Playboarding/Storyboarding Talk, Steve Stopps
Why Game Board?
- Shared vision between team members, everything should be cohesive
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- Surfaces scope: makes it easier to visualise the scope of the game, all the features and how long it will take to make the game
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- Puts the user first, designing around the experience the player will have when they play
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- Generally more understandable game, leads to more successful games
What is a Game Board?
- A visual plan that showcases the user experience
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- Storyboards are not useful outside of cutscenes, as the game must consider interactivity
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- Saves a lot of time by figuring out ideas and implementation early
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- Maps out what the user will see and experience when playing the game
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- Shows screen by screen what the user might see/want to see, e.g. main menu > level select > game > game over...
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How it helps with Scope
- Developers can list every feature showcased on the playboard they need to create. Makes it easy to list everything that needs to be done and makes it easier to figure out what to prioritise
- Listing out taks makes it easy to see if the project will fit in the time allocated. If too many features need to be cut for time then the game is too ambitious and needs to be fundamentally changed.
Planning time should be designated around the time you have to make the game.
It is reccommended to use simple, easy methods like pen and paper or a powerpoint