CTIN 532 Open Mic

1
CTIN 532 Open Mic

• Herb Yang
• November 1, 2005

2
Open Mic (?)

• Preliminary ideas for Graduate Thesis

• Where Im coming from, where Im thinking of going

• Gratuitous Flying Text

3
Background

• Love for all things Entertainment Media
• Computer Science
• Movies Screenwriting
• 3D CG Art
• Graduate School for Video Games

• Make Games. What kind?

4
Do Games make you cry differently than Movies?

• No, not really.

• Narrative is different, but story is
  fundamentally the same.

• Potential outcomes and experience possibilities
  may be numerous in gamespace, but you can really
  only experience one story at a time

5
Emotional Response

• Recognizable Characters Situation

• Visual Representation
• Expressions / Recognizable Emotions
• Uncanny Valley

• User Decisions
• Bonding through Personalization

• Interactions with other Human Player Characters

6
So Where Does That Leave Me?

• Cant compete on Visuals
• Distribution difficult PC Games not as
  accessible, Consoles too expensive to develop for
• Game industry seems less receptive to original
  ideas than the movie industry

So A Different Tack?
7
Meta-game Games

• The Sims, Spore
• Magic the Gathering
• Neopets

8
Simple Online Strategy Game With MMO Elements

• Web-based to reach wide audience (i.e., no
  publisher required)

• Simple mechanics that allow for casual play, yet
  complex interactions allow for strategic depth
  replayability

• Persistent player characters with multiple
  customizable options

• Social aspect

9
Ideas/Themes

• Customizable Fighter Game

• Gang Wars

• Spy Game

10
SPY vs. SPY vs. SPY vs. SPY...

• Create your spy

• Do what a spy really does Subterfuge
  (Impersonate, Lie, Steal)

• A game world populated by NPC characters with
  their own routines, habits

• Multiple human players per game, everyone has
  different, conflicting objectives

11
Overview

• Simple graphics style

• Two levels World (Big Map) Mode Mission Mode

• World Mode
• Interact with other PCs (Chat Room Interface) to
  Form Contacts, Trade Equipment
• Compare and see who the Best Spy is
• Find/Enter Missions

12
Mission Mode Set Up

• 100 Characters, about 10 of which are Human PCs,
  interacting in a setting (e.g., Nuclear
  Facility)

• Every Human PC is assigned an Objective and
  Sub-Objectives
• Sabotage the Nuclear Reactor/ Steal Plans for
  the Secret Weapon
• Unmask the Spy trying to one of the above

13
Mission Mode Core Mechanics

• Explore Environment / Uncover Information

• Talk to Characters, not knowing if they are human
  or not

• Disguises Impersonation

• Imitate NPCs and blend in, convince other human
  players that youre not
• NPCs will alert guards if Players dont act as if
  they belong where they are