"The opposing metric of jank." Composition over Inheritance; Elegance
Oct 12, 2023
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The hosts dive into the woes of Unity and the elegance found in game design. They discuss the innovative word puzzle game Noodle and the challenges of composition over inheritance in coding. With humor, they compare programming practices in Unity and Godot. The conversation shifts to how elegance is perceived across different fields, using amusing anecdotes. They also explore the balance between simplicity and complexity in games, advocating for the appreciation of 'jank' as a valuable design aspect.
The development of the new word puzzle game 'Noodle' highlights the importance of playtesting and player experience in game design.
The philosophy of 'composition over inheritance' emphasizes modular code systems over strict hierarchies, which can lead to better game architecture.
The debate on complexity versus jankiness in games illustrates how different design philosophies cater to various player experiences and expectations.
Deep dives
The Creative Process Behind 'Noodle'
A new word puzzle game called 'Noodle' is in development, designed to have variable word lengths similar to 'Wordle'. The game aims to be content agnostic, allowing authors to input their own content and images. During its development, the team conducted playtesting throughout the process to ensure a smooth player experience. The planned soft launch is exciting as it marks the first game designed for the Training Arcade platform, highlighting the challenges and complexities of game development.
Overarching Themes in Game Development Challenges
The discussion reveals frequent struggles in managing workloads and keeping track of tasks within game development teams. Delays can cascade into future projects, affecting productivity and progress. The hosts share experiences of juggling responsibilities while integrating their breaks to maintain a work-life balance. Such challenges underline the importance of communication and efficient time management in a creative setting.
Composition Over Inheritance in Programming
The philosophy of 'composition over inheritance' in object-oriented programming emphasizes creating systems using modular components rather than strict hierarchical models. This approach encourages greater flexibility and code reuse but can lead to complexity in execution. In practical application, especially within Unity, developers often default to using inheritance due to its familiar structure despite the framework intended for a more compositional design. The discussion reflects on how recognizing this distinction can improve programming practices and game architecture.
Exploring the Concept of Elegance in Game Design
The term 'elegance' is dissected in the context of game design, particularly how simplicity of rules can yield complex and profound gameplay experiences. Examples like the board game Go exemplify how a minimal rule set can lead to a vast array of strategic possibilities. This conversation acknowledges that elegance can also be subjective; what one player finds elegant might seem too simplistic or tedious to another. Ultimately, elegance in design balances depth with accessible mechanics, creating an enjoyable experience.
Finding Balance in Game Complexity and Player Experience
A significant debate arises over the place of complexity and jankiness in video games compared to board games, with arguments for both sides on how they cater to different player experiences. The conversation leans towards recognizing jank as an acceptable aspect that can enhance gameplay dynamics, adding texture and surprise. Players may enjoy the wild and chaotic elements of video games, while board games may benefit from a more structured elegance. This contrasts the expectations placed on game design, emphasizing that both complexity and simplicity have their respective roles in crafting engaging experiences.
In this episode, the team gets back to all the regular reasons to complain about Unity. Stephen makes a pun, and Ellen searches for elegance through the power of internet research.
