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'em, Cruel 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.