Re: Design assistance for space game

From: Carol Mulholland <Carol@flagship-uk.demon.co.uk>

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 09:40:35 +0000

Good points, but I don't think these two approaches are mutually
exclusive. All game designers will have played at least one game by
somebody else - it's obviously better to try a couple! And anyone
aiming for a Big Game should have the common sense to try it out
with his friends first.

Carol

Under.heaven wrote:
> Probably good advice, though I must admit I'm in two minds on
> that issue.  When designing a new game, it seems to me that there
> are two main approaches:
>
> 1) Design a game for you and your mates.  Put in the game what
> *you* think is a good idea.  If *you* like the game and want to
> play it, then there are almost certainly other people who would
> like it too.  Maybe the game will take off and go ballistic, and
> maybe it won't, but in this case you're designing for the fun of
> it, right?
>
> 2) Try to create the Next Big Thing that attracts as many players
> as possible.  In this case you *must* do market research and get
> to know your market as well as possible -- the same as in any
> business.  You will either need to do something that nobody else
> does, or do the same as other people but do it better in some
> way.  (I'm sure you know that already!)  It is worth examining
> your motivation for this approach too: it is likely either for
> the money or the egoboo.  Either is an acceptable motivation, but
> don't expect to get quick (or, indeed, any) success on either
> count.
>
> I'd personally advise anyone to create a game that *they* want to
> run first and foremost, and maybe fame and fortune will follow
> later.  History is replete with games that were created with a
> thought for option 2, and which eventually crashed and burned due
> to the designer losing interest on finding out that there is a
> lot of work for very little return.  (And yes, I count some of my
> own past games in that category.)
>
> Sorry to have rambled -- just my 0.02 euro.
>
> Rob
>

References

Re: Design assistance for space game
Carol Mulholland <Carol@flagship-uk.demon.co.uk>
Mon, 26 Nov 2001 09:37:42 +0000
Re: Design assistance for space game
agramen7@cs.com (Agramen7)
Mon, 26 Nov 2001 16:20:46 +0000
Re: Design assistance for space game
Carol Mulholland <Carol@flagship-uk.demon.co.uk>
Tue, 27 Nov 2001 09:29:11 +0000
Re: Design assistance for space game
"under.heaven" <under.heaven@ntlworld.com>
Tue, 27 Nov 2001 15:28:05 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Design assistance for space game
Carol Mulholland <Carol@flagship-uk.demon.co.uk>
Mon, 26 Nov 2001 09:37:42 +0000
Re: Design assistance for space game
agramen7@cs.com (Agramen7)
Mon, 26 Nov 2001 16:20:46 +0000
Re: Design assistance for space game
Carol Mulholland <Carol@flagship-uk.demon.co.uk>
Tue, 27 Nov 2001 09:29:11 +0000
Re: Design assistance for space game
"under.heaven" <under.heaven@ntlworld.com>
Tue, 27 Nov 2001 15:28:05 +0000