Darren Grey, Ido Yehieli, Jeff Lait, corremn, and Joe Bradshaw talk about creating a roguelike game in a week, defining success in the 7DRL challenge, the evolution of roguelike games, using LibTCOD for game development and the debate on color palettes, exploring aesthetics and game making programs, using T-Engine for game creation, focusing on game development without distractions, choosing one gimmick for a game, the importance of transparency in game design, providing instructions and bug fix releases, and making a successful game through uniqueness and planning.
Focusing on a unique aspect or gimmick makes a 7-day roguelike more memorable and enjoyable for players.
Achieving the right balance of difficulty is crucial in a 7-day roguelike to keep players motivated.
Choosing a catchy and relevant name helps make a roguelike more appealing and distinguishable among others.
Deep dives
Focus on one unique aspect of the game
When creating a 7-day roguelike, it's important to focus on one unique aspect or gimmick that makes the game stand out. This can be a specific game mechanic, theme, or game flow. By concentrating on one central idea, the game becomes more memorable and enjoyable for players.
Balance difficulty
Achieving the right balance of difficulty is crucial in a 7-day roguelike. The game should pose a challenge without being too easy or impossible. Playtesting and iterating on the game's difficulty is important to ensure that players are motivated to continue playing and overcome obstacles.
Name the game appropriately
Choosing a name that reflects the unique aspect or gimmick of the game can help make it more memorable and distinguishable among other roguelikes. A catchy and relevant name can attract attention and make the game more appealing to players.
Pay attention to playability
Ensuring that the game is playable and has a smooth gameplay experience is essential. Consider factors like control responsiveness, intuitive user interface, and polished game mechanics to make the game enjoyable and easy for players to engage with.
Importance of Transparency and Accessibility
In this podcast episode, the importance of transparency and accessibility in game design is discussed. The speakers highlight the need for clear and apparent behaviors in game mechanics, emphasizing that the player should always understand what the game elements do without relying on hidden or complex mechanics. They argue that transparency is crucial for player engagement and enjoyment. The example of naming artifacts and providing clear descriptions is given to illustrate the importance of making game elements explicit to players.
Scope, Objective, and Bug Fixing
The podcast also touches upon the topics of game scope, objective clarification, and bug fixing. The speakers stress the significance of defining a clear objective for players, stating that games should clearly communicate what the player is supposed to be doing. They recommend providing a brief description of the objective at the start of the game or in a readme file. Additionally, the importance of bug fix releases is highlighted, as it shows the development team's commitment to improving the game and addressing community feedback. Readme files with control instructions and avoiding complex installation processes are also mentioned as important factors in making a game approachable.
Welcome to Roguelike Radio episode 26, where we talk about How to Make a Seven Day Roguelike. Talking this episode are Darren Grey, Ido Yehieli, Jeff Lait, corremn and Joe Bradshaw.