Ultimate Game Design : Building game worlds

C H A P T E R 4
My secondary goal is to be able to implement a game based upon a well-laid-out initial plan, and
complete it on time, on budget, and to the full satisfaction of the development team. Creating games
is a business, and while game quality is extremely important, so is the bottom line!
TM: What would you say are the main “categories” of scripts (camera scripts, prop behaviors,
enemy behaviors) a designer works with today?
NH: This definitely varies widely by game. However, I imagine that the most commonly used
form of designer-based scripting is to define character behavior. This can range from animation
sequencing to high-level character AI thought processes. To a certain degree, event triggering and
object interactions can also be thought of as a form of scripting, even if they are set up in a visual tool
such as Maya as opposed to being defined by a scripting language, and this is how a huge percentage
of game designer time is spent in game development today.
TM: What are the elements to tuning the “feel” of a game? What attributes are important in a
game designer to do scripting?
NH: Being a good scripter is definitely a talent, and not every designer has an aptitude for it! First,
a scripter absolutely must understand the overall vision of the game. What is the desired end-effect in
terms of style? Will it be consistent with the work of the other scripters? And how will the implementer
know when it is done? Second, a great deal of patience is required. To get something just right often
takes seemingly endless repetitions, play testing, and fine-tuning. Last, and this is mastered by only a very
few designers, the scripter should recognize when a system or feature just isn’t working out sufficiently, or
when a sensible, global change would most dramatically enhance the overall feel of the game—this type
of global decision-making needs to be collaboratively worked out with the programming staff.
TM: What advice would you offer to aspiring game developers interested in making games but not
sure where to begin?
NH: First, play lots of games. It can’t hurt to know what you will be competing against. Attempt to
identify elements in games that you feel are weak, and elements that you feel are strong. Second,
make sure you continue to educate yourself about the latest thinking in game development. There are
numerous web sites that contain a wealth of information about all facets of game making, and news
sites will help point out industry trends and noteworthy events. Third, make sure you refine and hone
your communication skills. Written communication is becoming more critical in game development
every day, and of course being able to communicate concisely with team members verbally is an
absolute must. Last, once you feel you can contribute to game development in some capacity, take the
plunge and start interviewing! There are lots of companies out there willing to train people who are
eager to learn, open-minded, and show aptitude.
TM: Is it possible to “prototype” game ideas or game mechanics without having access to sizeable
programming and art resources?
NH: This is a tough one. In many cases, some form of prototyping is possible. For example, there
are simple game construction kits. Or, some games lend themselves to making test versions in other
mediums (for example, it’s possible that for an RPG or a turn-based strategy game a paper-based
version could be made to test out some of the game elements). However, a great game is more than
the sum of its parts, and it is difficult to tell if a game is going to have the real magic that will set it
above its competitors until all the elements can be seen working together as they were intended.
TM: What misconceptions do you think people outside the game industry have about working in
game development?
103
Actors, Props, Items, and Camera Details