Robin Hunicke

Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07

Redefining a PC Franchise for the Nintendo Wii

Small Changes, Big Results


Hello!

AI/Games GDC Workshops Sims EP Team Lead Designer: Wii!


Let’s Chat

Franchise Analysis (1/3) Designing to New (1/3) Takeaways (1/3)


MDA


What is MDA?

Formal Vocabulary Common Language Flexible, Extensible

Not a Methodology


How Games Work

Rules Behavior Fun


In other words…

Mechanics Behavior Fun

The rules and concepts that formally specify the game-as-system.


In other words…

Mechanics Dynamics Fun

The run-time behavior of the game-as-system.


In other words…

Mechanics Dynamics Aesthetics

The desirable emotional responses evoked by the game dynamics.


Design Perspective


Designer Player


Player Perspective


Designer Player


The Sims



Mechanics

Manage Motives Work for $ Spend $ to Build/Buy Objects & Social = mood ++ Get promoted!


Mechanics


Mechanics

Manage Motives Work for $ Spend $ to Build/Buy Objects & Social = mood ++ Get promoted!

Events, object & social failures


Dynamics

Motives vs. Fun vs. Work Social for Goals

LotharioMiserSlacker

Keeping up with the Jones’Plate Spinning/RTS Compulsions


Aesthetics

Groundhog Day Fixably Broken Unique Successes and Failures

“How funny! Should I fix it?”


Success!

Millions of units sold Player community thrives

HousesObjectsSimsStories!





Q: More?

Controls (more to balance) Tools (more to shape) Information (more storytelling)


A: Storytelling

Dream… or Nightmare? Romance… or Feud? Real… or Fantasy?


Storytelling

Dream… or Nightmare? Romance… or Feud? Real… or Fantasy?

Life!


The Sims of our Lives

Aesthetic: Lifetime Dynamics: Generations Mechanics: Aging, Wants & Fears


Aesthetics First

Aesthetic: Lifetime Dynamics: Generations Mechanics: Aging, Wants & Fears

Play to Tell Your Story!


Fan-tastic!









Aesthetic… Verbs

Savor Experiment Create Achieve



Wii Ho!

New Context New UI New Game


First Impressions

AestheticsTactile Clean LinesFamily-oriented


First Impressions

DynamicsActiveExpressiveCommunal


Mechanics?

ConsiderCore ActivitiesTactile worldNew LookSimple but powerful tools


A New World

Comfortable paceSavorCreate

Clear goalsAchieveExperiment


MySims

Core CycleExplore (Look what I found!)Build (Look what I made!)Exchange (Look what they did!)


Achievement?

GrowthMore SimsMore BuildingsMore Levels


Sim Needs

Town Growth

Build +Customize

Collect

Socialize

Exchange


Look What I Found!

Mechanic:Open world, hidden goodies

Dynamic:Explore and discover

Aesthetic:World, not a Set


Look What I Made!

Mechanic:Decomposable/Recomposable

Dynamic:Design + Build things

Aesthetic:You control it!


Look What They Did!

Mechanic:Reactive/Responsive Sims

Dynamic:Individual and Group Expression

Aesthetic:Comic, clockwork world


Takeaways


It’s all about Tactility

Controller lets playersTouch the worldPoke the systemsBuild a community for their Sims


Aesthetics are key

SavorExperimentCreateAchieve


Aesthetics are key

TouchSavorExperimentCreateAchieve


Aesthetics are key

TouchPoke



Aesthetics are key

TouchPokeShape



Aesthetics are key

TouchPokeShapeDrive



M Supports A

Mechanics are our domainAesthetics are closer to playerCreativity is the goal


Shared Design

Support expression Iconic Sims + Powerful Tools


Shared Design

Support explorationWorld of Nooks n’ Crannies


Shared Design

Reflect InvestmentsPlayer = CleverSims are X, Y, Z – because of

you!!!“It’s in your hands!”


(sexy video)


Stay Tuned…

mysims.com

Turn in your Eval!

http://www.mysims.com/

Robin Hunicke – 3.9.07 Redefining a PC Franchise for the Nintendo Wii Small Changes, Big Results.

Documents

mechanics slide

sims slide

storytelling slide

experiment slide

mda slide

methodology slide

powerful tools slide