G4C Game Jam: Automated Communities 2050 Reflection

     The G4C Game Jam introduced me to game design and elements of what make up a video game. The theme of the Game Jam was automated communities, or looking at how technology could change suburban life for better or worse in the years to come. The presenter taught us that there are certain key elements that make a game a game; a game engine, rules/mechanics, UI, and objectives. A game engine is simply the environment the game is played. A hands game (i.e. rock, paper, scissors) can be played anywhere in the real world with the correct amount of human players while a video game must be played somewhere with the correct technology (console, computer, etc. needed to play the game). The rules and mechanics set up what the player can do in the game. In rock, paper, scissors the player can gesture their hand in the form of a rock, paper, or scissor. The rule is rock beats scissors, paper beats rock, and scissors beat paper. The two players must gesture at the same time to keep things fair. The UI sets up player interactivity, in other words how the player performs actions and the feedback they receive. In a video game there are menus that the player can go through. In the menus they could select options such as making their character do an action. The feedback is the character performing the action. Finally, objectives are goals the player must work towards. In rock, paper, scissors it is winning more rounds than your opponent and in a video game it may be beating the final boss.
     The presenter also demonstrated the development process of a game. Games take a team of people to develop and is a collaborative experience. Members of the group circulate ideas and build upon them for a productive development process. Instead of shooting down an idea immediately it's best to consider the idea and see how it can be improved and then suggest your improvements. Games also go through many iterations, or versions. A concept is developed on paper then translated to its intended environment. During development some aspects of the game could change since an improvement was thought of or something wasn't practical. A completed version of a game doesn't mean it's the final version since after completion of one iteration something may seem it can be improved and the development of another iteration will begin. Finally, we developed a game of our own with a team of friends to experience this process and presented it at the end of the Game Jam.