appendix f a document of lenses - Nicky-Nice-Games/ggk-UnityProject GitHub Wiki

A Document of Lenses Contents

A Document of Lenses

Overview

To truly learn, remember, and understand, your mind must be in a state of questing, of seeking to find knowledge. If it is not in this state, a state of really wanting to deeply understand, the wisest principles will roll off you like water off a duck. There will be times in development where things will not be laid out plainly, times where things are intentionally less clear, so that when you do uncover the truth, it means something to you.

There is another reason for this sometimes cryptic approach. As discussed earlier, game design is not an exact science. It is full of mysteries and contradictions. Our set of view points and frames will be incomplete and imperfect. To become a great game designer, it is not enough to be familiar with the set of principles the field has to offer. You must be ready to think for yourself, to figure out why certain principles don’t work in certain cases, and to invent new principles of your own. Of course, not randomly, but through process, critique, data collection, analysis, and iteration.

This appendix is here to provide us insight and to get the development team to ask better questions. When we ask the big five W's of Who, What When, Where, Why, and How, we become better designers.

We use Jesse Shell's "The Art of Game Design" as a starting point to prompt our critical thinking and analysis. Specifically, the list of lenses.

Side Note: This book is available via O'Reilly and your rit email account. You can log in for reading references. Access the book on O'Reilly here. Purchase the book on Amazon here.

Here are some of the team's thoughts.

Lens 1: The Lens of Emotion

"People may forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

To make sure the emotions you create are the right ones, ask yourself these questions:

  1. What emotions would I like my player to experience? Why?
  2. What emotions are players (including me) having when they play now? Why?
  3. How can I bridge the gap between the emotions players are having and the emotions I’d like them to have?

Nick Buonarota (Advisory Team - Creative Director) - 6/19/25

My current thoughts are this:

  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.
  2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.
  3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.

Lens 37: The Lens of Fairness

To use the Lens of Fairness, think carefully about the game from each player’s point of view. Taking into account each player’s skill level, find a way to give each player a chance of winning that each will consider to be fair.

Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Should my game be symmetrical? Why?
  2. Should my game be asymmetrical? Why?
  3. Which is more important: that my game is a reliable measure of who has the most skill or that it provide an interesting challenge to all players?
  4. If I want players of different skill levels to play together, what means will I use to make the game interesting and challenging for everyone?

Fairness can be a slippery subject. There are some cases where one side has an advantage over the other and the game still seems fair. Sometimes this is so that players of unequal skill can play together, but there can be other reasons. In the game Alien vs. Predator, for example, it is generally recognized that in multiplayer mode, Predators have a significant advantage over the Aliens. Players do not consider it to be unfair, however, because it is in keeping with the Alien vs. Predator story world, and they accept that if they play as an Alien, they will be at a disadvantage and will need to compensate for that with extra skill. It is a badge of pride among players to be able to win the game when playing as an Alien.

Nick Buonarota (Advisory Team - Creative Director) - 6/19/25

My current thoughts are this:

  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.
  2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.
  3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.

Tony Fuduzo (Fake Team - Game Developer) - 6/19/25

My current thoughts are this:

  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.
  2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.
  3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.

Lens 102: The Lens of Documentation

To ensure you are writing the documents you need and skipping the ones you don’t, ask yourself these questions:

  1. What do we need to remember while making this game?
  2. What needs to be communicated while making this game?

Nick Buonarota (Advisory Team - Creative Director) - 6/19/25

My current thoughts are this:

  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.
  2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.
  3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla finibus eleifend diam, eu sodales sem blandit sagittis. Aenean maximus, lacus porta pulvinar dictum, neque nunc pharetra purus, eget lobortis massa purus et ligula. Mauris ac arcu pharetra nisl dapibus interdum id sit amet tellus. Cras porta id felis at tincidunt. Morbi at metus vitae ipsum porttitor consectetur non ac risus. In magna lorem, tempor in vestibulum id, ultricies ac nisl. Fusce fringilla pulvinar libero in interdum. Ut urna tortor, posuere eget interdum vel, ullamcorper at nisi. Suspendisse eu rutrum est, eget egestas dui. Curabitur scelerisque mollis elit in iaculis.