Ask a Game Designer a Question

[RollForInitiative]

I've seen a fair number of these "ask X a question" or "what have you wanted to ask somebody that does X" threads and they've always struck me as a very interesting and honest way to get some insight into things we're probably woefully under-educated or misinformed about. With that in mind, I thought I'd offer up a thread of my own in the name of further education.

So, without further ado, feel free to ask a game designer of six years a few questions* about the industry and what we really do. =)

* I abide by NDA's so let's keep the questions realistic. I'll answer what I can, when I can, given my overloaded schedule.

 

[Radeonx]

...What company do you work for?

 

[Nossy]

Tell about your creative process.

 

[Fensfield]

Hm.. okay, here's the one always dogs me:

How do you approach getting a game idea from the 'vague, nice thought with lots of disparate little ideas' stage into the 'coherent concept with a decent idea what the complete game will be like' stage?

Also kudos on such a neat topic ^^

 

[nuba km]

if you could make your dream game what would it be?

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

What coding language do you use most frequently, or that you personally prefer?

Whether that be because of simplicity or you just like it.

 

[TomCorf]

Peter Molynuex: Will Project Natal really wake you up, make your breakfast, walk your dog, comb your hair, wipe your ass, brush your teeth, dress you, bathe you, give your wife an anniversary gift and sing you to sleep? Or will Milo take one look at you and shove his fish painting up his ass and hang himself on the swing?

 

[Darktau]

Does it irritate you how every 14 year old who plays videogames thinks being a videogame tester is equal to being given a basket of kittens by God?

And aside from that, how do you make your textures? I've experience in animation, but not gaming, so I'm somewhat curious if the same basic principle applies. And when, for example, your character gains a new item (like a bandolier) is that an entirely new model that swaps out, or... if you get what I'm asking.

oooh, I have a good answer to this. For landscape/tile-able textures a good free tool is "map zone" google it, you can procedurally make a texture via nodes, its like a texture development kit

Spoiler

You can make stuff like this pretty easily

 

[tlozoot]

Is the current trend of motion controlled gaming going to truly deliver us to the next stage of gaming as an immersive, comprehenive medium, or do you believe that it's a step in the wrong direction?

 

[Kalabrikan]

What's the process you have to go through to get ideas for games considered in your company?

 

[DazZ.]

What have you worked on?

 

[tlozoot]

Oh, another one if I may be so bold...

From looking at concept art and designs for several games, it has become very apparant that games are often shipped well short of the creative vision originally held for them. About how much would you say a retail release usually has to sacrifice of its original vision in order to abide by time, budget or staff constraints?

 

[Quaxar]

Are you a <url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Wy7gRGgeA>code monkey, or do they allow you to be creative?

 

[AugustFall]

How is it developing games for current gen systems? Is it more of a monolithic task than ever? Is it getting easier as we go?

 

[BuchalBainne]

How did you get into the industry? Also, where did you study and what did you study?
Hope you don't mind me having a nosy.....