Things are moving well towards something. I realise my descriptions of Node are poor at their best (and non existent at their worst), I've had this problem a lot recently, but I have a solution! It comes back to the prototype, which I'm finally done with, to explain all. It's not worthy of putting out into the real world, but a video of it will - I hope - give a taste of what is to come.
At some point in my code development I was nearing I working (bad) UI engine. A system of floating 2D text and menus that could be coded quickly and (relatively) simply. That all sat on top of a 3D OpenGL, and had some nice interface*. It wasn't perfect but I liked.
I was merrily blasting away, preparing to start game engine development when I ran across a lecture by Jonathan Blow (specifically this one). A turning point in my approach.
With reinforced views I became far more optimistic about my future as a games developer**. Prototyping was the way forwards.
So things changed, I started hacking out big chunks of code out. I dumped the third dimension, and game elements started to appear. I mentioned previously I was struggling to explain my weird vision of global warfare in neon, that changed. My friends understood, my supervisor understood, and most importantly I understood what I was making.
To take the next step would be to talk about the development of the game. This isn't an interesting step to many, if any, so it is reasonable to gloss over it. I've been writing lots of C++ code*. Instead I thought I'd look at what has been running though my head before I started writing code.
When I started considering this project I had an interest in games, an interest in progressive uses for the medium, and ideas of a grand future of games. The mindset that I started looking at my project was drastically different. Building the game was to me the logical conclusion to over a year of learning C++ and OpenGL. In an attempt to break away from a standard approach I sat down and thought really hard.
I started seeing ideas all around me. They played upon each other, changing, multiplying, and generally developing into something different and interesting.
I would have liked to have developed my idea on a concept, as piece of art exploring reality. In a way it may have. The exploration of breaking from mainstream games and understanding why people play games (and why I want to make them).
* here's the slightly less short version for those who really care: For the first few weeks I played with ideas of building a standard program framework from which I could spring new ideas into life with a matter of days. I haven't previously, and am on this occasion using a games library to help build my game. That got so far, but since I have neither the time, nor inclination to rewrite large sections of my code to be more flexible , it has been put to rest. It wasn't waisted time though, all the code I have written will be used in one way or another. Ideas change, scale scope mostly.
For the last six weeks I have been developing a small game for a final year project. I set out in my proposal to "...explore the possibility of making a complex artistic piece through interactive and visual content." and "I would endeavor to make fast and intuitive interaction that enhances the atmosphere and pace of the game."
The game has been going by the name of RealRisk in my head and in conversation, but it is not really a fitting name. It could be described as a deconstruction of a Real-Time-Strategy to primary elements, and then building something new with it's most basic concepts. Then again it could be a just be a Real-Time-Strategy.
Using easily understandable concepts such as; an attacker, a defender, and a building. With only a small number of elements to learn and control, the game becomes more open to new users but allows for complicated tactical decisions. The game will be intuitively complex.
Graphically minamlistic. Saying only what needs to be said.
I have found it difficult to describe the game to people on previous occations. Hindered partly by a drive to create something unique, and attempting to be overtly indie in my game design.
In coming posts I will catch up on ideas and changes that have happened in the last six weeks.
The final year of my education is getting into full swing, and I want change. The world of games needs to change. It needs to grow up. In what little way I can, I want to do my part.
Earlier this year I started following several highly informative blogs, almost all of which I discovered through IndyGamer (found on Google). They opened up a world of games that I had always expected to exist, but never found. Games trying to say something.
The Marriage (by Ron Humble) is a prime example of this idea and maybe a failure to achieve it. The game was built as an experiment, as a work of art. It's intention, like modern art, is not to necessarily to please but instead to promote thought and discussion. Go play the game a few times, think about it. As I said it isn't a perfect piece of art (read Tale of Tale's criticism)
What I took from the game? Games can be Art.
Then some months later I read the Realtime Art Manifesto, which felt like a kick in the back-side. After reading throught it, and then looking at what I'm doing, I started to feel that all my intentions and ideas had been built upon the concept of building a game. This foundation was inevitably cutting off paths and ideas. Something with almost no element of a game, and yet created a deep interactive environment. Why make a game? Are they just devices to keep the player hooked? Is it wrong, immoral to get a player hooked?
And then there is the idea of non-linear storytelling, and the forced mechanics of a linear plot. What if you existed in a story, and chose your own path?
This isn't the end of all that has been of what we call Games. It is more an attempt to understand the pure realtime interactive art, and what it can be. There's no reason to throw away your (digital) copy of Half-Life 2 for it's linear storytelling sins, but it's time to see what can really be achieved.
The Game will live on. There is a place for puzzles, but there are many more seats to be filled...
So that's where I am. Where now?
There are a lot of very good blogs looking deeper into games, the genres strengths and weaknesses*. I instead hope to build on these sources, and putting what I can into practice. Make games realtime interactive art.
* see: Artful Gamer, Arthouse Games, Only a Game, The Brainy Gamer
a little about the blog and it's writer
realtime Art
Charting Peter's attempts to make artistically driven games, interspersed with his thoughts on the subject.
Peter Dodds
Born in North-East England, studying Computer Visualisation and Animation at Bournemouth University.
last edited: 8th Dec 2007