MetaFilter posts tagged with gaming and design

What's in a game?

ersatz — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:38:32 -0800

What can one learn from the design choices of past games? John Harris discusses different game aspects, 20 games at a time, at Game Design Essentials. You can read on 20 Open World Games (where generally the player is left to his own devices to explore a large world), see your destroyed controllers in a new light with 20 Difficult Games or check out 20 Mysterious Games (that rely on algorithmically-generated content or emphasize secret-hunting), 20 Unusual Control Schemes and 20 Atari Games. What about roguelikes, you say? Harris also maintains a column called @Play at GameSetWatch, discussing old and new roguelikes. And if that wets your appetite for some Nethack, but you prefer having graphics and mouse control in your games, the most recent post might help. On the other hand, if you don't care about such novelties, an interview with the developer of Dwarf Fortress (previously) may be of interest. The games are chosen for their instructive qualities and general interest, not to compare them using a meaningless yardstick. They're here because I could illustrate something important using them as examples. Older games tend to have more elemental designs, presenting their mechanics strongly rather than submersing them between a sea of what a game is "supposed to be." This is particularly useful for explaining and highlighting design conventions.

Trigger Happier

stavrosthewonderchicken — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:36:59 -0800

Trigger Happier "Trigger Happy is a book about the aesthetics of videogames — what they share with cinema, the history of painting, or literature; and what makes them different, in terms of form, psychology and semiotics. It’s offered under a CC license, for a limited time only. I’m not sure how limited that time will be, so grab it while it’s hot." [drm-free pdf]

Super Mario World level editor

Tlogmer — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 15:51:21 -0800

Level editor for Super Mario World.
You'll need a SNES emu lator and a Super Mario World ROM.
(Ctrl+right-click to insert objects.)

Game design essays

Tlogmer — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 07:26:20 -0800

A whole bunch of great game design essays.

MmmmMm .. . I wants me one o' them robot corpse thingies. . ..

Tlogmer — Sat, 12 Jun 2004 18:52:05 -0800

Videogames are falling into the uncanny valley. (Previous mefi discussion: 1 2 -- aw, hell).

WolfDaddy — Thu, 25 Jul 2002 18:05:54 -0800

Building a community website One of my favorite strategy gaming sites, HeavenGames, gives us a peek under their hood with in-depth reportage on the design process they're undertaking for their new area devoted to the game Age of Wonders 2: The Wizard's Throne. I'm no web designer, but the ideas and procedures presented here certainly sure do make it sound easy (well, not really, but it's still an interesting read).