IGDA Nanocon '12 Notes - The Lens of Truth

(Games of Taste - Notes from Nanocon '12.)


The Lens of Truth: Real World Adaptive Level Design


Speakers: Chris Totten (Art Director E4 Software) and Josh Lynsen (Creator of StreetPass Network)

How did we get here?


                How Chris got here:
    • Architecture Masters.
    • Self education in Blender.
    • Teaching on game development.
    • Writing on game development.
    • Doing game development.
    • Advice: Be self-motivated.  Put the time in.  It will work for you if you keep your head down and hit the grind-stone.

                How Josh got here:

    • Took the skill in his day job and applied it to what he wanted to do in game making.
    • Does things that apply to a part of game making.

Discussion


Use virtual clues for real-life treasure.
How to deal with structures that already exist
                Use Urbanism
                                - Large spaces can keep people away from each-other
                                - Paths, districts, nodes, landmarks allow for meeting
                Connectivity
                                - Cell phones/internet create a damaging interaction issue

Adaptive Game Reuse - take a game and re-center it around a place
                1. Games that enhance
                                - Simple mechanics to real-world situation
                                - Ex: item finding to explore locations
                                - Ex: virtual art/characters in real locations
                2. Games that pervade
                                - Events can only be executed in specific locations
                                - Going from point A to B affects the virtual world
                                - Ex: passing someone in life gives virtual goods/action
                3. Games that rehabilitate
                                - Jane Megonigle
                                                - Works on games that makes the world better
                                                - Gamify basic actions in a positive way
                                                - Ex: Tombstone Hold'emCruel to be Kind
                                - Gamifying a common feature/location

Chris and Josh: Creating a ‘Hometown social game’



  1. Goals
    • Revisit hometown and bring welcome visitors
    • Support local business and institutions
    • Inject new life into smaller/shrinking cities
    • Maintain links to - and value - your past
  2. Platform
    • Facebook, Google Plus or other social network
    • Any communal posting area that supports photos/discussion/moderation
  3. Guiding principles
    • Large amount of local control
    • Encourage tourism as much as revisiting
    • Especially support volunteerism
    • Especially support local festivals and city events
  4. Example point system for pictures taken:
    • 2 - you in town
    • 5 - you and local landmark
    • 10 - you supporting local business
    • 50 - you volunteering at local charity
    • 50 - you at local festival
  5. Rewards
    • Game enjoyment and community support
    • Gold, Silver, Bronze involvement rankings
    • No specific leader-boards
    • Less about competition, more about involvement
  6. Notes
    • No specific hometown?  You are a nomad player.
    • National chains ineligible for business photos.
    • Chambers of Commerce could be local bases.