How Using Game Design Patterns in Game Design Affect Game Development

Abstract

This thesis is about game design. The thesis goes over a study that was created that asks the question: “How do game design patterns affect game development?” To answer this question, a game was designed and developed from the concept phase until the prototype phase. The game did not go to the production phase, as this was deemed unnecessary for the study. The game development process is explained as a whole from the concept phase to the post-production, focusing on the design phase of development. In designing the game, a set of game design patterns was chosen as research patterns that were used in creating the game design. A game design document was created for the design of the game. In the course of the development process, some of the chosen patterns were excluded from the final design of the game, but most of them were included. The results showed that the game design patterns did affect game design and game development, and there were both pros and cons to this. Many of the chosen research patterns directly shaped the game design, especially the game mechanics. For this reason, game design patterns should be researched further for potential uses in game development.