Thursday 20 November 2014

Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants.

Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants.

Computer Game Design.

"We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours."
                               -John of Salisbury

I start with this quote with the intention of talking about what i call "Idea Coalition". first off i should give a definition.

Idea Coalition - To expand upon the ideas of others to develop better techniques to use in future projects without claiming to own.

Idea Coalition is the realease of personal ownership of ideas and skills for the use of all the team. 

The idea of learning from others work is a taboo subject, since we were all  small children we are always instructed that looking at others work is cheating and you will be punished, this has unfortunutly enstilled a mistrust of skill share which in turn limits the potential final outcome of our work as game designers.

Our challenge as students of game design is to overcome this "normal" response to a group situation leave behind our preconsceptions and throw ourself whole heartedly into projects no longer working as myself, but as Legion and in doing so i release the full potential of the game.

"I am Legion, for we are many"
  
                                                                                 -Posessed Man

Samuel Cook




Monday 17 November 2014

R. Caillois - Play, paidia, ludus and other things.



"We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours."
                               -John of Salisbury

R. Caillois - Play, paidia, ludus and other things.


Ludus - Refers to the rules.
 
Paidia - Refers to improvisation.

Caillois four patturns of play.
 
Agon - Games of competition eg. Dota 2.

Alea - Games of chance eg. Roulette.
 
Mimicry - Games of Simulation eg. The Sims.
 
Ilinx - Games of Vertigo eg Grand Theft Auto series
 
Thoughts.
 
I think that Caillois terminology is incredibly helpful for designers as it enables identification of games and communcation with a predefined meaning. This terminology is also an essential tool for target audience analysis as it allows us to group types of play within age brackets .ect
 
Samuel Cook