Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games | Facial Animations [Animation] @sora_sakurai_en | Uploaded November 2023 | Updated October 2024, 6 hours ago.
Facial animations are how we give characters their expressions. While the ones in Smash Ultimate aren't as realistic as those made with more cutting-edge techniques, I'd like to use them to explain how these animations work.
Facial animations are how we give characters their expressions. While the ones in Smash Ultimate aren't as realistic as those made with more cutting-edge techniques, I'd like to use them to explain how these animations work.
![Facial Animations [Animation]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TUHL7Ex-RH8/hqdefault.jpg "Facial Animations [Animation]
Facial animations are how we give characters their expressions. While the ones in Smash Ultimate arent as realistic as those made with more cutting-edge techniques, Id like to use them to explain how these animations work.")
![Play Testing Keeps Going [Team Management]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TayNJ4603Hc/hqdefault.jpg "Play Testing Keeps Going [Team Management]
Play testing allows developers to get valuable data for improving game balance, but be warned: it truly is an unending battle!")
![Mandatory Strategies and Strategic Balance [Game Essence]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1b2OXdNcUY/hqdefault.jpg "Mandatory Strategies and Strategic Balance [Game Essence]
Theres no one right way to make a game! But you do need to hone in on the experience you want to provide.
In this episode, Ill examine this from both sides of the issue.")
![Manga-like Visuals [Graphics]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U9lQpn67Wos/hqdefault.jpg "Manga-like Visuals [Graphics]
Just because youre using 3D models, that doesnt mean everything needs to be realistic. Today, Ill go over some unreal visual techniques you can try.")
![Keep Your Internal Pressure High [Work Ethic]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UVnLW47cpFk/hqdefault.jpg "Keep Your Internal Pressure High [Work Ethic]
Theres a concept I utilize that lets me pour myself into my work and push onward with proposals!! Today, Id like to introduce that concept!!")
![Broad Input, Broad Output [Work Ethic]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VGsxpvJ4IfM/hqdefault.jpg "Broad Input, Broad Output [Work Ethic]
Whats an absolute must for game designers? Taking in plenty of media, and putting out plenty of media! I cant stress this enough.")
![Do Graphics Impact Fun? [Graphics]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VM-kH-j9_OQ/hqdefault.jpg "Do Graphics Impact Fun? [Graphics]
Do graphics affect how much fun a game is? I probably give the impression of a game-essence advocate, so you might expect me to answer no to that...
But far from it! Graphics are very important to how fun games are!")
![In-Game Cutscenes [Planning & Game Design]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VZRh0P40RAM/hqdefault.jpg "In-Game Cutscenes [Planning & Game Design]
Games nowadays feature all sorts of cutscenes, which can offer players a break from the action or dive deeper into a games story...as long as you get the balance and implementation right.")
![Directors Need to Be Unique [Work Ethic]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WXBS7hk0B7k/hqdefault.jpg "Directors Need to Be Unique [Work Ethic]
What do all game directors have in common?
Not much, it turns out. But the one thing I can think of happens to tie into exactly why they have so little in common.")
![Blade Trails [Effects]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X0GdWg2Q7z8/hqdefault.jpg "Blade Trails [Effects]
The effect left behind in the wake of a sword swing is what I call a blade trail.
In todays Effects episode, Ill explain how these are made, and point out a few things to watch out for.")
![Making Tutorials Feel Natural [Planning & Game Design]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xz53DEwuAcU/hqdefault.jpg "Making Tutorials Feel Natural [Planning & Game Design]
Since games rarely come with instruction manuals these days, using tutorials to teach the controls is more important than ever.
If possible, you want players to learn, but also feel like theyre making progress at the same time.")
![Targeting and Market Research [Marketing]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y0sf-emY5oE/hqdefault.jpg "Targeting and Market Research [Marketing]
Deciding on a target audience and performing market research are both important, but they cant tell you everything, so dont let them limit you too much!")
