Asher Vollmer GDC Talk 2014 - Tutorials

Tutorializing Innovative Mechanics

Asher VollmerGame Designer, Sirvo LLC

Ugh tutorials

“SUCCESSFUL”

HOW I DESIGN

PICK A GOAL

ARROW-

KEY

GAME

PICK A GOAL

ARROW-

KEY

GAME

PICK MULTIPLE GOALS

PICK MULTIPLE GOALSARROW

KEYS

PICK MULTIPLE GOALSARROW

KEYS

MOBILE AS

HECK

PICK MULTIPLE GOALSARROW

KEYS

MOBILE AS

HECK

TINY

PICK MULTIPLE GOALSARROW

KEYS

FOREVERPL

AY

MOBILE AS

HECK

TINY

PICK MULTIPLE GOALSARROW

KEYS

FOREVERPL

AY

MOBILE AS

HECK

TINY

PICK MULTIPLE GOALSARROW

KEYS

FOREVERPL

AY

MOBILE AS

HECK

TINY

LOGIC BEHIND

GOALS

PICK MULTIPLE GOALSARROW

KEYS

FOREVERPL

AY

MOBILE AS

HECK

TINY

BUILD

CONFLICT

LOGIC BEHIND

GOALS

SPEAKING OF CONFLICTING

GOALS

THE TUTORIAL PART(finally)

What should tutorials accomplish?

What should tutorials accomplish?TEACH

What should tutorials accomplish?TEACH

COMFORT

What should tutorials accomplish?

EXCITE

TEACH

COMFORT

What should tutorials accomplish?

EXCITE

TEACH

RESPECT

COMFORT

What should tutorials accomplish?

EXCITE

TEACH

RESPECT

COMFORTGREAT

TUTORIAL

THERE IS NO RECIPE FOR

A PERFECT TUTORIAL

THERE IS NO RECIPE FOR

A PERFECT TUTORIAL

but…

HERE’S A LIST OF INGREDIENTS

HERE’S A LIST OF INGREDIENTS

● Tell the player what to do

HERE’S A LIST OF INGREDIENTS

● Tell the player what to do

● Stay out of the player’s way

HERE’S A LIST OF INGREDIENTS

● Tell the player what to do

● Stay out of the player’s way

● Give the player a safe space

HERE’S A LIST OF INGREDIENTS

● Tell the player what to do

● Stay out of the player’s way

● Give the player a safe space

● Make the goals into puzzles (!)

HERE’S A LIST OF INGREDIENTS

● Tell the player what to do

● Stay out of the player’s way

● Give the player a safe space

● Make the goals into puzzles (!)

● Use scaffolding

HOW DOES EACH INGREDIENT

RELATE TO THE DESIGN GOALS?

TELL THE PLAYER WHAT TO DO

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

TELL THE PLAYER WHAT TO DO

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

GET OUT OF THE PLAYER’S WAY

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

GET OUT OF THE PLAYER’S WAY

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

GET OUT OF THE PLAYER’S WAY

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

GET OUT OF THE PLAYER’S WAY

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

GIVE THE PLAYER A SAFE SPACE

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

GIVE THE PLAYER A SAFE SPACE

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

GIVE THE PLAYER A SAFE SPACE

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

MAKE THE GOALS INTO PUZZLES

(!) EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

MAKE THE GOALS INTO PUZZLES

(!) EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

MAKE THE GOALS INTO PUZZLES

(!) EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

MAKE THE GOALS INTO PUZZLES

(!) EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

MAKE THE GOALS INTO PUZZLES

(!) EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

TELL ME WHAT TO DO

IN THE CONTEXT OF

THE GAME

HELP THE PLAYER BUILD A MENTAL

MODEL

USE SCAFFOLDING

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

Scaffolding = Context Sensitive

Hints

USE SCAFFOLDING

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

Based on:

• Time spent inactive

• Lack of player progress

• Proximity to beginning of game

• Whatever you can detect programatically

USE SCAFFOLDING

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

USE SCAFFOLDING

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

HERE’S A LIST OF INGREDIENTS

● Tell the player what to do

● Stay out of the player’s way

● Give the player a safe space

● Make the goals into puzzles (!)

● Use scaffolding

EXCITE

TEACH

RESPECT

COMFORTGREAT

TUTORIAL

PLAYTEST

EXCITETEACH RESPECTCOMFORT

EXCITE

TEACH

RESPECT

COMFORTGREAT

TUTORIAL

THANK YOU!

Asher Vollmer

@AsherVo