An Introduction to Situational Game Design

In this 2019 GDC talk, Game on the Rails' Brian Upton provides a brief introduction to the fundamentals of situational design, with an eye toward instructors who might want to use it in a classroom setting.

GDC talks cover a range of developmental topics including game design, programming, audio, visual arts, business management, production, online games, and much more. We post a fresh GDC video every day. Subscribe to the channel to stay on top of regular updates, and check out GDC Vault for thousands of more in-depth talks from our archives.

[anthonywritesfantasy]

Another wildly good talk! "Meaning is the residue of the experience of playing the game" is such a good mantra.

[ginxxyami]

dude is brilliant, concise and impactful speaking like this is rare

[Rad_Roxxi_Music]

This is shockingly similar to the game design philosophy I've been developing over the course of my research into game design, but phrased by someone who seriously knows what he's talking about and can back it up with two decades of experience. I'm definitely picking up his book when I get a chance.

[LordMarlle]

This man should have had at least an hour, still very valuable

[chasewilliams]

The Aesthetic of Play literally changed my life and how I think about games.

[DarkThomy]

It always kills me that NOBODY had questions in such great talks !..
Very very interesting, and applicable to all sort of games (boardgames, video games, ..) !

[evilmarc]

This made me realise why I don’t enjoy Asssassins Creed games anymore. I’ve played them so often there is no longer any choice or variation for me. I know what I can do and am gonna do when tackling a camp/enemy and I also know the outcome. There’s no uncertainty, skill checks or subversion to speak of anymore.

[Mysda_]

That was actually helpful in a very short time

[TheMAciusiowaty]

Wow an great talk, putting myself as a player in certain situations is exactly how i apporach designing my ideas for games

[lukasfletcher]

If anyone finds any information on "Ubisoft's rational game design approach" that the guy asking the question talked about, please share it with me.
All I could find was a talk on the GDC Vault named "Level Design Workshop: 360 Approach for Open World Mission Design".
Wish there were more talks like this, find the topic very interesting.
I also found an article on Gamasutra called "Rational Design: The Core of Rayman Origins".

[coltonjohnson]

Really cool talk, terrible title. I was working and had GDC talks on in the background, otherwise I'd never pick this video. It sounds like a really, really boring college textbook or class.
Pleasantly surprised though-- that was a cool talk!