Comments on: Why Engine Games Suck, or, Why Game Design is About Rules http://atlhack.org/2005/09/27/why-engine-games-suck-or-why-game-design-is-about-rules/ The weekly notes of a geeky Atlanta-area meetup Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:22:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Graham http://atlhack.org/2005/09/27/why-engine-games-suck-or-why-game-design-is-about-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-506 Graham Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-506 Engine games probably come about because people are excited about the technology (completely valid, it's exciting to play a game with new interactions) but forget to add the game, the specifics and goals. My approach (as a novice) would be to make lots of little prototypes with your proposed interactions until you find a ruleset and story that makes it worthwhile and fun. Engine games probably come about because people are excited about the technology (completely valid, it’s exciting to play a game with new interactions) but forget to add the game, the specifics and goals. My approach (as a novice) would be to make lots of little prototypes with your proposed interactions until you find a ruleset and story that makes it worthwhile and fun.

]]> By: Stephen http://atlhack.org/2005/09/27/why-engine-games-suck-or-why-game-design-is-about-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-508 Stephen Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-508 I would consider Half Life 2 to an engine game that contrasts with Doom 3. Both showed off their terffic new graphics engines, but Half Life 2 (though very difficult IMO) was far more successful as a game. Gameplay was extended far beyond run and gun to vehicles and puzzles. The antlion level where you had to avoid touching soil was a nice play on the rules of the game. I agree with Graham in that good games nowadays probably come from lots of experimentation. Growbot wasn't a good game, but I think there was a good game a few dozen generations away :). What a game designer needs is a good prototyping and evaluation environment. Sounds like a fun project! I would consider Half Life 2 to an engine game that contrasts with Doom 3. Both showed off their terffic new graphics engines, but Half Life 2 (though very difficult IMO) was far more successful as a game. Gameplay was extended far beyond run and gun to vehicles and puzzles. The antlion level where you had to avoid touching soil was a nice play on the rules of the game.

I agree with Graham in that good games nowadays probably come from lots of experimentation. Growbot wasn’t a good game, but I think there was a good game a few dozen generations away :) . What a game designer needs is a good prototyping and evaluation environment. Sounds like a fun project!

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