Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Reformulating Business Constraints as Aesthetic Goals Jonathan Hamel BreakAway Games

Putting the Cart Putting the Cart Before the Horse:Before the Horse:

Reformulating Business Constraints as Aesthetic Reformulating Business Constraints as Aesthetic GoalsGoals

Jonathan HamelJonathan HamelBreakAway GamesBreakAway Games

OverviewOverview

Part I:Part I:Introduction Introduction – 10 minutes– 10 minutes

Part II:Part II: Brainstorming Brainstorming – 10 – 10 min.min.

Part III: Part III: Analysis Analysis – 10 min.– 10 min.

Part IV: Part IV: Exercise Exercise – 60 min.– 60 min.

Part V:Part V: Demo Demo – 20 min.– 20 min.

Part VI:Part VI: Wrap-Up Wrap-Up – 10 – 10 min.min.

IntroductionIntroduction

10 minutes10 minutes

MDA Meets RealityMDA Meets Reality

• It can be challenging to use It can be challenging to use the MDA framework in a real the MDA framework in a real business setting.business setting.

• But well worth the effort:But well worth the effort: Focuses team on project goals Focuses team on project goals Helps you deal with feedbackHelps you deal with feedback Herds feature creep in the right Herds feature creep in the right

directiondirection

Everybody’s a CriticEverybody’s a Critic

• You want the game to be better, You want the game to be better, but:but: The client or publisher wants…The client or publisher wants… The contract says…The contract says… Your company strategy is…Your company strategy is… The latest market research shows…The latest market research shows… The system performance is...The system performance is... The schedule has time for...The schedule has time for... etc.etc.

The Designer’s The Designer’s PerspectivePerspective

Mechanics AestheticsDynamicsDesigner



Horse



HorseCart





Mechanics



Mechanics DifferentDynamics



MechanicsDifferent

Aesthetics

DifferentDynamics

Design vs. CommerceDesign vs. Commerce

• ArgueArgue Usually, they win, right?Usually, they win, right?

• CommunicateCommunicate Nobody else knows what MDA is.Nobody else knows what MDA is. ““Your ‘aesthetic goal’ should be for it to Your ‘aesthetic goal’ should be for it to

be fun.”be fun.” (Schedules aren’t very good listeners, (Schedules aren’t very good listeners,

anyway.) anyway.)

• AcceptAccept

Mantras for Staying Mantras for Staying CalmCalm

• Focus on the clientFocus on the client It's not a better game if it still It's not a better game if it still

doesn't meet the business objectives doesn't meet the business objectives of the people funding and selling it.of the people funding and selling it.

• Define “Design”Define “Design” The application of creative expertise The application of creative expertise

to solve problems.to solve problems.

Quick ExamplesQuick Examples

• Compare “design” in other industries:Compare “design” in other industries:

• ArchitectureArchitecture How do I plan for the flow of people through a How do I plan for the flow of people through a

physical space?physical space?

• EngineeringEngineering How do I make the paperclip grip better and not How do I make the paperclip grip better and not

rust the paper?rust the paper?

• AdvertisingAdvertising How can I communicate that this brand is How can I communicate that this brand is

“sophisticated” and “dangerous?”“sophisticated” and “dangerous?”

The PointThe Point

• Design is the application of creative Design is the application of creative expertise to solve problems.expertise to solve problems.

• Whose problems?Whose problems?

• The people with the money.The people with the money.

• Client/publisher/business Client/publisher/business constraints can be as important as constraints can be as important as aesthetic goals.aesthetic goals.

BrainstormingBrainstorming


War StoriesWar Stories

• Time to vent and/or bragTime to vent and/or brag An ethnography of business constraintsAn ethnography of business constraints Notice not a ‘taxonomy’ ... maybe one dayNotice not a ‘taxonomy’ ... maybe one day

• What curve balls have you been What curve balls have you been thrown?thrown?

• Home run or strike out?Home run or strike out?

InspirationInspiration

The client or publisher wants…The client or publisher wants… The contract says…The contract says… Your company strategy is…Your company strategy is… The latest market research shows…The latest market research shows… The system performance is...The system performance is... The schedule has time for...The schedule has time for... The marketing dept. wants...The marketing dept. wants...

AnalysisAnalysis


The IdealThe Ideal

• When game design and When game design and business constraints are business constraints are seamless we feel great.seamless we feel great. Role-playing and subscriber loyaltyRole-playing and subscriber loyalty Casual games and their demographicCasual games and their demographic

• But when business constraints But when business constraints feel tacked on... ughfeel tacked on... ugh

The QuestionThe Question

• Can business constraints be Can business constraints be reformulated in a way that is reformulated in a way that is more useful to us as designers? more useful to us as designers?

• How about a Constraint Model?How about a Constraint Model? Understand Understand what you’re being asked to what you’re being asked to

do.do. Predict Predict what it’s going to do to your what it’s going to do to your

game.game.

Components of a Components of a Constraints ModelConstraints Model

• What What kindkind of constraint are we of constraint are we talking about?talking about?

• What’s the What’s the domain domain of the of the constraint?constraint?

• What counts as What counts as adherence? adherence? Notice I’ve put this last...Notice I’ve put this last... Describe your goal(s): success and/or failure Describe your goal(s): success and/or failure

to accommodate the constraint.to accommodate the constraint. Predict potential consequences.Predict potential consequences.

Goal: Goal: CompetitionCompetition

Model: Model: A game is A game is competitivecompetitive if if players are players are emotionally invested emotionally invested in in defeating each other.defeating each other.

Success:Success: Players are adversaries.Players are adversaries. Players want to win.Players want to win.

Failure:Failure: A player feels that he can’t win.A player feels that he can’t win. A player can’t measure his progress.A player can’t measure his progress.

Kinds of ConstraintsKinds of Constraints

• AdditiveAdditive• SubtractiveSubtractive

Additive ConstraintAdditive Constraint

Game


Game

Constraint


Game

Constraint

Change


Game

Constraint

Change

Change

Subtractive ConstraintSubtractive Constraint

Game


Game

Constraint


Game

Change

Constraint


Game

Change

Change

Constraint

Domain of ConstraintDomain of Constraint

• DomainDomain MechanicsMechanics DynamicsDynamics AestheticsAesthetics MultipleMultiple

• The deeper into your game the The deeper into your game the constraint reaches, the greater constraint reaches, the greater the ripple effect.the ripple effect.


• MechanicsMechanics Can be the easiest to cope with. Can be the easiest to cope with. Example: Sissyfight + ‘tattle’Example: Sissyfight + ‘tattle’ Or the most insidious.Or the most insidious. Example: Sissyfight + product Example: Sissyfight + product

placementplacement

• DynamicsDynamics Look out for dynamics masquerading Look out for dynamics masquerading

as mechanics.as mechanics. Example: Add a pace monster.Example: Add a pace monster.


• AestheticAesthetic Example: Yesterday’s exercise.Example: Yesterday’s exercise.

• Multiple domains...Multiple domains...

Define AdherenceDefine Adherence

• First ask “Why?”First ask “Why?” Find out how much flexibility you have.Find out how much flexibility you have.

• Restate your goalRestate your goal How will you know if you’ve succeeded How will you know if you’ve succeeded

or failed in satisfying the or failed in satisfying the requirements?requirements?

• Predict consequencesPredict consequences Try to enumerate your concerns/worst Try to enumerate your concerns/worst

fears.fears.

An ExampleAn Example

• We want you to be able to We want you to be able to customize the clothing of customize the clothing of any individual unit in your any individual unit in your RTS.RTS.


• Kind: Kind: AdditiveAdditive

• Domain: Domain: MechanicMechanic

• Goal: Goal: Player feels they are expressing themselves.Player feels they are expressing themselves. Player feels invested in individual units.Player feels invested in individual units.


• Kind: Kind: AdditiveAdditive

• Domain: Domain: AestheticAesthetic

• Goal: Goal: Player feels they are expressing themselves.Player feels they are expressing themselves. Player feels invested in individual units.Player feels invested in individual units.

• Concerns:Concerns: Players won’t be able to identify units’ function.Players won’t be able to identify units’ function. Player spends considerable time not in combat.Player spends considerable time not in combat.

ExerciseExercise


Sissyfight’s RevengeSissyfight’s Revenge

• Design on Sissyfight was “done.” Design on Sissyfight was “done.” • You’ve just received a memo.You’ve just received a memo.• The memo is unreasonable.The memo is unreasonable.• Your job depends on success.Your job depends on success.

• Break into groups of 6 people.Break into groups of 6 people.• Pick a memo – each group should Pick a memo – each group should

do a different one if possible.do a different one if possible.• We’re going to divide up into 3 We’re going to divide up into 3

rooms.rooms.


Does every group have a Does every group have a memo?memo?


• Try to resist the temptation to satisfy Try to resist the temptation to satisfy the memo with pure content changes. the memo with pure content changes. That’s what we mean by “tacked on.”That’s what we mean by “tacked on.”

• After 5 minutes: be prepared to shareAfter 5 minutes: be prepared to share Your memoYour memo One or more constraint modelsOne or more constraint models

• At the end: be prepared to present a At the end: be prepared to present a successful game.successful game.

Iterate quickly!Iterate quickly!

• Kind: Kind: Additive / SubtractiveAdditive / Subtractive

• Domain: Domain: Mechanic / Dynamic / Aesthetic / MultipleMechanic / Dynamic / Aesthetic / Multiple

• Goal: Goal: ......

• Concerns:Concerns: ......

DemoDemo


DiscussionDiscussion

• How successful were you at How successful were you at adhering to the constraint?adhering to the constraint?

• How successful were you in How successful were you in achieving your aesthetic goals? achieving your aesthetic goals? Was the game “fun?”Was the game “fun?” Did the game have the right kind of fun?Did the game have the right kind of fun?

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

• Can we make an even better Can we make an even better game by game by seeking out seeking out business business constraints and exceed constraints and exceed expectations?expectations?

• Comments?Comments?

Wrap-upWrap-up

Thanks!Thanks!

Documents

Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Reformulating Business Constraints as Aesthetic Goals Jonathan Hamel BreakAway Games