Creative Console: A Player-Driven Game Based on a Modular Fast-Evolving-and-Verifying Framework

Abstract

We present Creative Console, a player-driven game in which a player, without prior knowledge of game programming, can design and realize a game within 15 minutes. Players design a game by selecting, adding, or changing a game component and then playtesting the game immediately. We refer to this central process as the Fast-Evolving-And-Verifying (FEAV) module. Players play successive FEAV modules, each taking around 3 minutes, and progressively complete a game design. We conducted an exploratory study of Creative Console. Within 48 hours, all 21 participants developed 527 game levels, covering 10 genres of games. The study demonstrates that Creative Console is enjoyable to play and effectively empowers creative and diversified game design. We furthermore conducted a grounded theory analysis of their design process. Our analysis concludes that modular FEAV, serendipity, and social communication are the three pillars of Creative Console, which casts light on future player-driven creative design systems.