Level Up.pdf

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Well, the first step in keeping your screen clear is to make your HUD
elements move or fade off screen while they are inactive. Of course, they
need to reappear whenever they are valid (such as when the player is taking
damage or collecting treasure) and always make sure that the player has a
quick and easy way to bring them back up if they need to know the
information. A simple shoulder button press usually does the trick.
Some games strive to remove HUD elements altogether. Peter Jackson ’ s
King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie (Ubisoft, 2005) utilized a few
prompts at the beginning of the game, but mostly conveyed game
information via sound, animation, and visual effects. The result made for a
very cinematic and immersive experience. If you want to go this route, here
are some suggestions:
• Have characters react to things in the world to indicate function or
interaction. Have them look at collectable items, reach for places they
can get to, comment on things in the world that they are supposed to
interact with, and so on.
• Opt for full - screen - sized effects over smaller or subtle ones. It never
hurts to overemphasize. Use whatever you can to get your point
across — sound, voice, visual effects, color, and lighting.
• Use glows or other attention - drawing effects on items to make them
stand out. Or use what I call the “ Scooby Doo effect 2 . ”
• Use cinematic characters to lead your players through the world. If you
don ’ t want to do that much work, have a big ol ’ glowey arrow or path
markers show the way.
If video game interfaces were a galaxy of planets and on one side of the
galaxy was the planet “ No Interface ” then all the way on the other side of
the galaxy would be the planet “ Gobs of Interface. ” I might add that both of
these are very dumb names for planets, I mean what do the inhabitants of
these planets call themselves? “ No Interfacians? ” or “ Goblings? ” But I
digress … This is where the RPGs, RTSs, simulations, adventure games,
and some slumming shooters all live. Hello there friendly life forms of planet
Gobs of Interface; let ’ s examine your interesting markings and plumage.
3
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2 The “ Scooby Doo effect ” is named after a by - product seen in Hanna Barbara cartoons of the
late 1960s and 1970s. While the background image of the cartoon is beautifully painted, the
animated elements (such as a character or prop) are more flatly colored (usually lacking
shading), making them unintentionally stand out against the more detailed background.
3 Yeah I know, that was a really really bad pun. Sorry.