Playing God! Creating 'God Games' for a Broader Audience

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Had enough lectures about how to monetize your IP, how to sign a better publishing deal, how to finance your studio, and especially how to innovate? This talk will focus on something that often gets forgotten at game conferences: the games. Specifically, we will examine the increasing popularity of God Games, starting from their roots in core gaming, and into the present and future with mega-hits like Virtual Villagers, Pocket God, and other present-day examples. A focus will be on design and implementation considerations that are needed to make these games accessible to casual players, the pros and cons of the genre, and amazing crazy fun game design.

Delivered at Casual Connect Seattle, July 2010

DOWNLOAD AUDIO & SLIDES (54 MB)

Arthur HUMPHREY (email)

Arthur is founder and Lead Designer of Last Day of Work. Last Day of Work introduced the first widely played simulations and "God Games" into the casual space with Fish Tycoon, Plant Tycoon, Virtual Families, and the award-winning Virtual Villagers series. Arthur is passonate and excited about game design, and about the casual games space which has leveled the playing field for so many tiny, self-funded studios such as LDW.

HOME \| LECTURES & ARTICLES \| PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT \| Playing God! Creating 'God Games' for a Broader Audience Tweet Had enough lectures about how to monetize your IP, how to sign a better publishing deal, how to finance your studio, and especially how to innovate? This talk will focus on something that often gets forgotten at game conferences: the games. Specifically, we will examine the increasing popularity of God Games, starting from their roots in core gaming, and into the present and future with mega-hits like Virtual Villagers, Pocket God, and other present-day examples. A focus will be on design and implementation considerations that are needed to make these games accessible to casual players, the pros and cons of the genre, and amazing crazy fun game design. Delivered at Casual Connect Seattle, July 2010 DOWNLOAD AUDIO & SLIDES (54 MB) Arthur HUMPHREY (email) Arthur is founder and Lead Designer of Last Day of Work. Last Day of Work introduced the first widely played simulations and "God Games" into the casual space with Fish Tycoon, Plant Tycoon, Virtual Families, and the award-winning Virtual Villagers series. Arthur is passonate and excited about game design, and about the casual games space which has leveled the playing field for so many tiny, self-funded studios such as LDW.