P1 - Describe visual style and elements of gameplay used in game design with some appropriate
use of subject terminology.
M1 - Explain visual style and elements of gameplay used in game design with reference to detailed
illustrative examples and with generally correct use of subject terminology.
D1 - Critically evaluate visual style and elements of gameplay used in game design with supporting
arguments and elucidated examples, and consistently using subject terminology correctly.
Introduction
In this task I will select two games and create a detailed report on the visual styles and gameplay
elements that contribute to the making of the two games I have chosen. I will then extend my report
by correctly explaining the use of identified visual style and game design principles. I will then extend
my report even further by critically evaluating the visual style and elements of gameplay used in
game design. I have chosen the following games to base my report on;
Game 1: New Super Mario Bros – Released: September 13 1985 by Nintendo
Game 2: Cooking Mama – Released: March 23 2006 by Nintendo
1) Visual Style
When designing a game it is important that the visual style of a game is correct, this is
because the quality of the graphics in the game will be important to the player as the
visual style relates to how the game looks to the player on the screen. Visual style
includes the design and appearance of both the game world and the characters as well
as the player’s perspective of the game while playing and also feedback interface.
Game World
The game world (this includes terrain, architecture and objects) must be visually appealing to the
player throughout the game in order to entice players.
Terrain – The design of the landscape that the player moves over is known as the terrain,
different types of terrain are used together to enhance the visual style of the game world.
* In the older 2D versions of Super Mario Bros terrain
in the game world are brown bricks, whereas in the
newer 3D versions of the game the terrain in the
game world is green grass on top of yellow and
orange sand.
* In Cooking Mama there is no landscape in the
game is the inside of a kitchen and the player only
sees a wall behind the character rather than the
floor that the character walks on.
Architecture – The buildings, structures and monuments
used within the game are known as architecture.
* Super Mario Bros mainly uses architectural structures at the end of the game; if the
character is successful within the game they will
, enter the 2D/3D (depending on the version of the game) castle type of building.
However during the game the background briefly
features other castles.
* In Cooking Mama there are no architectural
structures apart from the kitchen that the main
character remains in throughout the game.
Objects – Things such as post boxes, guns or flowers are all examples of objects that
playable characters can interact with during the game, in many games the main character is
able to collect objects in order to enhance their inventory and gain additional skills.
* There are a range of different objects used in Super
Mario Bros for example there are clouds, flowers,
bushes and tunnels there are also coins that are
rotating in the air that are there for the character to
collect.
* Cooking Mama also features a range of different
objects for example a range of kitchen utensils as
well as a range of different cooking ingredients.
Characters
Playing Characters – The design of the main character within a game is important as in
order for a game to be successful the playable character must
be appealing to the player.
* The main playing character is Mario; however this
game also features a multi-player option where Luigi
(Mario’s Brother) is also a playing character.
* The main playing character in Cooking Mama is ‘cooking
mama’ herself, who is a female character wearing a pink
head wrap, blue jeans with an orange apron.
Non – Playing Characters – The appearance of non-playing
characters must be of the same quality of the main character.
* There quite a few non-playing characters in Super Mario
Bros game for example ‘Princess’, ‘Bullet Bill’ and
‘Goomba’, these characters all play small roles within the
game.
* There are no non-playing characters is Cooking Mama.
use of subject terminology.
M1 - Explain visual style and elements of gameplay used in game design with reference to detailed
illustrative examples and with generally correct use of subject terminology.
D1 - Critically evaluate visual style and elements of gameplay used in game design with supporting
arguments and elucidated examples, and consistently using subject terminology correctly.
Introduction
In this task I will select two games and create a detailed report on the visual styles and gameplay
elements that contribute to the making of the two games I have chosen. I will then extend my report
by correctly explaining the use of identified visual style and game design principles. I will then extend
my report even further by critically evaluating the visual style and elements of gameplay used in
game design. I have chosen the following games to base my report on;
Game 1: New Super Mario Bros – Released: September 13 1985 by Nintendo
Game 2: Cooking Mama – Released: March 23 2006 by Nintendo
1) Visual Style
When designing a game it is important that the visual style of a game is correct, this is
because the quality of the graphics in the game will be important to the player as the
visual style relates to how the game looks to the player on the screen. Visual style
includes the design and appearance of both the game world and the characters as well
as the player’s perspective of the game while playing and also feedback interface.
Game World
The game world (this includes terrain, architecture and objects) must be visually appealing to the
player throughout the game in order to entice players.
Terrain – The design of the landscape that the player moves over is known as the terrain,
different types of terrain are used together to enhance the visual style of the game world.
* In the older 2D versions of Super Mario Bros terrain
in the game world are brown bricks, whereas in the
newer 3D versions of the game the terrain in the
game world is green grass on top of yellow and
orange sand.
* In Cooking Mama there is no landscape in the
game is the inside of a kitchen and the player only
sees a wall behind the character rather than the
floor that the character walks on.
Architecture – The buildings, structures and monuments
used within the game are known as architecture.
* Super Mario Bros mainly uses architectural structures at the end of the game; if the
character is successful within the game they will
, enter the 2D/3D (depending on the version of the game) castle type of building.
However during the game the background briefly
features other castles.
* In Cooking Mama there are no architectural
structures apart from the kitchen that the main
character remains in throughout the game.
Objects – Things such as post boxes, guns or flowers are all examples of objects that
playable characters can interact with during the game, in many games the main character is
able to collect objects in order to enhance their inventory and gain additional skills.
* There are a range of different objects used in Super
Mario Bros for example there are clouds, flowers,
bushes and tunnels there are also coins that are
rotating in the air that are there for the character to
collect.
* Cooking Mama also features a range of different
objects for example a range of kitchen utensils as
well as a range of different cooking ingredients.
Characters
Playing Characters – The design of the main character within a game is important as in
order for a game to be successful the playable character must
be appealing to the player.
* The main playing character is Mario; however this
game also features a multi-player option where Luigi
(Mario’s Brother) is also a playing character.
* The main playing character in Cooking Mama is ‘cooking
mama’ herself, who is a female character wearing a pink
head wrap, blue jeans with an orange apron.
Non – Playing Characters – The appearance of non-playing
characters must be of the same quality of the main character.
* There quite a few non-playing characters in Super Mario
Bros game for example ‘Princess’, ‘Bullet Bill’ and
‘Goomba’, these characters all play small roles within the
game.
* There are no non-playing characters is Cooking Mama.
