10 May 2023
Some time ago I had an interview with a video game company as they were working on an unannounced survival game and were looking for a game designer with experience in that genre.
I eventually had to interrupt the recruiting process, which involved a few more interviews, as the company did not allow remote work and I was not willing to relocate. But during that interview I was asked an interesting question : “How would you make the action of chopping trees fun for the player?”
That question kept popping into my mind in the following days, along with many possible answers. So I sat down and wrote my thoughts on ‘how to make chopping trees fun’. The result is this brief presentation. Maybe it can be useful to someone who is working or will be working on a game where the player needs to chop down trees.
Feel free to comment with your own ideas on the topic 🌳
GAME DESIGN PILLS
ACHIEVEMENTS
Vampire Survivors motivates players to pursue achievements by unlocking actual game content.
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EDITABLE BACKSTORIES
Mordheim: City of the Damned allows players to write backstories for their characters, fostering deeper connection and creativity.
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In-game Maps
The game ‘Thief – The Dark Project’ uses hand-drawn, incomplete, and inaccurate maps to enhance gameplay through exploration, immersion, challenge, and narrative.
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Item Descriptions
When writing item descriptions be concise, give helpful hints, include crafting details, tie into game lore, and sprinkle in subtle humor. Be creative!
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Chopping Trees
A presentation about the different ways you can make the action of chopping trees fun in a survival game.
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FRANCESCO MAISTO 