Author: Affan Yasin

Story Line

Cards

Map

Goal

Objective/Mechanics

Storyline creates an hypothetical environment and context for the players. e.g. Where all these characters, environment, situation appears in the game and further emotionally attach the players to the current situation.

Initial think of the possible type of cards required for the game (without going into detail of cards). First divide in different types and then further divide the types of card.

Think whether any Map is needed for the game or you want a conceptual map (boundary) for the game. e.g. Go Fish or Black Jack etc.

What the players have to achieve ? What is the win & Lose condition ?In few lines mention the goal of the game. E.g. Killing the dragon, Learning the Security related concepts etc.

Objective or Mechanics is the basic theme of the game. You can use various mechanics in one game but don’t use too many game mechanics thus making the game unbalance.

Game Rules

Process/Movement

Role/Character

Asset / Resources of Players

Restrictions/Conflict/Challenges

Game rules which tell the players which is allowed and which is not in the game environment. How to earn the assets/resources in game, how to save from dying in the game.

In this step you have to decide in which way the players will move in the game. In short, you have to decide the progress of the player in the game.

In this steps you have to decide which different role/characters are needed for the game. E.g. Player character(s), random characters in the game. Etc. and also their powers in the game.

In this step you have to decide what are the assets or resources or the player. Which assets are needed with respect to the game.

In this step you have to try to make the environment of the player challenging. But achievable For every movement, rules etc. try to create restriction, challenge or conflict so that suspense can be created.

Mechanics
Fight / Attack.
Betray / Cheat.
Chat / Talk.
Rescue.

Goal
Save the Princess?
Compromise the assets?

Map
Whether your game require a map? What kind of map? Theme?

Cards
What are the different type of Cards used in your game. (if its card game).

Story Line.
Think of theme and music according to the mechanic you selected.
Fighting? Mission Oriented ?

Explore.
Search.
Infiltrate.
Destroy.

Capture the enemy area?
Survival war? Etc...

Conceptual boundary (e.g. card games) Etc...

Cards have power? Etc...

Social game ? Educational Game ?
Think motivation and try to develop a story line . Etc...

Defend.
Spy. Etc...
Select which mechanics your game will have ??

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze what are its goals?

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze what are the different map / background / theme used?

Think of any favorite card game you played and try to analyze what are the different cards they used?

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze How they used Story Line to engage the players.

Restrictions/ Conflict/Challenges
Making movement limited for player(s).
Obstacle/opposition.

Assets / Resources of players.
How to make players interested in one behavior?

Role/Character
What are the main characters of the game?

Process/Movement
What will be the process of the game?
What player has to do first ? Then second ? Etc...

Game Rules
Game rules make the game actually challenging and interesting to play.
Player can fire 4 bullets in one sec? and damage x%.

Making power limitation in some scenarios?
Giving surprise bonus/powers. Etc…

Health recharge.
Experience Point.
Power/life/points. Etc...

What will be the NPC (Non Playing Characters) of the game? (if any) Etc...

What will be the path of the game ?
How the player move? (Random, by dice, by arrows)

Player can have 3 lives to complete mission.
In card game think of ONO. Etc...

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze How they restrict your survival / play in the game?

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze How they provide assets/resources to players?

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze How they manage characters in the game?

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze How they manage movement in the game?

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze How they develop game rules in the game?

Player Interaction Pattern

Build the Knowledge Base

Important Elements — Focusing on User Centered Design

How the game will be govern? One player game? Player vs Computer? Player vs Player. Etc.

This card is for your brainstorming purpose. To write important idea? Extra points? Suggestion/comment etc.

Knowledge base creation helps the reader to easily understand the relations between components and overall design.

Try to focus on elements which will make the user/ player involved. Make him evolved. Make a game design which is more user centric design. At every point think of user/player options (what he can do etc).

This card is for your brainstorming purpose. To write important idea? Extra points? Suggestion/comment etc.

This card is for your brainstorming purpose. To write important idea? Extra points? Suggestion/comment etc.

This card is for your brainstorming purpose. To write important idea? Extra points? Suggestion/comment etc.

This card is for your brainstorming purpose. To write important idea? Extra points? Suggestion/comment etc.

This card is for your brainstorming purpose. To write important idea? Extra points? Suggestion/comment etc.

This card is for your brainstorming purpose. To write important idea? Extra points? Suggestion/comment etc.

Important Elements — Focusing on User Centered Design
Elements of Self expression.
Elements for creativity.

Build the Knowledge Base
Last Step : In the end of this activity, try to build your whole knowledge base.
Where you try to map and link the items.

Player Interaction Pattern
Player vs Computer.
Player vs Player.
Player vs team.
Team vs Team. Etc...

Elements of uncertainty.
Elements of curiosity.
Exploration in game.
Social elements. Etc...

Ontology/Knowledge base is helpful in further understanding the basics of game. Etc...

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze which mechanics they used in their game.

Knowledge base is not only helpful for designers to convey to developers but also helpful in extending and presenting the game in future.

Think of any favorite game you played and try to analyze which player interaction pattern they used in their game.