Game designer and educator Dr. Lewis Pulsipher discusses the attitudes and points of view that most successful game designers prescribe to in his latest article on gamecareerguide.com. In it, he explains whether you want to obtain a degree or just learn game design on your own, having an "educated" attitude is a must.
Lewis wrote: What makes someone "educated?" An educated person wants to know and will make an effort to find out things. An uneducated person tends not to bother. Here's a simple example. An educated person, confronted with a word he doesn't know, is likely to look it up. He wants to improve his understanding (of language, of the world). An uneducated person isn't going to bother.
Pulsipher goes on to state the core themes that are prevalent in every successful game designer and whether or not designer need to be pro players. Read the whole article on Game Career Guide's site (which every modder looking to break into the industry should have bookmarked anyways).
While there are many standout projects on ModDB, there's a greater amount of people who constantly question how to do things which are covered, in great detail, on other areas of the internet. This article is great way of suggesting that developers need to have an educated, always-on mindset when it comes to game design.
Very good read, everyone should read it.
Great. Another 'Designer' who thinks he can make his name in this industry. Did he forget that a small italian plumber smashed this industry to pieces 10 years ago? This is a constantly changing industry. No one has the right to preach a design role.
I just wonder how long he spent planning this article as oppose to designing the projects he is working on.
Your point? This article broaches the topic of the mindset and attitude people should take if they want to dedicate themselves to game development. Do you disagree with any of the content within the article or just the fact that a person wrote it?
Just because someone made a great game years ago has absolutely nothing to do with the mindset it takes to make a great game.
The problem with most people today is they go into game development with the wrong mindset. I heard the people at Fullsail tell me that it was hilarious to hear all the newbie freshmen come in and say they wanted to make the next Halo. "Wtf is this code ****? I actually have to write coded?"
I don't mean to state the obvious but console gamers often have a flawed view of how games are made and don't full understand technical details of games. Everyone console gamer I know of wants to make the next Halo but they think the work just does it by itself.
This is a common view amongst beginners who don't put much effort into learning and when they realize how much work and learning must be done they just get bored and go back to playing games.
You really don't like console gamers do you lol.
"Everyone console gamer I know of wants to make the next Halo." You must know some pretty lame people, or like generalization, because every console gamer I know doesn't want to make the next Halo. I myself was more of a console gamer about 3 years ago, doesn't mean I wanted to make Halo ;)
This article applies to everyone whether you want to be a designer or not. Console gamer, Pc gamer, it doesn't make a scrap of difference what 'category' you fall into. Its point is that you should want to push yourself to learn and thrive upon finding out new things, which in itself is an attractive mentality to have if you want to become a designer. It's common sense in my opinion and doesn't really matter who it comes from. It makes sense.
atleast this designer has some actual work to his name, unlike the other gerzillion self proclaimed 'games designers' who like to preach/explain in a similar fashion (though often far less substantiated) while having no experience to back it up.
And what has the 'changing nature of the industry' got to do with anything? Of course this industry is constantly changing, so is every other industry in one way or another, welcome to the essential function of nature. But as is the case in all evolutionary cycles, there are certain elements and foundations which remain the same throughout, certain structural principles which stand firm through the test of time - this is why some games which were released 10 years ago, still manage to feel fresh and more ahead of the competition when compared to alot of todays games.
The underlying points he makes throughout the article are as relevant now as they were however many years ago, and will be just as relevant the same amount of years down the line.
"No one has the right to preach a design role."
Hypocrite lol
Also really what right do you have to state what rights others have, amirite?!
I enjoyed the article and would look forward to future articles. Like so many things there are number of right ways to go about doing things.
Cheers.
Terragot, that was my first reaction, but after having read it, I think it's a decent article. I must say though that if the author wants to coin a phrase he should, and not try to redefine "educated".
Very informative, hoping to be a pro game designer myself someday. Glad from what I read that I'm in the educated category. :P
Lewis wrote:
What makes someone "educated?" An educated person wants to know and will make an effort to find out things. An uneducated person tends not to bother. Here's a simple example. An educated person, confronted with a word he doesn't know, is likely to look it up. He wants to improve his understanding (of language, of the world). An uneducated person isn't going to bother.
And some people just don't give a ****.
Pretty much describes most of the console gamers I know, with a few exceptions
Bunnyjen, I think the point NullSoldier is trying to make is that most console gamers don't understand the requirements of what it takes to make a game and just think it sounds like a cool idea.
It may be common sense to someone who understands computers, but not everyone has that knowledge. Consoles have exposed video games to those without as much tech knowledge, and a lot of people get the idea of wanting to make a game. As NullSoldier said, once they see what actually goes into it, they turn away.
There are also some things that people need to be told, otherwise it just doesn't sink in.
I think the key word is SOME "console gamers often have a flawed view of how games are made and don't fullY understand technical details of games. Everyone console gamer I know of wants to make the next Halo but they think the work just does it by itself." But most people own a PC these days...I don't think this just applies to console gamers.
:( I accidently deducted a karma point so I'll comment instead...
Well said Connway.
Unfortunately, there are those who are uneducated in any industry. I find it a little sad really as they tend to lower the standards of quality amongst the industry.
I encourage modders on this site to a; aim for perfection and b; be open minded. This includes taking the article as advice and not blatantly dismissing it for whatever reason.
Thanks for posting the article, I found it inspiring and I realised a few things for myself.
Now, that was pretty good article (nothing strikingly new though)!