Zeng Fanbin     U096824W

CS3247 – Game Development     Assignment – 1

Option 1:

Game:      Football Manager 2013

Link:          http://www.footballmanager.com/

Lens 6:     The Lens of Problem Solving

l  What problem does my game ask the players to solve?

The game asks the player to take control of a football club as a manager and try to at least achieve the seasonal goal set by the board.

l  Are there hidden problems to solve that arise as part of gameplay?

In order to achieve the best possible results, the player has to strengthen his team within the financial restrictions set by the board. The player also has to set up the right tactical instructions according to the opponent in order to win the matches.

l  How can my game generate new problems so that players keep coming back?

Other teams managed by the AI will also try to strengthen their own team as the transfer window and provide tougher challenges. The player can also choose to apply the managerial position from another team to take a new challenge in a new environment.

Lens 29:   The Lens of Chance

l  What in my game is truly random? What parts just feel random?

Most of the events are dependent on one or more attributes. For example, a player will be more likely to be injured if he has a high “injury proneness” attribute value.

l  Does the randomness give the players positive feelings of excitement and challenge, or negative feelings of hopelessness and lack of control?

Most of the time it gives the player negative feelings of hopelessness and lack of control.

l  Would changing my probability distribution curves improve my game?

Changing the probability distribution could certainly make the player more happy, but it also takes away the realism of the game.

l  Do players have the opportunity to take interesting risks?

Yes. For example, deploying a very attacking tactic when playing against a much better team.

l  What is the relationship between chance and skill in my game?

Most of the time skill is more important. However, a period with bad luck could change things around.

Zeng Fanbin     U096824W

Lens 31:   The Lens of Challenge

l  What are the challenges in my game?

The challenge is to achieve the board’s requirement within the financial limit they have set.

l  Are they too easy, too hard or just right?

For a skillful player, it could be easy. For a beginner, it could be very difficult.

l  Can my challenges accommodate a wide variety of skill levels?

Yes. Some players are good at spotting talents. Some are good at setting up tactics. Some are very good at exposing opposition’s tactical weaknesses.

Lens 32:   The Lens of Meaningful Choice

l  What choices am I asking the players to make?

The players have to decide which position does the team need to improve on and try to sign players who can play in that certain position.

l  Are they meaningful? How?

They are meaningful as your success will depend on your quality of squad.

l  Am I giving the player the right number of choices? Would more make them feel more powerful? Would fewer make the game clearer?

The player has to discover the choices himself that are available.

l  Are there any dominant strategies in my game?

Usually there are certain good players who would not cost a lot. Signing these players would be a dominant strategy.

Lens 46:   The Lens of Economy

l  How can my players earn money? Should there be other ways?

The players can earn money by selling their players in their squad. They can also win competitions in order to win money.

l  What can my players buy? Why?

Players can make signings from other teams. It gives them a chance to strengthen their team.

l  Is money too easy to get? Too hard? How can I change this?

Money is hard to get. As a manager, the players are usually unwilling to sell their best players so they usually won’t be able to get good money from fringe players. Increasing the players’ match day income would increase the money they would get, however as other teams would also have their match day income increased, this would inflate the transfer fees and it is not easy to increase your own purchasing power.

l  Are choices about earning and spending meaningful ones?

It is meaningful ones as your results will depend on the kind of players you have.

Is a universal currency a good idea in my game, or should there be specialized currencies?

Universal currency is used as in the real world.