Gamasutra - Features - "The Designer's Notebook: Defining the Physical Dimension of a Game Setting" [04.30.

03]

| | | |

By Er n e s t A d a m s
Ga m a s u t ra
De s ig n e r's No t e b o o k
[ Au t h o r's Bio ]
Ap ril 3 0 , 2 0 0 3
D e fin in g t h e P h y s ic a l D im e n s io n
o f a Ga m e S e t t in g
Th is m o n t h 's co lu m n is a n o t h e r e xce rp t fro m An d re w Ro llin g s ' a n d m y lo n g - a wa it e d b o o k o n g a m e d e s ig n , An d re w
D e fin in g t h e P h y s ic a l Ro llin g s a n d Ern e s t Ad a m s o n Ga m e De s ig n ( d u e o u t fro m Ne w Rid e rs Pu b lis h in g t h is Ma y) .
D im e n s io n o f a Ga m e
S e t t in g
Ga m e s e t t in g s a re a lm o s t a lwa ys im p le m e n t e d a s s o m e s o rt o f p h ys ica l s p a ce . Th e p la ye r m o ve s h is a va t a r in a n d
a ro u n d t h is s p a ce , o r m o ve s o t h e r p ie ce s , ch a ra ct e rs , o r u n it s in it . Th e p h ys ica l ch a ra ct e ris t ics o f t h is s p a ce
Prin t e r Frie n d ly Ve rs io n d e t e rm in e a g re a t d e a l a b o u t t h e g a m e p la y.

Eve n t e xt a d ve n t u re s in clu d e a p h ys ica l d im e n s io n . Th e p la ye r m o ve s fro m o n e a b s t ra ct "ro o m " o r o t h e r d is cre t e

lo ca t io n t o a n o t h e r. Ba ck wh e n m o re p e o p le p la ye d t e xt a d ve n t u re s , t h e b o xe s u s e d t o ca rry p ro u d b o a s t s a b o u t t h e
n u m b e r o f ro o m s in t h e g a m e . Ga m e rs co u ld t a ke t h is a s a ve ry ro u g h m e a s u re o f t h e s ize o f t h e wo rld t h e y co u ld
e xp lo re in t h e g a m e a n d , t h e re fo re , t h e a m o u n t o f g a m e p la y t h a t t h e g a m e o ffe re d .

Th e p h ys ica l d im e n s io n o f a g a m e is it s e lf ch a ra ct e rize d b y s e ve ra l d iffe re n t e le m e n t s : d im e n s io n a lit y, s ca le , a n d

b o u n d a rie s .

We lco m e ! [ Lo g in . . . ]
D im e n s io n a lit y

On e o f t h e firs t q u e s t io n s yo u h a ve t o a s k yo u rs e lf is h o w m a n y d im e n s io n s yo u r p h ys ica l s p a ce is g o in g t o h a ve . A
fe w ye a rs a g o , t h e va s t m a jo rit y o f g a m e s h a d o n ly t wo d im e n s io n s . Th is wa s e s p e cia lly n o t ice a b le in s id e - s cro llin g
g a m e s s u ch a s S u p e r Ma rio Bro t h e rs . Ma rio co u ld ru n le ft a n d rig h t a n d ju m p u p a n d d o wn , b u t h e co u ld n o t m o ve
t o wa rd t h e p la ye r ( "o u t " o f t h e s cre e n ) o r a wa y fro m h im ( "in t o " t h e s cre e n ) .
La t e s t Le t t e rs t o t h e Ed it o r: It is e s s e n t ia l t o u n d e rs t a n d t h a t t h e d im e n s io n a lit y o f t h e g a m e 's p h ys ica l s p a ce is n o t t h e s a m e a s h o w t h e g a m e
Au d io Pro b le m On Mo lyn e u x's
will d is p la y t h a t s p a ce o r h o w it will im p le m e n t t h e s p a ce in s o ft wa re . Ult im a t e ly, a ll s p a ce s m u s t b e d is p la ye d o n
Vid e o ? b y Ife a n yi Ech e ru o
t h e t wo - d im e n s io n a l s u rfa ce o f t h e m o n it o r s cre e n , b u t t h a t 's a p ro b le m fo r a p ro g ra m m e r, n o t a d e s ig n e r. Ho w t o
[05.19.2003]
im p le m e n t a n d d is p la y t h e s p a ce a re s e p a ra t e b u t re la t e d q u e s t io n s . Th e fo rm e r h a s t o d o wit h t e ch n ica l d e s ig n , a n d
Ne w ES RB Fe e s - - In d u s t ry Ne e d s t h e la t t e r h a s t o d o wit h u s e r in t e rfa ce d e s ig n .
Alt e rn a t ive b y Cla ra Re a u m e
[05.08.2003]
No wa d a ys , a g re a t m a n y co m p u t e r g a m e s e t t in g s h a ve a t h re e - d im e n s io n a l s p a ce , e ve n t h o u g h t h e g a m e m ig h t
Vid e o Le ct u re s : Fu t ilit y o n 5 6 k b y im p le m e n t it in va rio u s wa ys . S t a rcra ft , a wa r g a m e , s h o ws yo u p la t e a u s a n d lo wla n d s , a s we ll a s a ircra ft t h a t p a s s
Ch ris Za s t ro w [ 0 5 . 0 7 . 2 0 0 3 ] o ve r o b s t a cle s a n d g ro u n d u n it s . S t a rcra ft 's s e t t in g is cle a rly t h re e - d im e n s io n a l, b u t t h e s p a ce is a ct u a lly
im p le m e n t e d in a s e rie s o f t wo - d im e n s io n a l p la n e s o r la ye rs , o n e a b o ve a n o t h e r. Ob je ct s ca n b e p la ce d a n d m o ve d
wit h in a p la n e wit h a fin e d e g re e o f p re cis io n , b u t ve rt ica lly, a n o b je ct m u s t b e in o n e p la n e ; t h e re is n o "in
b e t we e n . " Flyin g o b je ct s ca n 't m o ve u p a n d d o wn in t h e a ir; t h e y're a lwa ys a t t h e s a m e a lt it u d e - - in t h e "a ir la ye r. "
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20030430/adams_01.shtml (1 of 4) [5/21/2003 5:57:17 PM]
Gamasutra - Features - "The Designer's Notebook: Defining the Physical Dimension of a Game Setting" [04.30.03]
[ S u b m it Le t t e r]
[ Vie w All. . . ]
Wh e n firs t t h in kin g a b o u t t h e d im e n s io n a lit y o f yo u r g a m e
s p a ce , it 's t e m p t in g t o im m e d ia t e ly a s s u m e t h a t yo u wa n t
it t o b e t h re e - d im e n s io n a l b e ca u s e t h a t o ffe rs t h e g re a t e s t
fle xib ilit y o r s e e m s m o re re a l. Bu t a s wit h e ve ryt h in g e ls e ,
t h e d im e n s io n a lit y o f yo u r p h ys ica l s p a ce m u s t s e rve t h e
e n t e rt a in m e n t va lu e o f t h e g a m e . Ma ke s u re a ll t h e
d im e n s io n s will co n t rib u t e m e a n in g fu lly. Le m m in g s wa s a
h it 2 D g a m e , b u t Le m m in g s 3 D wa s n o wh e re n e a r a s
s u cce s s fu l b e ca u s e it wa s m u ch m o re d ifficu lt t o p la y. Th e
a d d it io n o f a t h ird d im e n s io n d e t ra ct e d fro m t h e p la ye r's
e n jo ym e n t ra t h e r t h a n a d d in g t o it .

It 's p o s s ib le t o h a ve m o re t h a n t h re e s p a t ia l d im e n s io n s ,
b u t , in g e n e ra l, we d o n 't re co m m e n d it . A co m p u t e r ca n
d is p la y a d is t o rt e d a p p ro xim a t io n o f fo u r- d im e n s io n a l
s p a ce in t h e t wo d im e n s io n s o f t h e m o n it o r s cre e n , ju s t a s
it ca n d is p la y a n a p p ro xim a t io n o f t h re e - d im e n s io n a l s p a ce
in t wo d im e n s io n s . Ho we ve r, b e ca u s e h u m a n s a re n o t
u s e d t o d e a lin g wit h 4 D s p a ce s , m o s t o f u s h a ve a h a rd
Up c o m in g Ev e n t s :
Ne t Ga m e s 2 0 0 3
t im e n a vig a t in g t h ro u g h t h e m . If yo u wa n t t o in clu d e a
Re d wo o d Cit y, Un it e d S t a t e s
fo u rt h d im e n s io n fo r s o m e re a s o n , yo u m ig h t co n s id e r
05.22.03 d o in g it a s a n "a lt e rn a t e p la n e o f re a lit y" ra t h e r t h a n a n
a ct u a l fo u r- d im e n s io n a l s p a ce . In o t h e r wo rd s , yo u h a ve
Aca d e m y o f Art Co lle g e An n u a l t wo t h re e - d im e n s io n a l s p a ce s t h a t lo o k s im ila r, b u t t h e re
2 0 0 3 S p rin g S h o w Exh ib it io n is s o m e t h in g d iffe re n t a b o u t t h e m . Fo r e xa m p le , t h e g a m e
S a n Fra n cis co , Un it e d S t a t e s Le g a cy o f Ka in : S o u l Re a v e r co n t a in e d t wo t h re e -
05.22.03
d im e n s io n a l s p a ce s , t h e s p e ct ra l re a lm a n d t h e m a t e ria l
re a lm . Th e la n d s ca p e wa s t h e s a m e in e a ch , b u t t h e
Le m m in g s ( t o p ) w a s a h it , b u t
3 D S e m in a r & Ma ya 5 Ove rvie w
Wa lt h a m , Un it e d S t a t e s s p e ct ra l re a lm wa s lit b y a b lu e lig h t wh ile t h e m a t e ria l Le m m in g s 3 D ( b o t t o m ) d id n 't t ra n s la t e
06.03.03 re a lm wa s lit b y wh it e lig h t ; t h e a ct io n s a va ila b le t o t h e in t o t h e s a m e fu n e x p e rie n c e .
p la ye r we re d iffe re n t in t h e s p e ct ra l re a l fro m t h e m a t e ria l
Ho w t o Co m p e t e in t h e Glo b a l
re a lm . Alt h o u g h t h e y we re b o t h im p le m e n t e d in s o ft wa re
Ga m e
Lo n d o n , Un it e d Kin g d o m
b y t h e s a m e 3 D m o d e ls , t h e y we re fu n ct io n a lly d iffe re n t p la ce s g o ve rn e d b y d iffe re n t la ws . In t h e m o vie ve rs io n o f
06.11.03 Th e Lo rd o f t h e Rin g s , t h e wo rld t h a t Fro d o in h a b it s wh ile h e is we a rin g t h e Rin g ca n b e t h o u g h t o f a s a n a lt e rn a t e
p la n e o f re a lit y a s we ll, o ve rla p p in g t h e re a l wo rld b u t a p p e a rin g a n d b e h a vin g d iffe re n t ly.
ELS PA Ga m e s S u m m it
Lo n d o n , Un it e d Kin g d o m
06.17.03 S c a le

[ S u b m it Ev e n t ] By s ca le , we m e a n b o t h t h e t o t a l s ize o f t h e p h ys ica l s p a ce re p re s e n t e d a n d t h e re la t ive s ize s o f o b je ct s in t h e

[ Vie w All. . . ] g a m e . If a g a m e is p u re ly a b s t ra ct a n d d o e s n 't co rre s p o n d t o a n yt h in g in t h e re a l wo rld , t h e s ize s o f o b je ct s in it s
g a m e wo rld d o n 't re a lly m a t t e r. Yo u ca n a d ju s t t h e m t o s u it t h e g a m e 's n e e d s a n y wa y yo u like . Bu t if yo u a re
d e s ig n in g a g a m e t h a t is a t le a s t s o m e wh a t re p re s e n t a t io n a l o f t h e re a l wo rld , yo u 'll h a ve t o a d d re s s t h e q u e s t io n o f
h o w b ig e ve ryt h in g s h o u ld b e t o b o t h lo o k re a l a n d p la y we ll. S o m e d is t o rt io n is o ft e n n e ce s s a ry fo r t h e s a ke o f
g a m e p la y; t h e t rick is t o d o it wit h o u t h a rm in g t h e p la ye r's s u s p e n s io n o f d is b e lie f t o o m u ch .

Wit h a s p o rt s g a m e , a d rivin g g a m e , a flig h t s im u la t o r, o r a n y o t h e r kin d o f g a m e in wh ich t h e p la ye r will e xp e ct a

h ig h d e g re e o f ve ris im ilit u d e , yo u h a ve lit t le ch o ice b u t t o s ca le t h in g s t o t h e ir a ct u a l s ize s . In o ld s p o rt s g a m e s , it
wa s n o t u n co m m o n fo r t h e a t h le t e s t o b e d e p ict e d a s t we lve fe e t t a ll t o m a ke t h e m m o re vis ib le , b u t n o wa d a ys
[ En t e r Fo ru m s . . . ] p la ye rs wo u ld n 't t o le ra t e a g a m e t a kin g s u ch lib e rt ie s wit h re a lit y. S e rio u s s im u la t io n s n e e d a n a ccu ra t e
re p re s e n t a t io n o f t h e p h ys ica l wo rld .
No t e : Dis cu s s io n fo ru m s fo r
Ga m a s u t ra a re h o s t e d b y S im ila rly, yo u s h o u ld s ca le m o s t o f t h e o b je ct s in firs t - p e rs o n g a m e s a ccu ra t e ly. Fo rt u n a t e ly, a lm o s t a ll firs t - p e rs o n
t h e IGDA, wh ich is fre e t o g a m e s a re s e t in d o o rs o r wit h in ve ry lim it e d a re a s t h a t a re s e ld o m la rg e r t h a n a fe w h u n d re d fe e t in a n y d im e n s io n ,
jo in . s o t h is d o e s n 't cre a t e im p le m e n t a t io n p ro b le m s . Be ca u s e t h e p la ye r's p e rs p e ct ive is t h a t o f a p e rs o n wa lkin g
t h ro u g h t h e s p a ce , o b je ct s n e e d t o lo o k rig h t fo r t h e ir s u rro u n d in g a re a . Yo u m ig h t wa n t t o s lig h t ly e xa g g e ra t e t h e

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20030430/adams_01.shtml (2 of 4) [5/21/2003 5:57:17 PM]

Gamasutra - Features - "The Designer's Notebook: Defining the Physical Dimension of a Game Setting" [04.30.03]
s ize o f crit ica l o b je ct s s u ch a s ke ys , we a p o n s , o r a m m u n it io n t o m a ke t h e m m o re vis ib le , b u t m o s t t h in g s , s u ch a s
d o o rs a n d fu rn it u re , s h o u ld b e s ca le d n o rm a lly. As s cre e n re s o lu t io n s co n t in u e t o im p ro ve , we 'll n o lo n g e r n e e d t o
e xa g g e ra t e o b je ct s fo r vis u a l cla rit y, u n le s s we wa n t t o d o s o fo r a co m ic o r ca rt o o n like e ffe ct .

If yo u 're d e s ig n in g a g a m e wit h a n a e ria l o r is o m e t ric p e rs p e ct ive , yo u m ig h t n e e d t o fu d g e t h e s ca le o f t h in g s

s o m e wh a t . Th e re a l wo rld is s o m u ch la rg e r a n d m o re d e t a ile d t h a n a g a m e wo rld t h a t it 's im p o s s ib le t o re p re s e n t
o b je ct s in t h e ir t ru e s ca le in s u ch a p e rs p e ct ive . Fo r e xa m p le , in m o d e rn m e ch a n ize d wa rfa re , g ro u n d b a t t le s ca n
e a s ily t a ke p la ce o ve r a 2 0 - m ile fro n t , wit h we a p o n s t h a t ca n fire t h a t fa r o r fa rt h e r. If yo u we re t o m a p a n a re a t h is
s ize o n t o a co m p u t e r s cre e n , a n in d ivid u a l s o ld ie r o r e ve n a t a n k wo u ld b e s m a lle r t h a n a s in g le p ixe l, co m p le t e ly
in vis ib le . Alt h o u g h t h e p la ye r will n o rm a lly b e zo o m e d in o n o n e s m a ll a re a o f t h e wh o le m a p , t h e s ca le o f o b je ct s
will h a ve t o b e s o m e wh a t e xa g g e ra t e d s o t h a t t h e y're cle a rly id e n t ifia b le o n t h e s cre e n .

On e o f t h e m o s t co m m o n d is t o rt io n s g a m e s m a ke is in t h e re la t ive h e ig h t s o f p e o p le a n d t h e b u ild in g s o r h ills in

t h e ir e n viro n m e n t . Th e b u ild in g s a re o ft e n o n ly a lit t le t a lle r t h a n t h e p e o p le wh o wa lk p a s t t h e m . To b e a b le t o s e e
t h e ro o fs o f a ll t h e b u ild in g s o r t h e t o p s o f a ll t h e h ills , t h e ca m e ra m u s t b e p o s it io n e d a b o ve t h e h ig h e s t p o in t o n
t h e g ro u n d ; b u t if t h e ca m e ra is t o o h ig h , t h e p e o p le wo u ld h a rd ly b e vis ib le a t a ll. To s o lve t h is p ro b le m , t h e g a m e
s im p ly d o e s n o t in clu d e t a ll b u ild in g s o r h ills a n d e xa g g e ra t e s t h e h e ig h t o f t h e p e o p le . Be ca u s e t h e ve rt ica l
d im e n s io n is s e ld o m crit ica l t o t h e g a m e p la y in t h in g s s u ch a s wa r g a m e s a n d ro le - p la yin g g a m e s , it d o e s n 't m a t t e r
if it 's n o t a ccu ra t e , a s lo n g a s it 's n o t s o in a ccu ra t e t h a t it in t e rfe re s wit h s u s p e n s io n o f d is b e lie f.

De s ig n e rs o ft e n m a ke a n o t h e r s ca le d is t o rt io n b e t we e n in d o o r a n d o u t d o o r lo ca t io n s . Wh e n a ch a ra ct e r is wa lkin g
t h ro u g h a t o wn , s im p ly g o in g fro m o n e p la ce t o a n o t h e r, t h e p la ye r will wa n t t h e ch a ra ct e r t o g e t t h e re re a s o n a b ly
q u ickly. Th e s ca le o f t h e t o wn s h o u ld b e s m a ll e n o u g h t h a t t h e ch a ra ct e r t a ke s o n ly a fe w m in u t e s t o g e t fro m o n e
e n d t o a n o t h e r, u n le s s t h e p o in t o f t h e g a m e p la y is t o e xp lo re a rich ly d e t a ile d u rb a n e n viro n m e n t Wh e n t h e
ch a ra ct e r s t e p s in s id e a b u ild in g , h o we ve r, a n d n e e d s t o n e g o t ia t e d o o rs a n d fu rn it u re , yo u s h o u ld e xp a n d t h e s ca le
t o s h o w t h e s e a d d it io n a l d e t a ils . If yo u u s e t h e s a m e a n im a t io n fo r a ch a ra ct e r wa lkin g in d o o rs a n d o u t d o o rs , t h is
will g ive t h e im p re s s io n t h a t t h e ch a ra ct e r wa lks m u ch fa s t e r o u t d o o rs t h a n in d o o rs . Ho we ve r, t h is s e ld o m b o t h e rs
p la ye rs - t h e y'd m u ch ra t h e r h a ve t h e g a m e p ro ce e d q u ickly t h a n h a ve t h e ir a va t a r t a ke h o u rs t o g e t a n ywh e re , e ve n
if t h a t wo u ld b e m o re a ccu ra t e .

Th is b rin g s u p o n e fin a l d is t o rt io n , wh ich is a ls o a ffe ct e d b y t h e g a m e 's n o t io n o f t im e , a n d t h a t is t h e re la t ive

s p e e d s o f m o vin g o b je ct s . In t h e re a l wo rld , a s u p e rs o n ic je t fig h t e r ca n fly m o re t h a n a h u n d re d t im e s fa s t e r t h a n
a n in fa n t ry s o ld ie r ca n wa lk o n t h e g ro u n d . If yo u 're d e s ig n in g a g a m e t h a t in clu d e s b o t h in fa n t ry s o ld ie rs a n d je t
fig h t e rs , yo u 're g o in g t o h a ve a p ro b le m . If t h e s ca le o f t h e b a t t le fie ld is s u it a b le fo r je t s , it will t a ke in fa n t ry we e ks
t o wa lk a cro s s ; if it 's s u it a b le fo r in fa n t ry, a je t co u ld p a s s o ve r it in t h e b lin k o f a n e ye . On e s o lu t io n t o t h is is t o d o
wh a t t h e re a l m ilit a ry d o e s a n d im p le m e n t t ra n s p o rt ve h icle s fo r g ro u n d t ro o p s . An o t h e r is s im p ly t o fu d g e it a n d
p re t e n d t h a t je t s fly o n ly fo u r o r five t im e s a s fa s t a s p e o p le wa lk. As lo n g a s t h e je t is t h e fa s t e s t t h in g in t h e g a m e ,
it d o e s n 't re a lly m a t t e r h o w m u ch fa s t e r it is ; t h e "s t rike a n d re t re a t " t a ct ic t h a t je t s a re g o o d a t will s t ill wo rk.
S e t t in g t h e s e va lu e s is a ll p a rt o f b a la n cin g t h e g a m e .

Bo u n d a rie s

In b o a rd g a m e s , t h e e d g e o f t h e b o a rd co n s t it u t e s t h e e d g e o f t h e g a m e wo rld . Be ca u s e co m p u t e rs h a ve a fin it e
s ize , t h e p h ys ica l d im e n s io n o f a co m p u t e r g a m e wo rld m u s t h a ve a fin it e s ize a ls o . Ho we ve r, co m p u t e r g a m e s a re
u s u a lly m o re im m e rs ive t h a n b o a rd g a m e s , a n d t h e y o ft e n t ry t o d is g u is e o r e xp la in a wa y t h e fa ct t h a t t h e wo rld is
lim it e d , t o m a in t a in t h e p la ye r's s u s p e n s io n o f d is b e lie f.

In s o m e ca s e s , t h e b o u n d a rie s o f a g a m e wo rld a ris e n a t u ra lly, a n d we d o n 't h a ve t o d is g u is e o r e xp la in t h e m .

S p o rt s g a m e s t a ke p la ce o n ly in a s t a d iu m o r a n a re n a , a n d n o o n e e xp e ct s o r wa n t s t h e m t o in clu d e t h e la rg e r
wo rld . In m o s t d rivin g g a m e s , t h e ca r is re s t rict e d t o a t ra ck o r a ro a d , a n d t h is , t o o , is re a s o n a b le e n o u g h .

S e t t in g a g a m e u n d e rg ro u n d o r in d o o rs h e lp s t o cre a t e n a t u ra l b o u n d a rie s fo r t h e g a m e wo rld . Eve ryo n e e xp e ct s

in d o o r re g io n s t o b e o f a lim it e d s ize , wit h wa lls d e fin in g t h e e d g e s . Th e p ro b le m o ccu rs wh e n g a m e s m o ve
o u t d o o rs , wh e re p e o p le e xp e ct la rg e , o p e n s p a ce s wit h o u t s h a rp ly d e fin e d e d g e s . A co m m o n s o lu t io n in t h is ca s e is
t o s e t t h e g a m e o n a n is la n d s u rro u n d e d b y wa t e r o r b y s o m e o t h e r kin d o f im p a s s a b le t e rra in : m o u n t a in s , s wa m p s ,
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20030430/adams_01.shtml (3 of 4) [5/21/2003 5:57:17 PM]
Gamasutra - Features - "The Designer's Notebook: Defining the Physical Dimension of a Game Setting" [04.30.03]
o r d e s e rt s . Th e s e e s t a b lis h b o t h a cre d ib le a n d a vis u a lly d is t in ct ive "e d g e o f t h e wo rld . "

In flig h t s im u la t o rs , t h e b o u n d a rie s o f t h e wo rld a re e ve n m o re

p ro b le m a t ic. Mo s t flig h t s im u la t o rs re s t rict t h e p la ye r t o a
p a rt icu la r a re a o f t h e re a l wo rld . Be ca u s e t h e re a re n o wa lls in
t h e a ir, t h e re 's n o t h in g t o s t o p t h e p la n e fro m flyin g u p t o t h e
e d g e o f t h e g a m e wo rld , a n d t h e p la ye r ca n cle a rly s e e wh e n
h e h a s a rrive d t h e re t h a t t h e re 's n o t h in g b e yo n d . In s o m e
g a m e s , t h e p la n e ju s t s t o p s t h e re , h o ve rin g in m id a ir, a n d
wo n 't g o a n y fa rt h e r. In Ba t t le fie ld 1 9 4 2 , t h e g a m e t e lls t h e
p la ye r t h a t h e h a s le ft t h e s ce n e o f t h e a ct io n a n d fo rcib ly
re t u rn s h im t o t h e ru n wa y.

A co m m o n s o lu t io n t o t h e e d g e - o f- t h e - wo rld p ro b le m is t o
a llo w t h e fla t wo rld t o "wra p " a t t h e t o p , b o t t o m , a n d s id e s .
Alt h o u g h t h e wo rld is im p le m e n t e d a s a re ct a n g u la r s p a ce in
t h e s o ft wa re , o b je ct s t h a t cro s s o n e e d g e a p p e a r a t t h e
o p p o s it e e d g e - t h e y wra p a ro u n d t h e wo rld . If t h e o b je ct
re m a in s ce n t e re d o n t h e s cre e n a n d t h e wo rld a p p e a rs t o I n P o p u lo u s : Th e Be g in n in g , t h e
m o ve b e n e a t h it , yo u ca n cre a t e t h e im p re s s io n t h a t t h e wo rld g a m e w o rld w a s a g lo b e , s o lv in g t h e
is s p h e rica l. Th is wa s u s e d t o e xce lle n t e ffe ct in Bu llfro g p ro b le m o f p la y e r b o u n d a rie s .
Pro d u ct io n s ' g a m e Ma g ic Ca rp e t . In a n o t h e r Bu llfro g g a m e ,
Po p u lo u s : Th e Be g in n in g , t h e wo rld wa s a ct u a lly d is p la ye d
g ra p h ica lly a s a s p h e re o n t h e s cre e n , n o t ju s t a wra p p in g re ct a n g le .

Qu e s t io n s t o As k Yo u rs e lf Ab o u t t h e P h y s ic a l D im e n s io n

● Do e s m y g a m e re q u ire a p h ys ica l d im e n s io n ? Wh a t is it u s e d fo r? Is it a n e s s e n t ia l p a rt o f g a m e p la y o r
m e re ly co s m e t ic?
● Le a vin g a s id e is s u e s o f im p le m e n t a t io n o r d is p la y, h o w m a n y im a g in a ry s p a t ia l d im e n s io n s d o e s m y g a m e
re q u ire ? If t h e re a re t h re e o r m o re , ca n o b je ct s m o ve co n t in u o u s ly t h ro u g h t h e t h ird a n d h ig h e r d im e n s io n s ,
o r a re t h e s e d im e n s io n s p a rt it io n e d in t o d is cre t e "la ye rs " o r zo n e s ?
● Ho w b ig is m y g a m e wo rld , in lig h t - ye a rs o r in ch e s ? Is a ccu ra cy o f s ca le crit ica l, a s in a fo o t b a ll g a m e , o r
n o t , a s in a ca rt o o n like a ct io n g a m e ?
● Will m y g a m e n e e d m o re t h a n o n e s ca le , fo r in d o o r ve rs u s o u t d o o r a re a s , fo r e xa m p le ? Ho w m a n y will it
a ct u a lly re q u ire ?
● Ho w a m I g o in g t o h a n d le t h e re la t ive s ize s o f o b je ct s a n d p e o p le ? Wh a t a b o u t t h e ir re la t ive s p e e d s o f
m o ve m e n t ?
● Ho w is m y wo rld b o u n d e d ? Am I g o in g t o m a ke a n e ffo rt t o d is g u is e t h e "e d g e o f t h e wo rld , " a n d if s o , wit h
wh a t ? Wh a t h a p p e n s if t h e p la ye r t rie s t o g o b e yo n d it ?

______________________________________________________

jo in | co n t a ct u s | a d ve rt is e | writ e | m y p ro file
n e ws | fe a t u re s | co m p a n ie s | jo b s | re s u m e s | e d u ca t io n | p ro d u ct g u id e | p ro je ct s | s t o re

Co p y rig h t © 2 0 0 3 CMP Me d ia LLC

p riva cy p o licy | t e rm s o f s e rvice

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20030430/adams_01.shtml (4 of 4) [5/21/2003 5:57:17 PM]