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Common mistakes people make when designing interactive digital media content for children and strategies to avoid these common and possibly fatal mistakes; Slideshow created by (c)Carolyn Handler Miller
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The Seven Kissesof Death
Of Children’s Interactive Media
Carolyn Handler Miller
Dust or MagicNovember 9, 2010
© Carolyn Handler Miller
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The Death Kisses
The dust part of Dust or Magic
My own term Death Kisses:
Common but dangerous pitfalls
Highly seductive To adults: logical,
sensible, intelligent But to kids: repellant!
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Death Kisses: They Are Everywhere!
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Many Kids’ Projects Hopelessly
Infested with Them!
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Learned to Spot Them First Hand
By Writing for Kids Media
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Confirmation: Research for My Book
Multiple Interviews with Developers
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General Characteristics:
Adult perspective of what projects for children should be like
Easy to resort to
Slip into projects when under pressure
Seem very attractive
Based on faulty assumptions
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So, just what are these
Death Kisses???
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#1. Kids Love Anything Sweet
True for food, not entertainment!
Sweetness is adult wishful thinking – want to present happy, sunny world that is all good
But kids know truth: world not really like this!
Sweetness = boring, bland, childish, false
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#2. Give ‘Em What’s Good for ‘Em
The medicinal approach!
Often done with true earnestness, adult zeal
“Smarten ‘em up fast!
Problem: too heavy with pedagogy, too light on fun
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#3. You’ve Just Got To Amuse ‘Em
The “junk food” approach
Cheap on quality, meaningful content
Sells kids short
Fatal assumptions:
Kids can’t tell
Kids just want lots of empty fun
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#4. Always Play It Safe! Yes, we want to
avoid violence & inappropriate content
But that does not mean removing action, conflict, tension!
Too safe = totally boring!
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#5. All Kids Are Created Equal
Democracy is fine in nations, not in kids’ products
Kids vary hugely at different ages; boys & girls not identical
“One size fits all” strategy doesn’t work here
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#6: Explain Everything An adult fear: not being
clear
Faulty assumption: kids can’t figure out things on their own
Leads to drowning kids with words, instructions
Lazy on our part (better ways take work)
Annoying for kids – they enjoy figuring things out
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#7. Make Sure All CharactersAre Wholesome!
Yes, we want positive role models
But too positive and too perfect = dull, bland & lifeless
Characters lack personality, individuality – just “white bread”
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And Now…10 Strategies to
BANISHThe Death Kisses…
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#1. Devise a Way to HOOK Your Players
In other words, build in a compelling mission, goal or challenge (example: Oregon Trail)
Should be
Clear-cut
Easily understandable
Highly desirable
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#2. Inject Meaningful Tension Adds excitement w/o
violence Essence of drama Some techniques:
“The ticking clock” (must succeed at something by certain time, or disaster)
Conflict (opposing characters after same goal)
Challenges to overcome
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#3. Offer Genuine SubstanceKids Hungry for Meaningful Content!
(Example: powerful themes in The Lion King: treachery, murder, courage)
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#4. Create Characters Who Are Multifaceted and Dynamic
Example: Mia (Kutoka Interactive) Not perfect Overly curious Tiny but plucky Gets into trouble Has enemy (Romaine)
Well developed characters provide energy, interest, excitement
Kids can ID with them
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#5. Create System of Rewards Rewards:
Powerful motivators; incentives to keep going
Positive reinforcement Way to measure progress Loss of rewards (or
penalties): possibility adds tension
Can be: a score; words of praise; $; powers; advancement; even jellybeans (as in Toontown Online)
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#6. Make Product Easy To Understand and Use
Classic picture books good model Few words
Ample visuals
In interactive media, good interface design essential Makes for enjoyable
product
Helps avoid lengthy explanations
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#7. Make Product AdjustableTo Child’s Abilities
Provide easy to difficult levels or challenges
Many advantages: Avoids frustrating
beginning players
Keeps more skillful players challenged, involved
Makes product more repeatable
Expands age range of product
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#8. Supply Liberal Doses Of Humor
Humor adds life and color
Makes product fun Caution: kids’ humor NOT same as adult humor Love what’s gross, rude &
offensive (non politically correct!)
Love what’s ridiculously silly, unexpected, absurd
Visual and character humor rather than puns, word play
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#9. Build in Meaningful Interactivity
Player’s “job” should make sense
Players choices should make a difference – have impact
Interactivity should be abundant, keeping player active
Should not be overly repetitive
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#10. Respect Your Audience!(Don’t talk down; understand who they are;
give them something worthwhile)
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Questions?
Please ask now!
Or email me: Carolyn@CarolynMiller.com
Or check out my book
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