Ultimate Game Design : Building game worlds

C H A P T E R 2
TM: Why are well-crafted fighting games so appealing to large numbers of players?
JK: It’s a way of getting out your frustrations. It’s also a way of living out your fantasies of beating
someone like what you see in the movies. Because a real street fight is over in seconds and it’s not
real pretty to watch. It’s pretty ugly and there are a lot of emotions involved. What a lot of fighting
games do is create a subculture, because if a kid is able to perform a special move with a certain
combination and timing, he’s all of the sudden the popular kid of the group of kids who play and
follow the game.
TM: What tips or suggestions do you have for game designers just getting started?
JK: Find a well-written game design document to get an idea of the elements that are involved.
Learn as much as you can about all the other aspects of game production. Most important is to get
experience by getting into a game production and see if it is something you really want to do. Be
persistent and never take no for an answer when seeking a job. Design mock game design documents
and add what you feel will make the game better than the games that are out there, and get your
gaming friends to honestly critique it.
TM: In your experience, what fundamental game design rules should always be observed?
JK: Know what is out there, and use that as a foundation to build upon. Learn the rules of what
makes a great game, and then learn how to effectively (not carelessly) break those rules.
TM: What skills and abilities should new game designers focus on? How about fight game
designers?
JK: With fight game designers, I feel they should think out of the box and bring on other elements
that would make the game more compelling. There are too many fighting games that are very similar
yet still the same.
TM: Do you think working as a game designer requires preparation outside of technology (learning
scripting and 3-D packages)?
JK: Yes. Everything you know helps makes you a better designer.
TM: Where are the best next-generation games likely to come from?
JK: Any place that lets the production team come up with something different, that is outside of the
box, that is relatively easy to play, has rules that are consistent, can completely immerse (or should I say
addict) the player in the gaming environment, and support the structure of the gameplay at all times.
TM: Does the industry need change to support game design growth?
JK: Yes. Like Hollywood, they have formulaic tendencies and are concerned with making money, but
do not take the time to research and develop new ideas.
TM: John, thanks for taking the time to talk!
MEGA TIPS
1. Use and reuse prefabricated geometry by designing level pieces or “level
construction sets” with modularity in mind at all times. If you are building
your own toolset, make sure that it allows for this ideal.
2. Keep a level journal as you play your favorite games. Make notes in your
journal about what works, what doesn’t, and why a level or play idea
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Level Planning and Building