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Wren Brier

GCAP19: Wren Brier - Creating a game without fail states or scores

Speakers
Wren Brier
Witch Beam
Games
Unpacking
Speaker Date
-

Talk: Unpacking Game Design: Creating a game without fail states or scores

Speaker: Wren Brier

A zen game about taking items out of boxes after a move might sound extremely niche. But Unpacking by Brisbane studio Witch Beam has garnered international attention from players to industry folk alike. It’s been invited to showcases, nominated for awards and even gone viral, all in its first year of development.

The game lacks many conventional game design components: there are no scores, no time limits, no fail states, no consequences to choices, no dialogue. What’s left when all of that is taken away? How do you tell a story through such strict limitations? And why design a game like this?

This talk will cover extracting gameplay from unexpected places, finding a balance between puzzle and player expression, and how to stuff 69 household items into an isometric kitchen.



Game Connect Asia Pacific 2019: Lighting The Way

Game Connect Asia Pacific is Australia's premier games development conference and a part of Melbourne International Games Week.

Situated in Melbourne, Australia during October, GCAP is world-renowned for its talks, collaboration, expression, networking and inclusive environment.

Video courtesy of GCAP and the Game Developers' Association of Australia.

www.gcap.com.au

Wren Brier (Unpacking, Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride)

Date
13 Aug, 2020

Wren Brier broke into the gaming industry at perhaps the worst possible time, and yet, in spite of arriving at an unfortunate time in the local scene, has gone on to be a part of some of Australia's most notable and acclaimed titles. Wren joins Paul for a new entry of Dev Diary to talk about the journey so far that culminates in her current work on Unpacking.