There are 3 stages of creating concept ideas: generation, selection, and implementation. This is an integral process, which we must all use to generate our ideas for our new Game Project. There are many different ways to generate ideas, relying on both individual and group participation.
SCAMPER
SCAMPER is an acronym that uses verbs to dictate the order of actions in idea generation:
S – Substitute
C – Combine
A – Adapt
M – Modify
P – Put to another use
E – Eliminate
R – Reverse
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is one of the most common ways to generate ideas, and entails listing down a bunch of rapid-fire ideas without any considerations or assessments of them. This method can also be used to generate game mechanics. The good thing about brainstormed ideas is that it’s easy to simplify crazy ideas.
Mindmapping
Mindmapping is another common technique, that utilises visual representations of ideas that are linked together. This technique can be used alongside brainstorming to balance out and properly flesh out ideas created from that process. This method is also often used in presentations because of how readable this form of idea generating is.
Synectics
Synectics is a rational way of generating ideas, which is also used to solve problems. It utilises both creativity and logic rationally.
Storyboarding
Storyboarding is mainly used for visual projects. It’s also a good way to organise the order in which your idea progresses in, such as when planning a scene in a film/animation/tv show.
Role Playing
This technique requires multiple participants, and works best when idea generating in a group. It entails each person taking on a role or character, which can lead to more ideas being formed along the way.
Attribute Listing
This is when each idea is broken down into components to be analysed to see how feasible each idea is. This can be doubled with brainstorming and mindmapping.
Visualisation and Visual Prompts
This is similar to storyboarding, but doesn't have to be done in chronological order. It entails drawing up ideas (for character designs, levels designs, etc.) and jotting down a few notes and captions for them. This is a good way of gaining early visual representation of an idea.
This method can also be used to subconsciously generate ideas, or develop and rethink current ideas. This can be done with pre-selected pictures, which could be divided amongst a group, and each participant lists down any ideas they get from their image, and then these are all discussed and shared.
Morphological Analysis
This is when the structure of an idea is studied and analysed. This is similar to attribute listing, which could be doubled with this one in order to fully flesh out ideas.
Forced Relationships
This is when two separate ideas (usually starkly different) are forced together in order to generate new ideas. This can be a good way to explore all options and evaluate certain aspects of each idea.
Daydreaming
This method is the most common form of idea generation, although it is usually accidental, and thus not as recognised. Daydreaming can be done by anyone at any time, and thus doesn't always grant a great quantity of ideas, but instead a few quality ideas.
Reverse Thinking
Reserve thinking is when you reverse a question or a problem you want answered/solved. For example, 'How can I ensure I don't crash while driving?' turns into 'How can I make sure I crash?' Then, you generate all the ways in which you can crash, and use that knowledge to implement rules/regulations to make sure you don't. This may be a good way to create a Risk Assessment Chart.
Questioning Assumptions
This process has participants question everything about a project in the ideas process or the beginning of development. This ensures that nothing has been left to chance, and everything has been discussed beforehand, and a project has been fully thought through.
Accidental Genius
Accidental genius is something that can happen most commonly in either brainstorming or randomly in daydreaming. It can happen in other processes as well, but it's most apparent to a person in these phases.
Brainwriting
Brainwriting is when all ideas are written down by an individual, which can make the creative process less stressful, as there is no pressure to share these ideas. Sometimes this includes trading pages, looking at the ideas already listed and then adding more to someone else's list. This can be a good way to collaborate with others on a project.
Wishing
Wishing is when unrealistic ideas are thought up, and then edited and simplified in order to become obtainable. This method allows for a lot of freedom with ideas in the first stage.
Socialising
This entails finding different company in hopes that they will give you new perspective, which may grant new ideas.
Collaboration
This is when two or more people team up to develop ideas. This method can be good for sharing ideas.
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