Week 3 (Research) - This week is about 'Rapid Ideation' and identifying tools used for prototyping such as wireframes, storyboards, etc. Rapid ideation is the act of creating something quickly, that is generally based on a theme, with very little risk involved as Giovanni Rubino describes it, "[to] create something within a specific time constraints, often based on a theme, in a low-stake situation."
Rapid ideation can be used to bypass planning and preparation by swiftly moving to the development stage. Users are encouraged to work quickly and efficiently. In addition to improving upon a skillset (e.g. programming or art), users often get insight into the entire development process (Pirker and Fowler, 2016). There are many rapid ideation events such as game jams, hackathons and charrettes that users can participate in to develop their skillset.
Game Jams, Hackathons and Charrettes
Figure 1: Solent University (Game Jam)
If you have an aptitude for game development, game jams are a great way to quickly create fun and engaging titles. Moreover, users are encouraged to collaborate and critic peer work, thus improving upon soft skills such as communication and teamwork. However, if you prefer other mediums (e.g. writing books or creating short films) there are open competitions, hackathons and charrettes. The duration of any event can vary in time.
Personal Experience
During my undergraduate degree at Solent University, I joined a society called 'Video Games Academy' (VGA) (Figure 1 & 2). One of my responsibilities was to promote game jams based on specific themes or holidays. Before this, my sole experience with game jams was taking part in recreating small games during one of my weekly classes. I haven't participated in many game jams, however, when I did, they were an effective way of improving my skills as a developer.
Figure 2: Solent University (Game Jam - 2)
Once I became a graduate, I had more time to participate in game jams. During the holidays my friend would host an 'Indie Game Jam' with a small group of graduates, including myself. I attended an event called '12 Days of Xmas', where I successfully managed to complete a game during a jam. The game was called 'A "Half-Baked" Christmas Wisp' (Figure 3) and can be found on Itch.io.
Figure 3 - A "Half-Baked" Christmas Wisp (Itch.io)
Events
There are a variety of game jams, hackathons, and charrettes open around the world and to the public. Below I have listed some that appeal to me personally, and their pros and cons:
Global Game Jam - The Global Game Jam is the worlds largest game creation event. It is free to participate in and takes over a weekend. The event sounds intimidating with many developers taking part, although the event is not restricted by one's skill.
Brackey's Game Jam - Brackeys was a content creator who made easy-to-follow game development tutorials on YouTube. Every year Brackeys hosts a week-long game jam based on a certain theme he has chosen. There is a great sense of community around Brackey's Game Jam and the rules are often strict.
GBJam - GBJam or GameBoy Jam is a ten-day game jam based around the theme of GameBoy. Personally, this event sounds like it would be nostalgic and fun. However, you are limited to a particular platform/era of video games.
Ludum Dare - Ludum Dare is over a weekend and is flexible with its requirements. It takes place twice a year (April & October) and non-video game entries (e.g. board games) are allowed. The games are judged by everyone who participates.
Flutterhack - Flutter Puzzle Hack is a hackathon based on creating a solvable slide puzzle. There are cash prizes to be won, although there are very strict requirements for participation.
What is Prototyping?
The Interactive Design Foundation describes prototyping as "an experimental process where design teams implement ideas into tangible forms from paper to digital. Teams build prototypes of varying degrees of fidelity to capture design concepts and test on users" (What is Prototyping?, 2022). There are many ways to begin prototyping, for instance, users could start by developing a core mechanic, theme or story. In addition, there is MDA where the user focuses on mechanics, dynamics and aesthetics. There is the slow boil approach where the user is encouraged to research their chosen concept and finally, the blue sky approach where the user is required to generate several different ideas before deciding on one.
Figure 4: Paper Prototyping Zoombinis
Tools for Prototyping
Below are a series of prototyping tools and methods one can use to help establish a concept:
Sketching - More commonly used in the early stages of a development cycle, sketches are a significant part of the design process. They are easy to make and can be used to communicate ideas across departments.
Storyboarding - Storyboarding is visual representation of a sequence or journey. Most commonly in software it is used to illustrate important steps of a user experience.
Paper Prototyping - Paper prototyping (Figure 4) is used in the design phase to help developers create software that meets the users expectations and needs. It is simple and can be used to test a game's mechanics.
Physical Modelling - Physical modelling is the progression from a 2D sketch into a 3D model. It allows for better testing and a thorough investigation into an artefact.
White/Grey Boxing - White/grey boxing is a term used in game development. It is the process of blocking out a level into a playable state using basic 3D models. No polished assets or textures are required.
Wireframes/Interactive Wireframing - Wireframes are a visual way of representing functionality and navigation. More typically used for website and UI building. They can either be developed in low or high fidelity.
Game Prototyping - If the user wants to showcase a mechanic or feature, they may find it easier to create a proof of concept in a game engine.
Narrative Prototyping - Narrative prototyping can help improve stories at a low cost, early in development. It mainly uses creative and logical reasoning to tell stories without worrying about code (Antonisse, 2014). There are many online tools to help develop a narrative piece.
Wireflow - Wireflow is a combination of wireframes and flowcharts. They are used to provide a visual representation of designs and document workflow.
Bodystorming/Roleplaying - Bodystorming is the physical process of acting out stories or simulating situations close to reality to generate ideas.
Wizard of Oz Testing - Wizard of Oz testing is a unique way of testing more complex mechanics on players. The designer (Wizard) simulates the behaviour of a computer application, intercepting all communication between participant and system. This way, the designer can fully evaluate player behaviour based on a certain mechanic.
Conclusion & Reflection
In conclusion, the course lectures from Giovanni Rubino and Professor Michael Scott proved to be insightful on the topic of rapid ideation. Moreover, I am familiar with the concept of game jams (having participated in a few myself), however, I was not aware of the wider range of prototyping methods and tools available to developers. After researching each prototyping tool, I am intrigued to use them and note their effectiveness in future development projects.
References
Pirker, J. and Fowler, A., 2016. Understanding the benefits of game jams: Exploring the potential for engaging young learners in STEM. [ebook] Available at: <http://jpirker.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2016iticse-game-jams-1.pdf> [Accessed 8 February 2022].
Antonisse, J., 2014. Paper Tales: A Guide to Narrative Prototyping.
The Interaction Design Foundation. 2022. What is Prototyping?. [online] Available at: <https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/prototyping> [Accessed 10 February 2022].
Global Game Jam. 2022. Global Game Jam. [online] Available at: <https://globalgamejam.org/> [Accessed 10 February 2022].
itch.io. 2022. Brackeys Game Jam 2022.1. [online] Available at: <https://itch.io/jam/brackeys-7> [Accessed 10 February 2022].
Gbjam.net. 2022. GameBoy JAM. [online] Available at: <http://www.gbjam.net/> [Accessed 10 February 2022].
Ludumdare.com. 2022. Ludum Dare. [online] Available at: <https://ludumdare.com/> [Accessed 10 February 2022].
Flutter Puzzle Hack. 2022. Flutter Puzzle Hack. [online] Available at: <https://flutterhack.devpost.com/?ref_feature=challenge&ref_medium=discover> [Accessed 10 February 2022].
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