Using the What-If Method to Create Game Ideas

CREATIVE TIPS | USING THE WHAT IF GAME TO CREATE GAME IDEAS

The what-if game is an excellent brainstorming exercise tool for writers, but what-if we could take that same exercise and apply it to creating game ideas? If you are not familiar with what the exercise is, it is quite simple and very fun. It's such a casual process that you can play it with friends and family. In the exercise, you'll take whatever your original idea is and turn it upside down. The main purpose of the exercise is to be able to take an initial idea and view it from other perspectives by exploring the What-ifs.

Let me give you an example. Let's say I was writing a book about a girl who went to small school in Chicago. Well thats just a basic story, a very bland base of an idea. The exercise can certainly expand this idea. For instance, what if the small girl was actually a gnome who attended a school that was actually hidden inside a school for humans. The humans never noticed her, because the gnomes were so small. This is an example of turning an initial idea upside down!

To apply this to creating a game idea, you would do the same. Start with an initial idea and turn it upside down. Let's say for example you wanted to create a cowboy themed gun game. Well that seems simple enough, and again just a basic idea. But what-if you were to create a gun game that included missions to conquer western themed poi's with a reigning champion to take the win? Big difference! So it definitely turns the initial idea upside down while producing something unique and fun!

GIVE IT TRY FOR YOUR NEXT GAME

If you ever find that its becoming a challenge to come up with ideas for your next game, I encourage you to give this a try! Writers use it all the time and its just a fun way to expand your creativity.

Here are a few tips to help you along the way

• Remember there are designated rules to this game, its all about having fun and letting your imagination do the work!

• Don't be afraid to explore the possibilities around you and incorporate them into the exercise

• Write down all your ideas in a spreadsheet or notebook so you can easily access them later

• Play this game with your creative communities, creative teams, or even friends and family

And last but not least, have a great time because in the end, that is what it is all about!

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If these tips helped you, We'd love to hear it! Feel free to share it with everyone in the community in the FCHQ DISCORD!

https://discord.gg/fchq

-Dragon