinaMons” without restarMng, rebuilding, republishing your program
• So… tradeoffs… • You WILL have to code some aspects of this into your project
• More info later! 26
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How would you prototype… • How would you build a physical prototype for
– A dungeon crawler, like Diablo? – A soccer game? – A match-‐3 puzzle game? – A top-‐down view shmup? – Super Mario Bros 3? – A fighMng game?
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