09-08-2019, 02:46 PM
Video: Designing levels for a video game mixtape
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/video-designing-levels-for-a-video-game-mixtape.jpg" width="200" height="200" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>In this 2017 GDC talk, Alejandro Quan-Madrid discusses the creation of mobile game <em>FRKN WKND</em>, a kind of video game mixtape that’s made up of a collection of autobiographical vignette games.</p>
<p>It’s well worth a watch, if only to better understand the unique approach Quan-Madrid took to game design. Without an explicit narrative, the variety of games and their relative order are used to convey a story.</p>
<p>This approach relies upon the principles of montage; for example, the first chapter features slices of life that go from coding to testing a game to checking social media and getting harassed, to finally meditating to come back down. Each of these games/levels on their own is a specific kind of experience, but in this order, you begin to see the perspective of the phone’s owner as the player performs as them. </p>
<p>Quan-Madrid offered up some intriguing insights into how this kind of mixtape approach, playing out across a mobile phone interface, allows for some remarkably creative possibilities for level design and flow. </p>
<p>If you haven’t seen it yet, good news: Quan-Madrid’s talk is now available (completely free!) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1yBJD4yRss">to watch on the official GDC YouTube channel</a>!</p>
<p>In addition to this presentation, the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/">GDC Vault</a> and its accompanying <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0JB7TSe49lg56u6qH8y_MQ/feed">YouTube channel</a> offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent <a href="http://www.gdconf.com/">Game Developers Conference events</a>, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.</p>
<p>Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/inquiry/">a GDC Vault subscription page</a>. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/demo/">GDC Vault group subscription page</a>. </p>
</div>
https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/2019/09/...e-mixtape/
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/video-designing-levels-for-a-video-game-mixtape.jpg" width="200" height="200" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>In this 2017 GDC talk, Alejandro Quan-Madrid discusses the creation of mobile game <em>FRKN WKND</em>, a kind of video game mixtape that’s made up of a collection of autobiographical vignette games.</p>
<p>It’s well worth a watch, if only to better understand the unique approach Quan-Madrid took to game design. Without an explicit narrative, the variety of games and their relative order are used to convey a story.</p>
<p>This approach relies upon the principles of montage; for example, the first chapter features slices of life that go from coding to testing a game to checking social media and getting harassed, to finally meditating to come back down. Each of these games/levels on their own is a specific kind of experience, but in this order, you begin to see the perspective of the phone’s owner as the player performs as them. </p>
<p>Quan-Madrid offered up some intriguing insights into how this kind of mixtape approach, playing out across a mobile phone interface, allows for some remarkably creative possibilities for level design and flow. </p>
<p>If you haven’t seen it yet, good news: Quan-Madrid’s talk is now available (completely free!) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1yBJD4yRss">to watch on the official GDC YouTube channel</a>!</p>
<p>In addition to this presentation, the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/">GDC Vault</a> and its accompanying <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0JB7TSe49lg56u6qH8y_MQ/feed">YouTube channel</a> offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent <a href="http://www.gdconf.com/">Game Developers Conference events</a>, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.</p>
<p>Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/inquiry/">a GDC Vault subscription page</a>. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/demo/">GDC Vault group subscription page</a>. </p>
</div>
https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/2019/09/...e-mixtape/