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Geek Culture / Designing Great Games [article]

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zircher
21
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Joined: 27th Dec 2002
Location: Oklahoma
Posted: 13th Jan 2004 05:11
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http://www.gamedev.net/reference/design/features/greatgames/

http://www.gamebeavers.org
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Kharnor
21
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Joined: 5th Jul 2003
Location: Australia
Posted: 13th Jan 2004 10:35
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Quote: "one of the key elements in good game design is "Fun""


Well, I'll just have to redesign all my games then...

Quote: "Is this "magical" element called "fun" the key to designing a great game?"


Is this guy serious?

Quote: "Webster defines fun as...."


Oh, for the love of...

Quote: "Interacting with Non-Player Characters defined with astrological unfavorable characteristics or an astrological sign that's incompatible with the player..."


Okay, he's crazy.

This article starts off trying to define "fun", then starts talking about something that might actually be interesting(the stuff about the trophy cases) then starts talking about astrology and tries to determine exactly how games are different from real life.

If this is what it takes to design a great game, a dead goldfish could do it.

Current project: Parking Lot (puzzle game, 30% complete)
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Shadow Robert
21
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Joined: 22nd Sep 2002
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Posted: 13th Jan 2004 10:43 Edited at: 13th Jan 2004 11:28
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hahaa... well it'll help someone.
personally i'd say the key to a good game is a 2-tier plan,

a) get a simple game premise
b) make the controls easy and responsive

the rest just falls into place, just look at the most popular games;
Counter-Strike, Super Monkey Ball, etc...

[edit] didn't want to waste a post on this.
but i didn't realise he was the XGDX main speaker; ho hum
can't believe he is now teaching

unfortunately though it's actually a common practise that those who can't actually do anything end up going into teaching instead; which is sad really, because it kinda demerits the education system a bit.


Detonating a nuclear device within the city limits results in a $500 fine!
900mhz|256mb|FX5200Ti 52.16|Dx9|WXP-Pro
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 13th Jan 2004 11:02
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That's just 2 pages that define the word 'game' like a dictionary would define the word 'game'. It's actually a totally useless thread, and couldn't possibly help anyone. If you don't already know what a game is, then you haven't lived. He doesn't even define what a game is very well. He uses a lot of words like 'Fun' and 'Great' wow! Does he really have to tell me that a game should be fun. His book must be totally useless....

This is how I would write a similar page...........

A sensational computer game should be an arcade opera combining the beauty of graphics, with timing, and danger, and orchestrated animated characters, or icons. The idea behind the game should be ripped from the soul within you that has stored all the excitement of your past endevours. You need to take all your personal history of feelings, and emotions, and translate them into code.

See the difference!!!

Pincho.

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Neophyte
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Joined: 23rd Feb 2003
Location: United States
Posted: 13th Jan 2004 11:14
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@Pincho

"His book must be totally useless...."

Good call. It is. Read some of the reviews for it at amazon.com or better yet check out some pros who really dig into this guy for that crap article.

[href]http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?key=featart&uid=2034&forum_id=35&Topic_Title=Designing+Great+Games
[/href]

Also, his resume that he posted on flipcode.com. Its hysterical.

http://www.flipcode.com/cgi-bin/msg.cgi?showThread=00001377&forum=industry&id=-1
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 13th Jan 2004 12:36
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He he! He's a total nut case! If he wasn't teaching, he'd be in a mental hospital! I seriously think that he has schizophrenia. Or dual personality disorder.

Pincho.

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Wyrmslayer
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Posted: 13th Jan 2004 17:12 Edited at: 13th Jan 2004 17:13
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This guy sounds like he would get along great with my history teacher she doesn't know what she is
talking about half the time and gets mad at us for correcting her.

As a supervillian i swear to never gloat before killing the Hero.
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CattleRustler
Retired Moderator
21
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Joined: 8th Aug 2003
Location: case modding at overclock.net
Posted: 13th Jan 2004 18:30
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I hate to say this but that article pretty much sucked-arse. Normally I wouldn't try to disparage against anyone else's work, I would just say nothing and move on but this guy is preaching, and his preaching sucks.

-RUST-

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Hamish McHaggis
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Location: Modgnik Detinu
Posted: 13th Jan 2004 18:42
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Quote: "No longer are just the "geeks" and "nerds" reading gaming magazines, surfing the web to learn about gaming issues and cheats and buying games to play alone at home."


Uh huh...

Do you bite your thumb at me sir?

Athelon XP 1600 Plus - Nvidia Geforce MX400 - 256mb RAM
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Ian T
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Location: Around
Posted: 13th Jan 2004 19:26
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What utter nonsense ... I've gotten more inspiration looking at game screenshots... no seriously people, find some screenshots of games with good GUIs and turn them into flipcards. It'll help you more than this thing.

--Mouse: Famous (Avatarless) Fighting Furball

I am the chainsaw paladin.
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TheAbomb12
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Location: Amist the blue skies...
Posted: 13th Jan 2004 20:06 Edited at: 13th Jan 2004 20:06
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I have one of his books,

but its not as bad as this article... (it's far better actually)

Amist the Blue Skies...
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Chris K
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Location: Lake Hylia
Posted: 13th Jan 2004 21:13
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Get out. Now.

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