Ultimate Game Design : Building game worlds

Building Game Worlds
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U L T I M A T E G A M E D E S I G N
How will a drag-and-drop construction system with immediate scripting power
(right-clicking an actor in a scene not just to set but to “define” new behaviors) come
together into one technology solution? It may very well end up being a per-genre solution.
Remember that there is another sizeable problem to deal with: by definition, each
genre game has its own unique construction and script facilitation requirements.
Some very nice efforts in this direction have been made by several developers to
date. However, I’m not sure that very many in the industry would agree that any one
of these systems approaches the kind of power and extensibility I’ve suggested here.
CASE STUDY COMMENTS ON
SCRIPTING A BASEBALL GAME
If you’re lucky, you will come into a game development situation during the planning
phase. This is always a benefit since it’s the best way to develop a real sense for the
history of a given project in terms of the challenges and expectations for the game.
It’s important to make sure that your team deliberates upon game tool considerations
as early as possible in the development cycle, rather than as addendums to other
forms of ongoing game development that have a way of charging forward with little
or no consideration for game tools.
Unless your team plans carefully for a substantial script and trigger system, you
probably won’t get one. Programmers, facing constant time and functionality challenges
already, will simply code game agent behavior functionality themselves deep within
the actor code of the game engine. “Exposing” these variables (or making them available
to a script system) adds complexity, planning, and execution requirements. There are
cases in which a complete scripting system is unnecessary. In those cases, it might be
easier to make edits directly in the game code itself. The determining factor should
rely on whatever serves the needs of the game title the best.
However, most modern titles are both large in scope and potentially expandable
(with add-on levels or mission packs, sequels, or subscription game delivery). Script
systems regularly prove to be necessary and valuable undertakings to support the
creation of current titles and should be flexible enough to account for future development
needs. Keep in mind that it is often difficult to determine how to best manage
and orient your scripting needs for future projects. Different game genres and styles
require unique and particular scripting system support.
Once the design details for your title are established and basic design/feature
lockdown has taken place (no new major elements can be added), your gameplay
goals at the concept level should be very clear. You will need every bit of this clarity to
build a script system. If you are still defining your game details, don’t waste resources