30 Tiny Tricks to Improve Game Feel and Action Game Design

Dutch Game Garden

Summary:

Jan Willem Nijman of Vlambeer, in his 2013 INDIGO Classes talk, shares 30 practical "tiny tricks" to enhance the "feel" of action games, explaining why some games resonate with players more than others. He defines "game feel" as the immediate, intuitive feedback loop between player input and game response. The presentation demonstrates the cumulative impact of these subtle changes on a basic platform shooter, transforming it from a "shitty" game into a highly engaging one. Key improvements include:

• Adding basic animations, sound, and visual feedback (e.g., muzzle flash, impact effects, enemy hit animations).
• Adjusting core gameplay elements like enemy HP, rate of fire, and bullet size for more satisfying combat.
• Implementing camera dynamics, screen shake, and "sleep" (brief pauses) for increased impact.
• Emphasizing "permanence" by leaving dead enemies and shell casings on screen to reflect player action.
• Boosting sound effects with more bass to give weapons greater perceived power.
• Ultimately, the talk stresses the importance of continuous iteration and external playtesting, as developers can become desensitized to their own game's nuances.

Introduction and Defining "Game Feel" [00:00:00]

• Jan Willem Nijman, co-founder of indie studio Vlambeer, introduces himself and his role in game design and execution.
• He addresses the term "game feel," acknowledging its abstract nature but emphasizing its importance in how players perceive a game.
• The talk's official title is announced as "30 tiny tricks that will make your action game better," focusing on practical game development techniques.

The Game-Player Feedback Loop [00:04:16]

• A game is initially just code on a computer, becoming a "game" only when a player interacts with it.
• The interaction process involves:
  • Game visuals and sound entering the player's head.
  • Player inputs (e.g., pressing buttons) sent back to the game.
  • The game changing in response and providing feedback to the player.
  • These changes creating meaning and value for the player.
  • The player's thoughts then influencing further input, forming a continuous cycle.
• Vlambeer's strength lies in making the direct input-to-feedback part of this loop feel exceptionally good.

30 Tiny Tricks for Better Action Games [00:07:21]

The Starting Point: A "Shitty" Platform Shooter [00:07:21]

• The presentation begins with a very basic, unengaging platform shooter prototype to demonstrate the impact of the upcoming tricks.

Enhancing Visuals and Sound [00:08:25]

1. Basic Animations and Sound [00:08:25]: Add simple animations (e.g., character hair movement, walking) and satisfying sound effects for actions like jumping and shooting.

   • Example: Simple bullet sounds drastically improve the shooting experience.

   

2. Lower Enemy HP [00:09:00]: Reduce enemy health to make combat feel more immediate and impactful.

3. Higher Rate of Fire [00:09:28]: Increase how quickly the player can shoot, enhancing the "action" feel.

4. More Enemies [00:09:40]: Fill the screen with more enemies to provide constant engagement, which feels better than fewer, high-health enemies.

Improving Bullet Feedback [00:10:10]

5. Bigger Bullets [00:10:10]: Make bullets more visible and impactful, moving beyond tiny, realistic representations.

   

6. Muzzle Flash [00:10:40]: Add a quick visual flash (e.g., a circle) at the gun's muzzle when firing for immediate feedback.

   

7. Faster Bullets [00:10:56]: Increase bullet speed for a more dynamic and responsive feel.

8. Less Accuracy [00:11:16]: Introduce slight bullet spread for visual variety and a more "action-packed" look, even if it slightly affects gameplay.

   

Enhancing Hit Reactions [00:11:43]

9. Impact Effects [00:11:43]: Display visual effects (e.g., tiny sprites) when bullets hit walls or enemies.

10. Enemy Hit Animation [00:12:06]: When an enemy is hit, briefly flash them white or show a subtle animation to provide clear feedback that damage was dealt.

    

11. Enemy Knockback [00:12:36]: Program enemies to be pushed back slightly when hit, adding a physical sense of impact and dynamic combat.

    

Environmental Feedback and Persistence [00:13:07]

12. Permanence (Corpses) [00:13:07]: Allow dead enemies to remain on the screen, creating a visual history of combat and a sense of progression.

    • Example: In Nuclear Throne, dead bodies and rubble persist, reinforcing the player's destructive impact.
    • Analogy: Like bottles shattering in a bar shootout movie; even missed shots create environmental feedback.

    

Camera Control [00:14:42]

13. Camera Lurp (Linear Interpolation) [00:14:42]: Implement a slight lag in camera movement behind the player for smoother, more fluid tracking.

    

14. Dynamic Camera [00:15:14]: Have the camera react to player actions and environmental cues (e.g., slightly shifting in the aiming direction, moving down near water). This subtly guides player attention and provides context.

    

Core "Feel" Mechanics [00:16:30]

15. Screen Shake [00:16:30]: A signature Vlambeer technique. Add a subtle screen shake effect on impacts or powerful actions, making events feel more significant. This is often the easiest and most effective way to improve game feel.

    

16. Player Knockback [00:17:08]: Allow the player character to be pushed back by their own gunfire. This introduces a subtle gameplay mechanic, forcing players to consider when not to shoot, rather than just holding down the fire button.

    

17. Sleep (Momentary Pause) [00:18:01]: Briefly pause the game (e.g., for 20 milliseconds) at moments of impact or significant events. This unnoticeable pause allows the player's brain more time to process the event, enhancing its perceived impact.

    

Weapon and Character Details [00:19:37]

18. Gun Delay [00:19:37]: Have the weapon sprite lag slightly behind the player's movement, creating a more realistic and visually appealing sense of weight.

19. Gun Kickback [00:19:54]: Animate the gun to recoil after each shot, giving a stronger sense of power.

    

20. Strafing [00:20:08]: Allow players to move backward while facing forward, adding strategic depth and smooth combat maneuvers.

    

21. More Permanence (Shells) [00:20:31]: Have spent shell casings remain on the ground, further contributing to the battle's visual history and impact.

    

22. More Bass in Sound Effects [00:21:41]: Boost the bass frequencies in weapon sound effects (e.g., gunshots) to make them feel more powerful and satisfying.

    

Escalating the Action [00:23:05]

23. Triple Machine Gun [00:23:05]: Design weapons that fire multiple projectiles (e.g., three bullets at once) for increased chaos and visual satisfaction.

    

24. Random Explosions [00:23:41]: Add a percentage chance for enemies to explode on death, introducing unpredictable and exciting visual flare.

    

25. Faster Enemies [00:23:59]: Increase enemy movement speed to maintain challenge as player power grows.

    

26. Even More Enemies [00:24:37]: Continue to increase enemy density for an even more intense action experience.

    

27. Even Higher Rate of Fire [00:25:07]: Further increase the player's firing rate to match the escalating enemy count.

    

28. Camera Kick [00:25:21]: A more refined screen shake where the camera pushes back slightly in the opposite direction of the shot, enhancing the feeling of recoil and power.

    

29. Big Explosions [00:26:31]: Make explosions dramatically larger. This simple change significantly increases perceived impact and destruction.

    

30. More Permanence (Smoke) [00:27:51]: Add lingering smoke effects to explosions, which slowly fade, providing a continuous visual reminder of the combat.

    

Adding Meaning and the "Monster" Reveal [00:28:16]

• The game needs "meaning"; it shouldn't just reset on failure. Program a "game over" state or a narrative consequence.
• In the final demonstration, after dispatching many enemies, the last enemy is programmed to kill the player.
• The game then uses slow-motion (by lowering the frame rate) and a message: "YOU WERE THE MONSTER ALL ALONG." This gives the player's actions moral weight and transforms the experience beyond simple shooting.

Before and After Comparison [00:29:52]

• The speaker visually compares the initial "shitty" game prototype with the final, enhanced version incorporating all 30 tricks. The difference in engagement and impact is stark.

Q&A: Insights on Game Development [00:30:51]

Game Balancing and Playtesting [00:31:13]

• Balancing (enemies, ammo, level length) is game-dependent.
• Developers should trust their initial gut feeling but stop playtesting their own game frequently, as they become biased.
• The best approach is to get external playtesters and iterate based on their feedback.
• Screen shake can be "addictive" for developers, leading to over-implementation that can cause motion sickness in players, necessitating a toggle option (e.g., in Nuclear Throne).

Development Time and Polish [00:35:39]

• Vlambeer's process involves quickly prototyping a core game (days) and then spending a significant amount of time (up to a year) on polishing the "feel" and implementing these subtle effects, even on less fun aspects like menus.
• The "Vlambeer feel" is largely based on Jan Willem's personal idea of what feels good, making their games unique.

Platform and Haptic Feedback [00:36:35]

• Input platform (PC vs. Vita) significantly changes the "feel" of a game.
• Porting can sometimes lose the original feel, as seen with Radical Fishing.
• Haptic feedback (controller vibrations) is acknowledged as cool but not extensively used by Vlambeer.

Origin of Screen Shake and Marketing [00:38:02]

• Screen shake was an intentional design choice, not a bug, aiming to add impact, especially in low-resolution games where smooth camera movement is challenging.
• Most games, including puzzle games, could benefit from some form of screen shake.
• While these "feel" elements are subtle and players might not consciously identify them, they are crucial for overall enjoyment. Vlambeer emphasizes these details in their marketing to highlight what makes their games distinct.

Live Presentation Mechanics [00:41:22]

• The entire presentation was programmed from scratch in Game Maker, allowing Jan Willem to dynamically switch between versions of the game and demonstrate changes live.