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Essays and Opinions

GDC 2011 Notes – Strategy Games Panel

We’re seeing a lot Cinderella success stories int he strategy gaming realm, lots of one-man projects rocking the show

What Needs to Change

  • Put design first
    • Maintain core values
    • Player Choice!
  • Think at all different levels of intensity
    • Smaller games -> do they need single-player campaigns?
      • Sins of a Solar Empire doesn’t have one, for example
    • Cut to the chase
    • Minimize design clutter
    • Check scope
  • Cheaper delivery methods
  • Focus on one audience
    • Acknowledge that you can’t please everyone
  • Focus on user experiences

Soren Johnsons on League of Legends: “The facebook game for people who like games”

 

Everyone learned humility in the face of Facebook games

 

Players are interested in interesting decisions and the consequences thereof

 

“Co-op CompStomp”

  • Want kind of RTS would you make if you didn’t include PvP?

Key Issue -> Accessibility

  • Limited by manuals and documentation
  • Need tutorials and intro levels

Will AI get better?

  • Yes, but we don’t need a Terminator, we need a Terminator w/ enough flaws to entertain

 

iPad and iPhone aren’t stealing because they serve different purposes and different audiences