Designing Journey

TL;DR

"Journey" is a game that aims to create emotional connections between players through gameplay mechanics and storytelling.

Transcript

so I think it's about two minutes ER today and I'm gonna start this all right now I'm hyped up okay so designing journey journey took us three years to make but the company that game company was started in 2006 in the first three year we would making other games you know so far we've made three games on PlayStation console Flo flower and journey th... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Games have the potential to create emotional connections and fulfill human desires.
• 🥺 Innovating games from an emotional perspective can lead to unique and powerful experiences.
• ✊ The reversal of power dynamics in gameplay can foster collaboration and connection.
• ❓ The development process involved extensive prototyping and testing to create the desired emotional experience.
• 👾 The game's online system was designed to facilitate collaboration and connection between players without relying on direct communication.
• 😤 The team focused on creating gameplay mechanics that elicit awe, mystery, and connection.
• 👾 The game's success was measured by the emotional impact it had on players.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the development team approach game innovation?

The team looked at innovation from an emotional perspective, viewing games as a medium for fulfilling human desires and cravings for different emotions.

Q: What emotion did the development team want to focus on in "Journey"?

The team wanted to create a feeling of awe, mystery, and connection between players, aiming for a transformational emotional experience.

Q: How did the team address the challenge of creating emotional gameplay mechanics?

The team extensively prototyped different game mechanics and tested them to see which ones elicited the desired emotions. They focused on elements like traversal, collaboration, and freedom.

Q: How did the team approach the game's online multiplayer aspect?

The team designed the game's online system to prioritize matching players who were physically close to each other. They wanted to facilitate collaboration and connection between players without the need for direct communication.

Key Insights:

• Games have the potential to create emotional connections and fulfill human desires.
• Innovating games from an emotional perspective can lead to unique and powerful experiences.
• The reversal of power dynamics in gameplay can foster collaboration and connection.
• The development process involved extensive prototyping and testing to create the desired emotional experience.
• The game's online system was designed to facilitate collaboration and connection between players without relying on direct communication.
• The team focused on creating gameplay mechanics that elicit awe, mystery, and connection.
• The game's success was measured by the emotional impact it had on players.
• "Journey" received positive feedback and touched the lives of many players, highlighting the potential of games to create meaningful experiences.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "Journey" took three years to make and was developed by thatgamecompany, a game company founded in 2006.

• The game focuses on creating emotional experiences and was intended to push the boundaries of what emotions games can communicate.

• The development team wanted to reverse the power relationship between players and the game world, emphasizing collaboration and connection.