Ultimate Game Design : Building game worlds

Building Game Worlds
94
U L T I M A T E G A M E D E S I G N
TYPES OF ITEMS/POWER-UPS
AND PLACEMENT
The items/power-ups category includes several other elements present in most games,
such as the following:
� Health or life energy pickups
� Weapons upgrades
� Weapons ammunition
� Save points
� Collectibles (for example, rings or stars)
� Special items (for example, a telecommunications device)
� Specific ability power-ups (for example, ability-specific increases like
shooting distances)
� Special powers energy (for example, mana for spell casting)
� Special move pickups (for example, pickups that enable a character to
perform unique actions)
How are these items placed? Normally, the planned placement for these objects is
described in your topographic map’s legend details and design document. You place
these items based on how you see enemy conflict and support for your hero character(s)
working in the map. For the most part, these items support and challenge the
player. Sometimes the planned placement ends up working quite well, whereas others
times it misses the mark completely.
Finding the right item placement is largely a matter of making many refinement
passes on your map. It’s a matter of feeling. Common sense is the starting point. If
you have areas of high conflict, you’ll want health or life energy pickups nearby. You
may also want to help the player face difficult enemies with a local weapons upgrade
and enough ammo to be satisfying. Build some “discovery” into your map with hidden
treasure troves. Make the player earn special items and special power-ups. The
player gets little sense of accomplishment if the special item is sitting on the floor in
front of them. Make it a challenge to get and keep these items, but don’t make it an insurmountable
challenge.
It sounds obvious, but make collectibles “alive” and meaningful in the world, and
make sure they are hooked into the game. Nobody really wants to pick up mindless
objects that have little or no perceived effect on your powers in the game. Items have
to count for something.