I was curious how everyone goes about their game designing? Before you answer, I'm referring to the actual mental aspect. For example, before my pencil ever touches paper, or my mouse clicks on anything on the screen, I have to have music. The music I listen to directs what I create.
Many times, when I'm desinging a particular boss battle that I need the player to feel as though the world's fate rests on his shoulders, I'll design while listening to Oculus ex Inferni by Symphony X, or something to that degree (the groups Immediate Music and X-Ray Dog both have quite a few songs of this caliber).Some people have to look at images similar to what they want to design, or maybe something else goes on in a creator's mind to get the gears turning in our minds. I was simply curious how everyone comes to think up what we do. [=)]
I sometimes just see a random image of something when I close my eyes for a second. If I have time for it, I start sketching (starting with the image) and sometimes I get something really cool out of it. Doesn't happen too often though.
I used to listen to music while I worked or pondered ideas, but not so much anymore.
Most games I think of are attached to some kind of story idea, with the exception of a few.My main goal is creating 'worlds' to explore, I love map making in the old fashion sense. Although I've dabbled in 3d world making, it was mostly with Doom/Duke3d. Quake and up lost me in the level design process, it started to become more a chore.Music. Definitely music. Also watching/reading things to gain a little inspiration.
Well okay, music/story is what gets me started. What finishes it? Graphics. Both in a good and bad way. Graphics are the last thing I do, and also the thing that keeps me from continuing with the game.Off topic? I think not.For me it starts with a name, abstract concept, or game genre. When I was younger I'd pick a name that sounded cool and base all this stuff around it. More recently I've picked a game genre and then the most original character I could think of. For instance, my new WIP Phobos Fatboy was designed to be an homage to Megaman sorta but the main character is a lava spitting asteroid raised by martians. I'm trying more and more to refrain from the mudane and over used when it comes to games, so I grab a lot inspiration from films and music rather than videogames most the time. Great blog btw, I don't think I've ever typed this much in a comment before.
Graphics come first btw.@Lapixx: I'll imagine images from time to time as well, but I'm so stuck on music that I have to pair it with some form of song or composition, otherwise it'll be lost.
@Scott: I'm very much a story-driven type, as well. It probably comes from my hobby for creative writing, though. [=P]@Rez: I've always been curious about your games. I can't get away with putting graphics first, but concept art sometimes slips into the mix. I'm a terrible spriter [=P]For characters, I would either use the ones from my comics or make them up on the spot. Alexia and Brandon are characters from a comic of mine that I'm too ashamed to show you all. :P If I ever restart the comic I may show it here.
Scenarios would usually be utterly ridiculous(as proven in AtR) because I can't write serious scenarios very well.Gameplay wise, sometimes I would use a concept from an existing video game(usually old ones) and incorporate it into my own with slight modifications and additions.StrikerMy very first scrolling shooter was based on Stinger, for example.When I said film I was talking about directors like Terry Gilliam or Tim Burton. Movies that don't necessarily have action but rather style and lots of characterization. The only game creator I'm really inspired by is Tim Schafer. I probably watch more movies cause there's not many minds like the ones I mentioned that are working in television or books. Games are a visual medium if you want it to be, so I find it easy to extract ideas from places that are the flashiest. That's just me.
@Dagger: I was moderately curious where Alexia/Brandon came from. Is Brandon based on yourself and Alexia someone you know, or are they random characters entirely?
@Rez: I'm don't care much for action in movies. Seeing characters interact (both with each other and the environment), develop, and react to the villain or the plot is just something I enjoy. I especially like when people escape the lure of archetypes and create someone truly lovable.
See, I know that wasn't your point, but I like to go on these little tangents, mostly because I also write. *high five to Infinity*