Browse and sort the growing list of GDC Summer sessions by pass type, topic, and format.
Harris Antonisse (Creative Director, Sirvo Studios)
Four years ago, the developers of Guildlings set out to build a story-driven fantasy game that felt natural on a phone. However, this seemingly modest goal proved challenging. By convention, a great mobile game caters to mobile attention span: it is a quick burst of enjoyment that can be picked up and put down at any time. A good story, on the other hand, requires investment, and is most rewarding when readers/players immerse themselves deeply.
In this session, the developers will talk about their design through the lens of this conflict, and show how their many prototypes eventually led them to a new take on classic RPG mechanics.
Attendees will come away with new insights into how platform affects narrative experiences, and a new appreciation for the attentional resources players bring to bear on mobile devices. They will also get our analysis on the strengths and limitations of classic RPG mechanics for phones.
While this talk is aimed primarily at mobile game designers, no special knowledge is required. Anyone who is curious about bringing a high-quality narrative experience to a mobile device is welcome.