Everyone has a core set of beliefs that they rely on. Believe it or not, us game designers have some too. Introducing the Eleven Video Game Survival Commandments. These commandments ha really helped me in many ways. Hopefully this list can do the same for you.
1.) We're in the entertainment business, Not the game business.
We look at the content we create as entertainment. Our platform for distributing that entertainment experience is games.
2.) Build your design and story to break.
Every game design and story will be subject to multiple and technical and production realities that will stress them to the breaking point. Inevitable cuts will happen, so get out in front them.
3.) Somebody always knows something you don't.
Just when you think you know know it all, someone proves you wrong. Instead, learn from everybody you work with.
4.) Dialogue is the tip of the dramatic iceberg.
Throwing dialogue at a broken story never fixes the problem. Good dialogue and stories come from well-conceived characters in exciting dramatic situations.
5.) You are only as good as your relationship with your team.
All the great ideas in the world are meaningless if no one wants to listen to them or implement them in the game.
6.) Be willing to kill you babies.
Don't be precious with your ideas, or fall in love with one in particular, because it will, almost without fail, be the one on the chopping block. But...
7.) Protect your vision.
This is the flip side of killing your babies. If you lose your vision for a project, or lose what was meaningful about it that inspired you in the first place, then what's the point in doing it?
8.) Make your deliverables.
You are only as good as what you contribute.
9.) Don't shine a spotlight on a turd.
Every game will have it's shortcomings. Don't go out of your way to highlight them.
10.) Choose collaboration over compromise.
Collaborating gets you to the same place as compromise, but without the negativity.
11.) Making fun should be fun.
We're not digging ditches or performing brain surgery here, we're making games. Lighten up.
Makes a lot of sense doesn't it....