Designing Design Tools

Designing Design ToolsWhat is design tools?Why do we need them?

Table of ContentsDesired Functionality Scripting Languages and

Object Behaviors Us Versus ThemA Game Editor for All Seasons

Desired Functionality What sorts of features should be

included to allow an editor to truly shine, to empower designers to do the best work possible?

Desired Functionality Visualizing the LevelThe most important objective for

a world creation tool must be to allow the designer to see the world he is creating while simultaneously enabling him to make modifications to it. (WYSIWYG)

Desired Functionality Visualizing the LevelThe designer should be easily

able to move the camera in this player’s view

This movement is probably best accomplished with a simple “flight” mode

Desired Functionality Visualizing the LevelOf course, the world as it will

appear in the game is not always the best view from which to edit that world. For this reason, level editors often need to include an “editing view” in addition to the player’s view.

Desired Functionality Visualizing the Level

Valve Hammer Editor

Desired Functionality The Big Picture The player’s view window does

not always need to represent exactly what players will see.

Desired Functionality The Big Picture WaypointsTrigger objectsSpawn pointsCharacter datasAudio sources

Desired Functionality The Big Picture The ability to turn on and off the

rendering of different data can be quite useful in setting up the level’s behaviors.

Desired Functionality Jumping into the Game In addition to having the player’s

view of the world represent what players will see in the game, it can be quite useful to allow the designer to actually maneuver in this view as he would in the actual game.

Desired Functionality Jumping into the Game

Unity3D

Desired Functionality Editing the World It is important that the editor

actually allow the designer to modify all gameplay-critical aspects of a level.

Desired Functionality Editing the World Changeable GeometryTerrain - heightmap EditorAnimation EditorAsset Importing from commercial

softwares

Scripting Languages and Object Behaviors Game behaviors should be

editable without involving a programmer

Enemies,Weapons, And others…

Scripting Languages and Object Behaviors Many games now include

scripting languages

Custom scripting languages,Or existing ones:Lua, GameMonkey, AngelScript

vs…

Scripting Languages and Object Behaviors Scripting Languages;+ Easy to learn+ No compile time+ Faster coding

- Less debugging capabilities- No powerful IDE support- Slower than native code

Scripting Languages and Object Behaviors Behavior variables, Property

Editors etc…

Scripting Languages and Object Behaviors Each level in the game can have

a unique script that sets up and triggers various unique behaviors on that level.

There is a key difference between “scripted events” and the “scripting language”

Scripting Languages and Object Behaviors

Warcraft III Trigger Editor

Us Versus ThemThe development of the tools for

a project often comes down to a battle between the programmers and the designers.

Us Versus ThemGame programmers wants to

make games

Us Versus ThemDesigners and programmers

think differentlyThey must be in constant

communication

Us Versus ThemA programmer can be assigned

for tools developmentThis is called Tools Programmer

(o rly?)

Or a programmer can try to make a level using the tool to see what designers might be need

A Game Editor for All SeasonsA level editor does not actually

need to be bug free.

A Game Editor for All SeasonsOnce a designer becomes adept

at the tools he will know what not to do and will be able to easily work around the trouble spots..

A Game Editor for All SeasonsIf the tools used on a project are

good enough, marketing may catch on and can come up with the bright idea

The End