1.4. Boss Battle - Your First Game¶

Time to design your first game using the Tiny Game Design Tool:

Nervous? That is understandable - creativity is hard. But it is like any other skill or muscle - you have to use it to develop it. Here are some tips to get you started:

Copy A Game and Modify It

Pick a game you know and then think of a twist that will make it feel like a completely different game. In Understanding Games Episode 1 you saw examples of taking Pong and turning it into Squash or Ice Hokey - think along those terms.

Combine

Take two existing games or genres and mash them up. What would happen if you turned Super Mario Bros into a first person shooter? What elements would stay the same? What would have to change?

Transform

Take a situation from real or imaginary life. What might it look like as a game?

You can find a lot more detail and some more examples at the blog entry From Zero to Pitch: A Walkthrough for Game Designers. Take the link and then scroll down to the Play With the Elements section.