Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games | Presenting Scores [Planning & Design] @sora_sakurai_en | Uploaded March 2024 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
In the past, score systems were a must-have for games—but these days, simply playing for points isn't enough to captivate players.
However, changing the way scores are presented might just change the way they're perceived, as well.
In the past, score systems were a must-have for games—but these days, simply playing for points isn't enough to captivate players.
However, changing the way scores are presented might just change the way they're perceived, as well.
![Presenting Scores [Planning & Design]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FeekeBW26AI/hqdefault.jpg "Presenting Scores [Planning & Design]
In the past, score systems were a must-have for games—but these days, simply playing for points isnt enough to captivate players.
However, changing the way scores are presented might just change the way theyre perceived, as well.")
![Better Than Not Being Able to Beat the Game [Game Essence]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G3eacnEqdV0/hqdefault.jpg "Better Than Not Being Able to Beat the Game [Game Essence]
Games are at their most exciting when you can just barely overcome their difficulty. However, not all players have the skill to beat every game...
How should we go about balancing difficulty in such cases?")
![A World Without Footprints [Grab Bag]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GJJT8Yoxu_U/hqdefault.jpg "A World Without Footprints [Grab Bag]
No spoilers, please! Dont show me anything!
This Grab Bag episode is all about how I like to approach games and other forms of media with a blank slate.")
![Knockback in Super Smash Bros. [Programming & Tech]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HVktK4a9Yfo/hqdefault.jpg "Knockback in Super Smash Bros. [Programming & Tech]
Super Smash Bros. is all about knockback, so the knockback systems are very detailed. Its been like this since the first game.
In todays Programming & Tech video, Id like to take the opportunity to introduce some of those systems.")
![Animation Blending [Animation]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HYHajZ0wBfU/hqdefault.jpg "Animation Blending [Animation]
Imagine a technique that lets you smoothly transition between two distinct animations. What does that even look like?
This method relies on technology to pick up the slack where manual animation alone wont cut it.")
![Guidelines [Grab Bag]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HgvheCHsExA/hqdefault.jpg "Guidelines [Grab Bag]
All sorts of rules govern the products we see. Before a product can see the light of day, it has to meet those standards!
Game ratings like ESRB are but one example of these types of guidelines.")
![How Good Were the Player’s Actions? [Game Essence]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IGpEp0R1_xY/hqdefault.jpg "How Good Were the Player’s Actions? [Game Essence]
When planning things like game balance, it can be effective to consider exactly how good the players actions really were. Just be careful not to make things too predictable!")
![Just Do It Already! [Work Ethic]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IN-Uh2VfL8c/hqdefault.jpg "Just Do It Already! [Work Ethic]
My advice today doesnt apply only to game creators—everyone can benefit from taking it to heart.
If you want to get your creative engine going, youll first need to give it a shove. Dont wait—get moving already!")
![Teaching Players How to Play [Design Specifics]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Icl-jMlz1iY/hqdefault.jpg "Teaching Players How to Play [Design Specifics]
Games have grown more and more complex in recent years, and they rarely come with instruction manuals, making it vital that the game itself presents the player with the rules and controls.
Today, Ill be showing some ways of teaching players how to play.")
![Transparency Features [Programming & Tech]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ie5wG3LlBNs/hqdefault.jpg "Transparency Features [Programming & Tech]
We implement a variety of debug features during a games development, and today, Id like to introduce one of our more useful tools.
This may be a Programming & Tech video, but its got some Grab Bag and even some Graphics in it as well.
By the way, this is the final video in the Programming & Tech category!")
![Exaggerate to Make Up for Information Loss [Animation]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ivwt37x-2EU/hqdefault.jpg "Exaggerate to Make Up for Information Loss [Animation]
This episode, well be looking at a school of thought regarding game animation which was used by a renowned film director on a certain title.")
![Loading Screens [UI]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JKV-30FD6NY/hqdefault.jpg "Loading Screens [UI]
The shorter a games load times, the better—but theres no removing them completely.
You can try to cover them up, you can label them clearly and let players catch their breath, you can use the time to teach players about the games world or controls...")
