Game Evaluation Matrix
The purpose of this project is to design a matrix that can be used in the evaluation of games of any type whether they be simple board games or computer games etc. The matrix will be used to score games on different sets of criteria so as to give the game an overall score which can then be compared with the scores of other similar games. In this matrix there are a total of eight criteria which will each be scored from 1 to 5, 1 for very bad and 5 for very good.
The eight criteria are:
· Game Play
· Story Line
· Graphics
· Usability
· Single Player
· Multiplayer
· Online
· Music
For my matrix I have decided to design one which will evaluate RPG games on the PC. I chose RPG games because these are usually large expansive games which offer a wide range of topics to evaluate within the game. I decided to evaluate these games on the PC because RPGs are mostly designed to be played on the PC due to the fact that a keyboard and mouse make it much easier to play and navigate through an RPG game than a console controller. There are some RPGs which are made for consoles but most would automatically drop a few points on such things as user friendliness and usability.
I picked the criteria based on what I think are the most important aspects of a game. Here I will try and explain what each criteria means and how they affect a game.
Game Play
Game Play is an obvious choice when selecting the criteria for evaluating a game. This represents how fun or involving the game is to play. A good game should be hard to put down once you have started playing and should always keep the player wanting to reach the next level or section of the game. Receiving a good score in the game play department can usually make up for a bad score in another area of the game e.g. A game might have poor graphics but if it has good game play it will still be a fun game to play.
RPGs can be very long games which take many hours to complete therefore it is important to have good game play. If the game looked amazing but was boring to play players could end up getting annoyed and not wanting to play it anymore.
Story Line
These days games are becoming much more theatrical and movie like. There is now more of an expectancy to have a good storyline with proper character dialogue. This gives the game a more realistic feel which helps to draw the player into the game world and keeps them interested in what will happen next.
In an RPG you take over the role of whatever character is in the game therefore it is important to have a good story line otherwise you would not be interested in leading this character’s life.
Graphics
Graphics are not necessarily as important to a game as game play or story line as it is possible to have a fun and involving game with little or no amazing graphics. Without the use of graphics however the game would rely solely on game play to entertain the user and if there is another game with similar game play but with better graphics then that would probably be more successful.
An RPG game creates a whole new world for the user to immerse themselves in therefore good graphics are quite important for creating beautiful or gloomy scenery and objects to represent the game world and give the user a visual representation of how the game should feel. The more realistic the graphics the more the player will believe in the game world and the more they will want to play.
Usability
How easy a game is to pick up and play will determine whether people want to play it or not. Having a game which is too hard to understand or play will lead to people just turning it off in frustration and not playing it again. Things like an easy to use menu or inventory screen help make a game more playable for the player and also having a variety of difficulty settings opens the game up to players of different skill levels.
In an RPG game there are usually a lot of options for the player while playing the game. Usually these games would have a menu which contains the players inventory, maps, journal etc. This should be easy and uncomplicated to use e.g. you should be able to find items and organise your inventory with ease or keep track of completed quests and what you need to do next.
Single Player
The single player option in a game allows the user to play on their own against the computer. There can be several types of single player types in a game e.g. arcade mode, story mode, survival etc. Multiplayer and online play are now are big part of a lot of games but the user should still be able to have an enjoyable experience while playing on their own.
For most RPGs single player is usually the main part of the game and in some is the only game type. If this is the case it is important that the computer can offer the player a fun challenge by being inventive and having a high level of artificial intelligence
Multiplayer
Multiplayer modes in a game offer players the ability to play the game with one or more other people. These modes could involve the user playing against other players or working co-operatively to complete the game.
Most RPGs are designed to be played in single player mode but there are more and more games being released which let users play through the game alongside other players e.g. World of Warcraft. Including a multiplayer mode can offer a new dimension to the game and also increase it’s lifespan.
Online
Having access to online content for a game opens up a lot more options for playing and upgrading your game. This could be in the form of having an online multiplayer mode or offering downloads and patches that can improve the game as a whole.
For an RPG online content can improve the game experience greatly. It can offer the user the ability to download new items or quests or patches that can fix problems and bugs which the game may have.
Music
Music in a game should complement the look and feel of the game world and help the storyline to unfold naturally e.g. when confronting a boss character or entering a dangerous area the music should change to reflect the tension of the scene. Likewise when meeting friendly characters the music should set a lighter mood.
Good music in a game can complement the game play and graphics by setting the scene for the game and drawing the user into the game world. In an RPG an epic soundtrack can help create an appropriate feeling for the user while playing the game.
Link to Games Matrix
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AbuaTurG78fHZG4zbXprNl8wZmJqanZucWg&hl=en
