Ultimate Game Design: Building Game Worlds / Edition 1

by Tom Meigs, Lydia Griffey

Overview

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.

Create game worlds with professional techniques and insights offered by one of the gaming industry giants, Tom Meigs, who has worked at THQ, Sony, and Disney


Build games with techniques and insights from a pro. Author and game developer Tom Meigs shows you the finer points of world building and behavior scripting. Learn about level stubbing, lighting, prop and item placement, camera tricks, particle and effects systems, communication loops, Massively Multiplayer Online Games, and much more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780072228991
Publisher:	Osborne
Publication date:	05/19/2003
Series:	In-Depth Programming and Web Development Ser.
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	XVII
	Introduction	XIX
1	Previsualization	1
	Introducing the Previsualization Process	3
	Step-by-Step Previsualization	3
	Utilizing Environmental References and Sketches	4
	Architecture for Game Levels	5
	Basic Environmental Design	6
	Function	8
	Room Flow	11
	Interior to Exterior	12
	Reinforcing Mood	12
	Paper-Based Level Blocking	13
	Quick Topographic Maps	13
	Case Study Comments on Previsualization	17
	Mega Tips	22
2	Level Planning and Building	23
	Planning Your Level Work	26
	Prefabricated Geometry and Modularity	27
	Scale and Grid Sizing Considerations	28
	Avoiding Common Level Mistakes	30
	Level Stubbing Walk-Through	31
Step 1	Working from Your Topographic Sketches	33
Step 2	Create Contour Lines	34
Step 3	Build a Mesh from Your Contour Lines	35
Step 4	Utilize File Referencing to Build Up and Populate Your Level	35
Step 5	Start Checking Layout Details	37
	Game Prototyping	37
	Post Level Stubbing Considerations	38
	Adapting Architecture and Terrain to Games	39
	Checking Character Flow Throughout a Level	40
	Jump Heights, Hazards, and Scale	41
	Keeping the Big Game Picture in View	42
	The Early Evolution of Levels	43
	The Importance of Early Feedback	44
	Are Your Level Goals Enhancing Your Game Vision?	45
	Case Study Comments on Level Execution	45
	Mega Tips	51
3	Lighting, Texturing, Particles, Effects, and Audio	53
	Lighting	55
	Position	58
	Light Color	59
	Basic Lighting Types	59
	Lighting Strengths or Multipliers	60
	Lighting Falloff	62
	Three Sample Lighting Setups	62
	Animating Lights	64
	Texturing	64
	Using Textures Well	66
	Particles	67
	Using Particle Emitters	68
	Exporting Particles and Dynamics Information	69
	Effects	72
	Audio	74
	Pushing Game Audio Further	76
	Design Tools Shift	76
	Case Study Comments on Cornerstone Elements	78
	The Moonlight Forest Example	79
	Mega Tips	83
4	Actors, Props, Items, and Camera Details	85
	Placing Actors	87
	Hero Actors	87
	Enemy Actors	88
	NPC Actors	90
	Boss Actors	91
	Types of Props and Their Use	92
	Using Props	93
	Placing Props	93
	Types of Items/Power-Ups and Placement	94
	Camera Considerations	95
	Interface Detailing	95
	Floating Cameras	96
	Fixed Cameras	97
	Special-Case Cameras	97
	Common Camera Problems	98
	Case Study Comments on Actor Loading and Camera Tuning	99
	Mega Tips	105
5	Design by Genre	107
	Sports Games	109
	Fighting Games	112
	Puzzle Games	114
	Real-time Strategy Games	116
	Role-Playing Games	120
	First- or Third-Person Action Games	121
	Simulations	123
	Creating Cinematics	125
	Developing Backstory	125
	Creating Dialog	126
	Summary of Designer's Work Tools	128
	Case Study Comments on Design Flux	129
	Mega Tips	133
6	Scripting Action Events	135
	Scripting Technology Choices	137
	JavaScript Sample	139
	Visual Basic Sample	139
	Python Sample	140
	Perl Sample	140
	Applied Scripting Examples	140
	NPC Conversation Templates	140
	Shooter Flying Patterns	141
	Using Triggers	144
	Fearthis	145
	Line of Sight	146
	Crowd	146
	Weather Effects	147
	Counter	148
	Material	148
	Audio	149
	Message	149
	Light	149
	Building Behaviors	150
	Creature Creator	150
	Engine Solutions and the Unreal Engine	151
	Script/Editing System Considerations	153
	Case Study Comments on Scripting a Baseball Game	154
	General	155
	Pitching	156
	Fielding	156
	Hitting	157
	Catching	158
	Mega Tips	163
7	Quality Assurance and Play-Test Feedback	165
	Quality Assurance	166
	QA Setups	168
	Bug Tracking	168
	Technical Support	170
	Testing MMOGs	171
	A Three-Stage Completion Process	172
	Writing a Test Plan	172
	Play-Test Feedback	173
	Managing Feedback	175
	Listening to Feedback	177
	Impact of Play-Test Feedback on Daily Design Tasks	178
	Case Study Comments on the Impact of QA	179
	Mega Tips	184
8	Design Considerations for Massively Multiplayer Online Games	187
	MMOG Production Challenges	188
	Defining Titles	189
	How Is the MMOG Player Different from the Console Player?	189
	Saturation Concerns for the MMOG	190
	Pure Production Risks for the MMOG	190
	Cost and Support Considerations for the MMOG	191
	MMOG Construction Factors and Solutions	194
	General MMOG Structures	194
	MMOG Design Factors	197
	Latency	197
	Modularity	198
	Monitoring	198
	Tools Support	198
	Special Events	198
	Pace and Balance	198
	Player Dropout/Lost Connections	199
	MMOG Play Mechanics	199
	MMOGs and Design Orientation	200
	MMOG Genre Growth	201
	NPCs and Familiars	201
	Isolating MMOG Strengths	201
	MMOG Player Categories	202
	Deep Social Factors	202
	Current Challenges	203
	Sports Fans or Groups and MMOGs	203
	MMOG Opportunities	205
	Case Study Comments on Challenges for UBO	206
	Mega Tips	212
9	Cell Phones and Wireless Gaming	215
	The Impending Boom	217
	Global Competition	219
	Development Considerations	220
	Design Issues for Cell Phones	222
	Multiplay Cell Phone Gaming	226
	Wireless Toy Networks	226
	Building the Cell Phone Gaming Market	228
	Opportunities in Wireless	229
	Case Study Comments on Development Factors in the Infancy of Wireless	230
	Mega Tips	234
10	Getting Started in Game Development	237
	Why Diversify?	239
	Role Definition for Game Designers	240
	Growth Areas and New Opportunities	244
	Microsoft, Mattel, Intel, and LeapFrog	244
	Challenges for PC Toys	245
	Advergames	246
	Interesting Trends for the Near Future	247
	Web Game Entertainment with Physical Counterparts	248
	Toys and Card Games Go Online	249
	The Importance of New Opportunities for Developers	250
	Anecdotes from the Game Development Frontlines	250
	Think Fish	251
	Sacking Sanka	252
	Case Study Comments on Final Thoughts for Designers	253
	Creating Your Perspective and Maintaining Your Passion	257
	Mega Tips	264
11	Game Development Career Choices	265
	Programming	266
	Game Programming as a Career Choice	267
	Art	268
	Game Artist as a Career Choice	269
	Design	270
	Game Designer as a Career Choice	271
	Production	271
	Production as a Career Choice	272
	Audio	273
	Audio Composer and Engineer as a Career Choice	273
	Quality Assurance	274
	QA as a Career Choice	274
	Opening an Independent Game Studio	274
	Joining a Game Developer	276
	Industry Economics	276
	Game Development Studio Breakdown	276
	Executive Department	277
	Product Development Department	279
	Creative Department	279
	Programming or Technical Department	281
	Marketing Department	282
	Breakdown Conclusions	282
	Case Study Comments on the Testing Doorway	282
	Mega Tips	284
A	Reference Information	285
	Education	286
	Events	287
	Industry Magazine	287
	Industry-Related Sites	288
	Organizations	288
	Breaking In!	288
	Agents and Recruiters	289
	Job Sites	289
	Design Document Reference	289
	TV Programming	289
	COPPA Guidelines	289
	Self-Publishing	290
	Outsourced Testing Services	290
	Game Industry Market Research and Reports	290
	Recommended Sites	290
	Recommended Reading	291
	Recommended Topics for Further Research and Reference	292
B	Tools Discussed	295
	3-D Modeling Packages	296
	Art Tools	297
	Level Editing	297
	Middleware	298
	Production Tools	298
	Sound Editing Tools	299
	3-D Construction for the Web	299
	Scripting Languages	300
	Game Dynamics Libraries	300
	Motion Tracking	300
	Programming Language for Console/PC	300
	MMOG Box Solutions	301
	Wireless Development	301
	Introducing Children to Game Design	301
C	Career Guideline Worksheet	303
	If You Want to Explore Production	304
	If You Want to Explore Game Art Construction	305
	If You Want to Explore Game Programming	305
	If You Want to Explore Quality Assurance	306
	If You Want to Explore Game Audio	306
	If You Want to Explore Business Relations or Marketing	307
D	Quick Topic Summary for Designers	309
	Reference Material	310
	Design Document Writing	316
	Quick Modeling	317
	Layout and Staging	318
	Scripting	318
	Mapping or Level Building	319
	Audio	319
	Testing	319
	Support Software	320
	Team Focus	320
E	Ultimate Baseball Online Gallery	321
	UBO Game Interface	322
	Player Creation Screen	323
	Early Game Setup Screen	324
	Game Details	324
	Position Selection and Batting Order	325
	Basic Character Construction	326
	The Motion Capture Process	328
	Baseball Stadiums	330
	Game Action	332
	Index	335