Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Redefining a PC Franchise for the Nintendo Wii
Small Changes, Big Results
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Hello!
AI/Games GDC Workshops Sims EP Team Lead Designer: Wii!
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Let’s Chat
Franchise Analysis (1/3) Designing to New (1/3) Takeaways (1/3)
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
MDA
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
What is MDA?
Formal Vocabulary Common Language Flexible, Extensible
Not a Methodology
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
How Games Work
Rules Behavior Fun
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
In other words…
Mechanics Behavior Fun
The rules and concepts that formally specify the game-as-system.
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
In other words…
Mechanics Dynamics Fun
The run-time behavior of the game-as-system.
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
In other words…
Mechanics Dynamics Aesthetics
The desirable emotional responses evoked by the game dynamics.
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Design Perspective
Mechanics Dynamics Aesthetics
Designer Player
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Player Perspective
Mechanics Dynamics Aesthetics
Designer Player
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
The Sims
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Mechanics
Manage Motives Work for $ Spend $ to Build/Buy Objects & Social = mood ++ Get promoted!
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Mechanics
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Mechanics
Manage Motives Work for $ Spend $ to Build/Buy Objects & Social = mood ++ Get promoted!
Events, object & social failures
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Dynamics
Motives vs. Fun vs. Work Social for Goals
LotharioMiserSlacker
Keeping up with the Jones’Plate Spinning/RTS Compulsions
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Aesthetics
Groundhog Day Fixably Broken Unique Successes and Failures
“How funny! Should I fix it?”
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Success!
Millions of units sold Player community thrives
HousesObjectsSimsStories!
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Q: More?
Controls (more to balance) Tools (more to shape) Information (more storytelling)
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
A: Storytelling
Dream… or Nightmare? Romance… or Feud? Real… or Fantasy?
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Storytelling
Dream… or Nightmare? Romance… or Feud? Real… or Fantasy?
Life!
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
The Sims of our Lives
Aesthetic: Lifetime Dynamics: Generations Mechanics: Aging, Wants & Fears
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Aesthetics First
Aesthetic: Lifetime Dynamics: Generations Mechanics: Aging, Wants & Fears
Play to Tell Your Story!
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Fan-tastic!
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Aesthetic… Verbs
Savor Experiment Create Achieve
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Wii Ho!
New Context New UI New Game
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
First Impressions
AestheticsTactile Clean LinesFamily-oriented
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
First Impressions
DynamicsActiveExpressiveCommunal
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Mechanics?
ConsiderCore ActivitiesTactile worldNew LookSimple but powerful tools
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
A New World
Comfortable paceSavorCreate
Clear goalsAchieveExperiment
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
MySims
Core CycleExplore (Look what I found!)Build (Look what I made!)Exchange (Look what they did!)
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Achievement?
GrowthMore SimsMore BuildingsMore Levels
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Sim Needs
Town Growth
Build +Customize
Collect
Socialize
Exchange
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Look What I Found!
Mechanic:Open world, hidden goodies
Dynamic:Explore and discover
Aesthetic:World, not a Set
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Look What I Made!
Mechanic:Decomposable/Recomposable
Dynamic:Design + Build things
Aesthetic:You control it!
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Look What They Did!
Mechanic:Reactive/Responsive Sims
Dynamic:Individual and Group Expression
Aesthetic:Comic, clockwork world
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Takeaways
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
It’s all about Tactility
Controller lets playersTouch the worldPoke the systemsBuild a community for their Sims
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Aesthetics are key
SavorExperimentCreateAchieve
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Aesthetics are key
TouchSavorExperimentCreateAchieve
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Aesthetics are key
TouchPoke
SavorExperimentCreateAchieve
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Aesthetics are key
TouchPokeShape
SavorExperimentCreateAchieve
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Aesthetics are key
TouchPokeShapeDrive
SavorExperimentCreateAchieve
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
M Supports A
Mechanics are our domainAesthetics are closer to playerCreativity is the goal
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Shared Design
Support expression Iconic Sims + Powerful Tools
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Shared Design
Support explorationWorld of Nooks n’ Crannies
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Shared Design
Reflect InvestmentsPlayer = CleverSims are X, Y, Z – because of
you!!!“It’s in your hands!”
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
(sexy video)
Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07
Stay Tuned…
mysims.com
Turn in your Eval!