TCH071 Game Design 1 - Quiz 4 Review

When creating a prototype and using it to test game mechanics, what are you specifically testing and attempting to determine about your game mechanics?

• How much fun and engaging the game mechanics are

• How impressive and authentic the game mechanics are

• How many bugs the game mechanics have

• If players enjoy your game on PlayStation or Xbox more

Answer explanation

Prototypes are meant to be a very watered-down version of your game with the primary purpose of testing how fun game mechanics are and player reactions.

If players enjoy driving cubes around and knocking a ball into a goal, they will enjoy what would become Rocket League.

In the early days of the gaming industry, games were designed the narrow target audience and demographic of men aged 20 - 40 years old. What did this mean for women, teens, and older players?

• They were unable to participate in or play video games of any kind

• They were left out of the gaming world and games were not marketed towards them

• They started a revolution protesting the gaming industry and demanded games be geared towards them

• They were stuck with the Sims while the male demographic was able to play whatever they wanted

Answer explanation

Early in its history, game development was targeted towards a very small and specific demographic. However, these statistics have changed significantly with a more diverse range of people now playing games.

How do designers more accurately create player-centric games, and build accurate pictures of who their players are and what they are looking for in a game?

• They secretly collect data on players by hacking into their game consoles

• By asking players for input through market research, surveys, or focus groups

• By drawing from their own personal experiences when they were younger

• By inviting players to LAN-parties and secretly taking very detailed notes in the background while eating all the snacks

Answer explanation

Communication with their player group is one of the most valuable assets a developer has. There are several methods of communicating with players, but common options include market research or surveys.

What type of immersion involves the player being so absorbed in the action from second to second that nothing else matters except surviving the next challenge?

• Strategic immersion

• Tactical immersion

• Immersive immersion

• Immersion conversion

Answer explanation

Hopefully you have been paying attention to the past units. :) Tactical immersion if the type of immersion when players are primarily focused on the action with a clear goal in mind.

When you design a game following the player-centric approach, what should your only focus be?

• How to express your innermost thoughts and feelings through your game's overall experience

• How to draw your player into the game and give them an immersive gaming experience

• How to challenge players and give them a near impossible objective

• Who cares what they players want? It's MY game!

Answer explanation

Remember that the player-centric approach focuses on PLAYERS. A player-centric game should provide an immersive experience focused on player wants and feedback.

What very simple loop makes up the iterative process?

• Design, develop, test and repeat

• Create, market, and sell, sell, sell

• Eat, sleep, game, repeat

• Think, think, think...BRAINBLAST!

Answer explanation

There it is again - that "iterative" word! The iterative process allows developers to refine and polish their final product to make it the best that it can be.

The quality of a game mechanic is not measured by how complex and brilliant the code is, but rather by what?

• The profit that the game makes

• The user reviews on various forums

• The impact it has on a user

• How brilliant and complex the code is

Answer explanation

Although profit is important to a studio's success, game mechanics should be evaluated based on player experience!

With the Rule of 99 inventory system, a player can have as many inventory items as required, but they will have limited what?

• Limited level of inventory understanding

• Limited opportunities to gain inventory space

• A limited quantity of each item

• Battery life on their Nintendo Switch

Answer explanation

The Rule of 99 is an inventory system that is primarily text-based and allows players to carry a max of 99 per item. This inventory system was popularized with JRPGs and is commonly seen in games like Pokémon.

How did the Rule of 99 inventory system originate?

• American shooter-style games

• Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs)

• European puzzle games

• A man tried carrying 99 rocks in his backpack, fell over, and thought to himself, "golly gee, that's a cool game mechanic idea!"

Answer explanation

Hopefully you were paying attention to the last question. :)

The design of game's user interface and user experience are powerful tools when it comes to player engagement. What do these tools allow players to continuously do?

• Zone out and watch the game

• Beat the entire game with ease

• Remain active in the game, both physically and mentally

• Stare at the screen really hard and wish with all of their might that something might happen

Answer explanation

A game's UI allow players to remain active in the game, even outside of standard "gameplay" moments. Even interacting with menus keeps a player's focus on the game.