Aesthetic Driven Development - Choosing Your Art Before Making a Game

Discover how Coldwild Games leveraged Twitter for market research and game design in this 2020 GDC Virtual Talk. Learn about the innovative "Aesthetic Driven Development" approach, where the team designed their game around a visual style that resonated with audiences before finalizing gameplay. Explore the process of using social media trends, establishing criteria and baselines, and conducting experiments to shape the game's aesthetic. Gain insights into the development of key elements such as "The Forest Hut," "The Story," and "The Ruins," while understanding the constraints and improvements made along the way. Examine the creation of the game map and Steam page, and consider the implications of this unique development strategy for game designers and developers.

Intro
Background
October Trend
Criteria
Baselines
The Experiment
The Forest Hut
The Story
The Market
The Ruins
Constraints
The Map
The Steam Page
Improvements
Viewer discretion
Outro