Aesthetics, Communities and Teamwork

1. Aesthetics, Communities and Teamwork Paul Taylor 2010

2. The N00bz Guide To Onslaught

3. http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/07/14/g_prey1_wideweb__470x349,0.jpghttp://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/07/14/g_prey1_wideweb__470x349,0.jpg The Basic Game Spaces Linear Grid Based Web based Points in space Divided Space Putting some of these in a blender can make a really interesting game http://tech2.in.com/media/images/2010/Apr/img_216192_metro_2.jpg

4. http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Entertainment/images-4/death-star.jpghttp://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Entertainment/images-4/death-star.jpg Landmarks • How do landmarks affect the game space? • Where is the centre of the University? http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:FpCHZqpkuKCCMM:http://www.gamersbin.com/content/attachments/54-jpg/?cid=18&t=1 http://www.alamedainfo.com/Santa%27s_Village_Sky_Forest_CA_RO_20_B_1955.jpg

5. Architecture and Christopher Alexander • He’s a highly regarded old guy who made cool buildings • His work was on creating spaces shared by objects that have gestalt • Gestalt: Something that is more than the sum of its parts http://www.patternlanguage.com/portraits/ca.res.arch1small.jpg

6. C. Dog’s definition of Spaces with Gestalt They feel: • Alive • Whole • Comfortable • Free • Exact • Egoless – connected to the universe • Eternal • They are free from inner contradictions http://www.palgrave-journals.com/udi/journal/v12/n1/images/9000182f3.gif

7. http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/profile-ak-snc4/object2/879/69/n112297222145613_4650.jpghttp://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/profile-ak-snc4/object2/879/69/n112297222145613_4650.jpg Inner Contradictions • This is what you can buy now on the shopping channel • Write down what something is supposed to be, then look at what it actually is • If they are different it’s an inner contradiction • If the pilot of your aeroplane turns out to be a chicken this is an outer contradiction (the aeroplane is supposed to have a pilot, this is true) • Given we are considering objects • *When considering spaces, the aeroplane would be a space with an inner contradiction. http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100317074057/southpark/images/thumb/4/42/DeadCelebrities03.jpg/250px-DeadCelebrities03.jpg

8. Breaking the Laws of Realism “Finding this balance is critical in determining the amount of detail to put in, and how to keep the player focus to the path. In addition, we want the Uncharted world to feel bigger than what is actually constructed - that means crafting taller buildings, longer streets, wider views, steeper inclines, and opening up the world to create a heightened emotional connection and make every player gasp at how rich and vast our world is.“ Source: http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=5545

9. Things that can mess up your world • Eye Height • We assume eye height, which in a 3rd person perspective makes us VERY tall. • Doorways • Players assume doors are made to fit people

10. Texture Scaling • Yes, you even need to measure the size of the bricks on the walls. • Rescaling Rooms • If you build a perfect scale room, players will probably hate it • In life we can walk around easily in a room • In games we move far more clunkier and in a more clumsy manner, getting stuck http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QradY5UUNUE/S6YxR6IH-bI/AAAAAAAADUI/Zn0YPir5i8Y/s640/man+stuck+in+wall+thing.jpg

11. So just make the room bigger, and space everything out more • This makes the room look too sparse and weird • Make the whole lot bigger, room and objects • You’ll end up making the player feel like a midget or a child • Make the room larger, and the objects a little bigger • This was done in Max Payne and works well • Perhaps your solution will be to give the player the dexterity they are used to in life? http://prplanet.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/failure.jpg

12. The Aesthetics of your World The aesthetics of your world is how you tie the elemental tetrad together: The better you do, the more aesthetic appeal your game will have Aesthetics Mechanics Story (when used) Technology

13. The Aesthetics cont. • Sound • Technology • The Distant Mountains of JRR Tolkien • Balancing Technology • A lot of the artwork is powered by your crack programmers • They are typically crack programmers NOT artists

14. Communities http://www.karagwe.com/images/content/Community.jpg

15. Supporting Gamer Communities What drives players towards multiplayer gaming? • Competition • Collaboration • Socialising • Exploring with friends • Exploring our own abilities http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30/KHALIK/fragmasters-for-newbies.png

16. Why do players join a community? • Membership • Influence • Integration and fulfilment of Needs • Shared emotional connection

17. Why do we care? What do we get? • Extended Play time • A longer period of Contagion • Basically how long viral advertising exists • Word of mouth, Facebook, ...

18. How do you build a Community? #1 Give players the ability to talk (Nintendo??) • Give them someone worth talking to • Make it easy to find people based on how players are aligned • Give them something worth talking about • Complex games have an inherent interest that will support discussions, other games you may need to find ways of generating interest • Allow players to form friendships • Allow players to meet easily • Allow players to connect easily • Allow players to re-connect!

19. #2 Conflict Jonathan Baron (old online gaming creator dude) • conflict with something is the heart of every community. • Having something to oppose or defend is what ties communities together. • Hats • Wars • Anarchists?? • The conflict can be against each other or against the game.

20. #3 Architecture • The structure of your community can control how players communicate, and who with. • All talking to all is not ideal • Knowing where conflict will arise can help moderate content

21. #4 Community Property • People LOVE ownership!! • When they are part owners, players will tend to talk more and keep stronger friendships. • This ties in with keeping players interested! http://ppcwc.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/peoples_theory_with_dancing_people.10125700_std.JPG

22. #5 Allow Expression • Players love to be able to express themselves • Being different (or the same) is so important to people normally, and in game it is equally important. • Look up the different Mii’s on Google if you want to see how far players have gone with a very simple customisation tool.

23. #6 Support all grades of players • N00bs • Require help • Should be nurtured • Normal Players • The easiest to cater for, they look after themselves • Uber L33t Players • They have finished your game, how do you keep them? • Allow them to help n00bs, give them input into the game • Make an insanely difficult mode

24. #7 Make players Dependant on Each other (WoW?) • If players can finish the game on their own, the incentive to team up is greatly diminished • Be wary of drop outs and over-dependence (WoW) http://montrealtechwatch.com/images/wow.jpg

25. http://www.motifake.com/demotivational-poster/0806/wow-addiction-demotivational-poster-1214706387.jpghttp://www.motifake.com/demotivational-poster/0806/wow-addiction-demotivational-poster-1214706387.jpg #8 Manage your Community • Community Gardening You are also gardening! • Plant Seeds • Grow Flowers • Use Pesticide on Weeds!

26. #9 Obligation and Commitment • People generally feel bad when they commit to something and don’t do it. • This effect drive WoW. Players are committed to their guild and will let the guild down if they miss a raid, loosing social status with their friends. • The Pax guild attempts to overrule this inherent dependence in WoW http://www.wfrc.org/cms/image_library/ImageLibrary/Community%20Events/3/imgMed/Community_Events_-_SLC_Farmers__Market__2_.jpg

27. #10 Create Community Events • No WoW Dance Parties • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sktU62NlVag • Really No! • These form part of your interest curve • Highlights in the interest curve! • Possibly lowlights too (see above)

28. Weeding your Garden • The weeds are the players who enjoy torturing other players. • They are absorbed in their power over others, and use it to spoil their experience. • Play Halo in the n00b servers to experience this  http://www.ajsgrass.co.uk/images/weeding2_rounded.jpg

29. What types of garden do weeds grow in most easily? • PvP Combat • Stealing • Money, Inventory, Kills • Trading • If players can misrepresent items the weeds will grow • Obscenities • Fanboys are #1 at this • Smart filtering can remove tones of chat abuse. • Voice communications are a lot trickier, these need to be policed and the weeds crippled in a fashion.

30. What types of garden do weeds grow in most easily? • Path Blocking • Make doors over 2 players wide, or allow players to push each other around • Loopholes & sploits • You need to watch for these and fix them as possible. The quicker you fix things the less damage the weeds will do. • If you run an MMO perhaps charge players based on server-CPU usage. • This would only cost ridiculous players a heap (Gold Miners)

31. http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs50/f/2009/326/9/9/PS3_HAS_NO_GAME_by_FreshNfly89.pnghttp://fc06.deviantart.net/fs50/f/2009/326/9/9/PS3_HAS_NO_GAME_by_FreshNfly89.png The End