GameMakersToolkit
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What's coming to GMTK
🕑 Added 2020-05-19 14:28:17 +0000 UTCHello everyone!
I just wanted to take a few moments to talk about the stuff that's coming to the GMTK channel over the next few months. I've got a bunch of different projects in the works, and so - a rarity for the channel - I can tell you what to expect in the near future!
First, I'm going to release the final episode of the School of Stealth today. This one is about detection, and rounds off the series quite nicely, I think.
I'm not done with stealth forever - I'd like to talk more about Goose Game at some point, and perhaps take a look at some Dishonored level design. But for now, I want to put a pin on stealth stuff.
Next, I've been working on a new episode of Design Icons. I put the series on hold last year because the first two episodes (on Space Invaders and Pac-Man) didn't get many views. Right now, space Invaders is the worst performing episode on the channel!
But I didn't want to give up on the series entirely - just rethink how it works. So after some consideration, I'm looking to make the episodes a bit shorter (if it was me, a 16 minute video on an ancient arcade game isn't too appealing - but I'd watch 8 minutes on anything), and i'm skewing the angle ever so slightly, with more appealing titles.
Episode three should be out in a few weeks.
Obviously an upcoming project will be the GMTK Game Jam stuff. This one is set to be enormous (thanks, coronavirus, I guess?) with over 6,000 sign-ups already. So that's going to wipe out much of July as I host the jam, stream games, judge entries, and make the follow up video. Videos, maybe? Seems like a shame to only get one piece of content out of so much hard work. We'll see.
And then there's the big project I've been working on for a while now. I'm making a series called Commanding Shepard, which is about choice and consequence in the Mass Effect trilogy.
I'm interested in how those game let you make decisions - and how those decisions would play out across each game, and then into its sequels. So I'll be looking at everything from morality, to romance, to the suicide mission, to the much-maligned ending.
It's been a monstrous undertaking so far. For the last month, I've played Mass Effect 1 three times, Mass Effect 2 three times, and Mass Effect 3 twice. That's over 200 hours of play time already! I've got one more playthrough of Mass Effect 3 to do. And after that, I'll still need to go back to old save games to get more footage of different outcomes and decisions.
All the while I've made copious notes and have written draft scripts for the first two episodes on Mass Effect 1 and 2. And, boy, these things are beasts. The Mass Effect 2 episode, for example, is almost longer than the Hollow Knight script (which turned into a 40 minute video), and that's just the first draft.
I kinda want to get the whole thing done, and then drop the videos once a week for three weeks. That's my current plan at least - I've also considered releasing them with a different video in between (like i did with School of Stealth), and squeezing them together into a 3 hour epic. Not sure if that's my style - might leave that to the Jospeh Andersons of the world.
Anyway! Let me know what you reckon.
I've got lots of other things up my sleeve, too. I'm still playing Persona 5 Royal, and Square just sent me a code for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake - so looks like GMTK might have a bit of an RPG flavour for a while? We'll just have to wait and see.
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Before I go, I just want to talk about something important.
So from the above updates, you might have noticed that I've been extremely productive during the lockdown so far. To be honest, I think my productivity is just a coping mechanism of sorts - work is the only thing I can control right now, so I'm doubling down on it!
But I wouldn't want anyone to feel like crap if they're not as productive right now. This is a scary, worrying, isolating, and confusing time. And it's perfectly reasonable if your reaction is to hide under the duvet and watch Netflix.
When the lockdown started, I think we all thought we'd be learning French, writing a novel, and getting super buff. But it turns out that the fear of illness, financial ruin, and the death of our friends and family isn't super conducive to being productive or creative. If all you can do right now is survive, then focus on that. And if you need someone to talk to, my Patreon DMs are always open.
Stay safe, stay awesome
Mark
Comments
Tom Page
Maybe not always, but sometimes better to be loved than liked: PacMan and Space Invaders Design Icons episodes are two of my favourites. Beautifully edited and graphically shown, fascinating and well researched. You didn't work on these in vain.
Solarpunk Vegan
I definitely think renaming Design Icons (even on past videos) is a good move. If I remember correctly, when I first read the title I thought it was something other than what it was, I think I saw "icons" and thought about icons as in images that represent something, like how the YouTube icon is a play button for instance, and not the definition you meant. When I found your channel j binged everything but I may have left those for last. I'm not a huge arcade game fan but I did like the videos. I love learning about the history of game design and the nitty gritty of how games work, like showing how the ghosts chase Pac-Man was so cool. In your recent stealth video I was so interested in what "finite state machine" and "behavior tree" meant exactly as and how they work. I'm not a coder or dev and don't want to be but I find that stuff fascinating. I understand why you might leave them out though since most people might not care or it might be confusing or take too long to explain. But I'd love a video that focused on some of that more technical stuff.
Exciting stuff! For what it’s worth I‘ve got over 85 videos on ME3’s multiplayer on my channel. They won’t be conducive to completing your project, but putting them together has made me more familiar with the series than I ever wanted (in case you want to outsource some notes).
Boz
I was and still am extremely excited about the Design Icons series. But now that I think about it, I can't seem to remember anything from it at all. Maybe some of the info is too widespread? Who knows.
I'm sooo hyped for the coming Mass Effect series! 3 hours epic video would work for people like me but maybe you want to have short ~15min videos each week for general audience and then release a Mark's cut?
Paolo Torelli
I "may" have just watched the design icons videos myself ^_^''' and very much appreciated them, but I also understand why they don't have the same reception. As for mass effect, which I never played (didn't inspire me), I've met a similar endgame jarring with Heaven's Vault otherwise excellent storytelling. I've always liked how the Fallout games would show the long term effect of your actions after the endgame. I don't know if they were the first, but they are the first I remember
I'm sorry that Design Icons didn't perform well. I loved those videos and was really hoping for more. I hope that you manage to retool the series in a way that will make it worth your time!
Matthew Hall
But what would I know about keywords right? :D
Matthew Hall
Hey Mark, I would definitely rename your "Design Icons" series if it's performing poorly. "Design Icons" might get caught up with videos on graphic design or interior design or .... you get the idea. "Game Design Icons" could work better with YouTube's "algorithmzzzzz" and ensure that your videos are being presented to the correct viewers.
Tydup00
Be well 💚💐
AwesomeLemon
I love your work & I love Mass Effect, really excited for the combination of two!
Mathew Dyason
Holy moley, Commanding Shep is an absolute monstrous task! Good luck with it, if anyone can do it, it's you! It's interesting the two vastly different responses people's creativity have had to the pandemic. I'm in the same camp as you, I've been particularly inspired and productive, but it seems like we are in the minority there. I'm grateful! Just make sure you're still looking after yourself and taking some time off from work. It's easy to overwork in this time as you're essentially stuck indoors at the office! But we don't want you burning out on all these massive projects. Hope you're finding time to take it easy too. 💞
Very pleased to see FemShep - the one true Shep - in the artwork up top! Will the series explore this choice of character gender - one of the first you have to make - that potentially alters every other choice you make as it colours your romantic relationships, the power balance between key characters, the way the interactions with superiors and other key characters are interpreted. Also a decision that's very hotly debated amongst fans - and apparently even caused arguments between the studio devs and publisher!
Piotr Tadeusz Rafalski
Thank you so much for this update, Mark! Looking forward to the Jam / Mass Effect series. I'm sorry to hear that the Design Icons didn't catch up 'cause I really liked both of the episodes so far (like almost any other of your superb videos, lol) Stay safe! Remember we love you ;) <3
Daniel Hofmann
You definitely should continue your design icon series. This is about the basics every game design student should know. And you put the content of a probably boring 2h university lecture in a 8 minute entertaining and at the same time highly educational video.
Just adding my two cents mentionning the fact that I REALLY like the design icon videos. It's refreshing to have a look at those game I never got to play during their time of fame
Mark M
Can't wait for Mass Effect, probably my favourite gaming series!
Josh Foreman
I really love your Design Icon vids. It's a shame about the views, but I would encourage you to also consider the legacy value they impart to your oeuvre. I have a similar series on my channel (similar in that it's a consistent under-performer) where I'm showing the ENTIRE process of building a 4 foot tall Colossus from SOTC with zero cut footage. (but lots of fast forward) It's definitely a niche appeal, and as far as I know, no one else has ever done this. So I keep putting them out because it's unique and I'm proud to have made this thing.
I am so excited for the Mass Effect series
Game Maker's Toolkit
Hey! I think I posted about it on Patreon, but as an early preview of Design Icons. I think you’re right about the titles - that’s something I’ll fix
Seth Powell
I really enjoyed the first design icons episode but didn't even know the Space Invaders one existed. And I do read your Patreon emails so I have no idea how I missed it... Actually I just did a search in my email and I don't see any there. Did you actually post it on Patreon? I wonder if that is part of the reason it has such low number. Also, since you are a game design channel, it's probably important to make the intent of the video a bit more known in the title. Learning about the design intent and implementation of Pac-man was far more interesting than I thought it would be. But if I just thought it was another retrospective on the impact Pac-man had on the industry, I would just skip it.
Austin Ramsay
I think that keeping your videos around 20 minutes is a good goal. If possible I think your Mass Effect videos would benefit from being split in two, so that the whole series is six 20 minute videos instead of three 40 minute videos. Regardless, I'm excited for what's coming!
What an amazing lineup of videos to come. Already excited.
Unreasonably excited about the Mass Effect videos and I can't wait to hear your nuanced take on the ending to 3. I'm a levelheaded person who like to think he stays above the culture wars and out of gamer vitriol. I made a significant exception when I finished ME3 lol.
Will Ready
Excited for this next crop of videos! Mass Effect is one of my favorite series. I'm a stress-worker, too. Enjoy the work and take care of yourself! Cheers!
Mattéo Benaissa
Thanks you’re awesome 😅
Albey Amakiir
That last note *is* very important. It's a global crisis! It's ok to not be ok.
Platitudinous
When it comes to Goose Game, I think it might be a good example for gameplay derived from a high concept - the desire to make a game about a mischievous goose led to an experience of low-stakes stealth with a comedic tone. And I don't mean to get gay in the GMTK comments, but lady Shep is absolutely stunning? like, god, i love a powerful lady. the red hair is super good but, anyway. Video games. Stealth and icons and whatnot. Stay safe and stay healthy, Mark. Cheers from Knoxville!
Sounds awesome ! I'm very excited on the mass effect episode ! Cheers from Paris !
DJ DeWitt
Sounds like a ton of exciting stuff on the horizon! And thanks for that last note on productivity, Mark - caught me off-guard how emotional it made me so I must’ve really needed to hear that this morning. Cheers from Chicago!
