Tips for Successful Games - leemet16/game-design-toolkit GitHub Wiki

Successful games are fun and engaging, but what does it mean to be fun and engaging?

Think about what to list as the "fun factors" in your Game Development Journal while bearing the following in mind:

  1. Encourage players to keep going by rewarding both small and big accomplishments.
  2. Make it social: Give players the opportunity to share their accomplishments as this adds significance to their achievements.
  3. Make it challenging but not frustrating: Games that are too easy are boring but those that are too difficult are frustrating.
  4. Ensure the game makes sense: Every effect should have a direct cause. Players should understand why they won or why they lost.
  5. Feedback: Tell the players what they did wrong or what they could have improved.
  6. Know your target audience (in this case, elementary school students).
  7. Diverse teams: Games are most engaging when multiple perspectives are used to contribute to the game. Make sure every team member gets involved.

Watch this video to understand how to use emotion to create engaging games.

For more examples and tips about good game design, check out the Good Game Design playlist.

ActivityGame Reflection!

In your Game Development Journal, write an entry about the characteristics of your favourite games.

References

Ferrara, J. (2012, May 17). 10 tips for building a better game. Retrieved April 01, 2018, from https://www.creativebloq.com/inspiration/10-tips-building-better-game-5126304

Garrett, M. (2015, September 11). 5 Traits of Successful Video Games. Retrieved April 01, 2018, from https://laptop.ninja/5-traits-of-successful-video-games/

Kalif, W. (2016). Seven Creative Tips for Amateur Video Game Makers. Retrieved April 01, 2018, from http://www.stormthecastle.com/mainpages/videogametutorial/creative-tips-for-video-game-design.htm