Making Great Games: An Insider's Guide to Designing and Developing the World's Greatest Video Games

237 Pages·2010·9.25 MB·English

by  Michael Thornton Wyman

M A K I N G G R E A T
G A M E S
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M A K I N G G R E A T
G A M E S
An Insider's Guide
to Designing and
Developing the World's
Greatest Video Games
MICHAEL THORNTON WYMAN
AMSTERDAM(cid:1)BOSTON(cid:1)HEIDELBERG(cid:1)LONDON(cid:1)NEWYORK(cid:1)OXFORD
PARIS(cid:1)SANDIEGO(cid:1)SANFRANCISCO(cid:1)SINGAPORE(cid:1)SYDNEY(cid:1)TOKYO
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BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
ThorntonWyman,Michael.
Makinggreatgames:aninsider’sguidetodesigningand
developingtheworld’sgreatestvideogames.
1.VideogameseAuthorshipeCasestudies.2.VideogameseDesigneCasestudies.
I.Title
794.8-dc22
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2010934101
ISBN:978-0-240-81285-4
ForinformationonallFocalPresspublicationsvisitour
websiteatfocalpress.com
PrintedandboundintheUnitedStates
1011121110987654321
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ............................................................................................. ix
Introduction...............................................................................................................xi
Permissions ....................................................................................................... xv
Part 1 THE GAMES
Chapter 1 LittleBigPlanet......................................................................................3
Team Role Interview: Lead Game Designer .....................................................19
Chapter 2 World of Warcraft.............................................................................23
Team Role Interview: Development Director....................................................36
Chapter 3 Diner Dash..........................................................................................39
Team Role Interview: Producer...........................................................................50
Chapter 4 Half-Life 2............................................................................................53
Team Role Interview: Game Writer.....................................................................65
Chapter 5 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves .........................................................67
Team Role Interview: Senior Environment Artist.............................................83
Chapter 6 Rock Band...........................................................................................85
Team Role Interview: Music Composer.............................................................99
Chapter 7 FarmVille............................................................................................101
Team Role Interview: Programming Lead.......................................................111
vi CONTENTS
Chapter 8 Bejeweled Twist..............................................................................115
Team Role Interview: Presentation Art Director............................................127
Chapter 9 Madden NFL 10................................................................................129
Team Role Interview: Voice Actor....................................................................138
Chapter 10 World of Goo....................................................................................141
Team Role Interview: Art Director....................................................................151
Part 2 ANALYSIS
Chapter 11 Commonalities: What Goes Right................................................157
Iteration Is Paramount................................................................................. 158
Cabals Taking Over?.................................................................................... 160
Beg, Borrow, and Steal............................................................................... 162
Focus on Talent............................................................................................ 164
Use Your Whole Company......................................................................... 165
Playtesting as Production Driver................................................................ 166
Miscellaneous............................................................................................... 168
Wrap Up........................................................................................................ 171
Chapter 12 Commonalities: What Goes Wrong.............................................173
Test, Test, Test............................................................................................. 174
Bite the Bullet............................................................................................... 176
Don’t Ignore the Tutorial............................................................................. 178
Every Project Is Different............................................................................. 179
Beware the Prototype.................................................................................. 181
Plan for Success........................................................................................... 182
Wrap Up........................................................................................................ 183
CONTENTS vii
Chapter 13 The Nature of High-Performing Teams......................................185
The Goal........................................................................................................ 186
The People.................................................................................................... 187
The Environment.......................................................................................... 189
The Process.................................................................................................. 190
Wrap Up........................................................................................................ 193
Chapter 14 Applying These Learnings to Your Game Projects..................195
Team Roles................................................................................................... 195
Development Phases................................................................................... 198
Wrap Up........................................................................................................ 206
Chapter 15 Hiring and Managing for Success..............................................207
Hiring............................................................................................................. 207
Managing...................................................................................................... 210
A Word on Outsourcing.............................................................................. 212
Wrap Up........................................................................................................ 212
Team Role Interview: External Producer.........................................................213
Index.................................................................................................................215
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A project like this rests squarely on the shoulders of its contrib-
utors. I feel unbelievably fortunate to have had the privilege to
visitwithsomanywildlytalented(andastoundinglybusy)people
who are creating some of the world’s greatest video games.
Without their willingness to share their insights and expertise,
this book would not exist. For their openness, honesty, and
generosity, I am deeply indebted to J. Allen Brack, Ron Carmel,
Ian Cummings, Rich Curren, Richard Dansky, Tim Fields, Kyle
Gabler,ClintJorgenson,JasonKapalka,RobKay,StephenKearin,
Greg LoPiccolo, Peter McConnell, Wade Mulhern, Siobhan
Reddy,StefanSinclair,MarkSkaggs,BruceStraley,ChrisTrottier,
Robin Walker, Robyn Wallace, Don Walters, and Eric
Zimmerman.
While their words don’t appear in the text, several games
industry leaders were also extremely helpful to me with this
endeavor.AhugethankyoutoPatrickBuechner,RobertCogburn,
Phillip Holt, Steven Meretzky,Brian Robbins,and Jessica Tams.
Thanks also to my tireless development editor, Beth Millett,
and to Laura Lewin, Chris Simpson, and Anais Wheeler at Focal
Press.
And, of course, thank you to my family e Evelyn, Jules and
Leisy e for putting up with all of the early mornings and late
nights ittook to ship this one.