Making a Viable Prototype

Introduction to Prototyping

Why We Prototype

• Why do we prototype? Most people just jump right into making games. Prototyping is done from the perspective of humility, acknowledging that not all ideas are good, and it's important to test your ideas in a very basic form before expanding on them.
• During this competition you are seeking to build a very basic prototype of what could be a bigger project. 

Ask each other: What are some other advantages to making prototypes before committing to an idea?

Understanding What a Game Is

• What is a game? Before making a prototype, understanding what constitutes a game is crucial. Most games are not the 3D version of a movie. Rather, they are more akin to toys.

  • The fundamental aspect that makes them fun is the challenge that allows for interesting strategy towards a goal.

Designing for Fun

• Creating Fun: Creating fun isn't easy. It's like making someone laugh. Usually, games pick one fun thing and extrapolate that throughout the game.

  • For example: If you discover that jumping from one platform to another is fun, you might design an entire game around this concept. This is what games like Mario do, focusing on a single core mechanic. 

Ask each other: Mention your favorite game and see if you can discover together what the core mechanic is. 

The Mistake of Story Over Fun

• Story vs. Fun: A common mistake of new game designers is focusing too much on story. Most games are about fun challenges, not storytelling.
• Wrap your story around the fun you create with your mechanics. 

Ask each other: Have you ever played a game that has amazing cutscenes but lacked solid gameplay? What went wrong? Why?

Core Gameplay Loop

• The Core Gameplay Loop: Many successful games focus on one core gameplay loop and make a game out of that. This approach simplifies the game design process and ensures a focused and enjoyable game experience.

Ask each other: Mention your favorite game and see if you can discover together what the core gameplay loop is. 

Scope

Scope is one thing newcomers often get wildly wrong about making games. During this competition, you'll be making a basic prototype for a game that you and your team can realistically accomplish. If your team consists mostly of people new to the industry, you should follow the following video to understand scope better.

Stop the video once you reach 2:00 min.

Ask each other: Where have you seen scope creep be an issue on your projects in the past, even if they had nothing to do with games?