Applies to games of all sorts, from fighting games to investing in the stock market. The wilingness to learn how the system works is directly proportional to the investement of the player. If a game requires 30 min of tutorial to get it going, many will drop of as the learning requirment exceds the time invested so far. A good product will delay learning requirement until the user is more invested.

Willingness to learn is proportional to investment

Cut out words. Elements should be familiar and long walls of texts should be avoided. The user should learn by doing rtaher than by reading.

Show don't tell

Tutorials of products where you have to click or tap certain areas to advance are quite innefective. The game may be advancing but the user does not learn anything. A better approach is to give users challanges. Teach some systems but let the user fill in the gaps. These small achivements that reward the user & incentivising further exploration.

Click here, click there

The best games are simple games because you get fast feedback. A bad move in a fighting game is instantly punished, while in a long strategy game it may take hours. The faster one can experience the consequences of their action, the faster the learning curve. Complex games, with long feedback cycles usually use:Advisors (experts in Simcity or Clippy in Microsoft Word) offering recomendations or warnings.

Short feedback, Long feedback

GMTK is powered by Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GameMakersToolkit Games in complex genres, like strategy and simulation, can be really hard to learn. So are there ways to make the tutorials for these games more enjoyable and more effective? === Sources and Resources === - Sources [1] How I Got My Mom to Play Through Plants vs. Zombies | GDC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbzhHSexzpY [2] Bruce Shelley | Game Design Workshop https://www.gamedesignworkshop.com/bruce-shelley [3] Mastering Kombat: Designing Mortal Kombat 11's Empowering Tutorial Mode | GDC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbSyH3lo1Zg [4] How to Make Great Game Tutorials | GDC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf7xLHUpKHE [5] The Feature That Almost Sank Disco Elysium | GameSpot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X0-W5erEXw [6] Evolving the UX/UI of A Total War Saga: Troy using player feedback | Gamasutra https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/373860/Deep_Dive_Evolving_the_UXUI_of_A_Total_War_Saga_Troy_using_player_feedback.php [7] Into the Breach's interface was a nightmare to make and the key to its greatness | Rock Paper Shotgun https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/into-the-breach-interface-design - Additional resources This is a Talk About Tutorials, Press A to Skip | GDC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM1pV_6IE34 Should Players Buy Their Own UI? | Gamasutra https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/SebastianLong/20200430/362083/Should_Players_Buy_Their_Own_UI.php === Support GMTK === Support GMTK on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GameMakersToolkit Use Creator Tag "GMTOOLKIT" when buying on Epic Game Store === Games Shown === A Total War Saga: Troy (2020) Crusader Kings III (2020) Endless Space 2 (2017) Ghost of Tsushima (2020) Fallout 3 (2008) Half-Life 2 (2004) Total War: Warhammer II (2017) Jurassic World Evolution (2018) Arms (2017) Bionic Commando (2009) Rage 2 (2019) Splinter Cell (2002) Portal (2007) Death Stranding (2019) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) Returnal (2021) Metroid Prime (2002) Civilization (1991) Civilization V (2010) Frostpunk (2018) Persona 5 (2016) Crusader Kings II (2012) Mini Metro (2015) Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) Street Fighter V (2016) Dead or Alive 6 (2019) Mortal Kombat 11 (2019) God of War (2018) Tekken 7 (2015) Civilization VI (2016) Civilization IV (2005) StarCraft II (2010) Devil May Cry 5 (2019) Yakuza 0 (2015) Astro's Playroom (2020) Threes (2014) Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019) Planet Zoo (2019) Offworld Trading Company (2016) Anno 1800 (2019) Skate 3 (2010) Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) Two Point Hospital (2018) Slay the Spire (2019) Hearthstone (2014) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003) New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) Luigi's Mansion 3 (2019) The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019) The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (2014) Plants vs. Zombies (2009) Overcooked (2016) Inside (2016) Reigns (2016) Disco Elysium (2019) Heroes of Might and Magic II (1996) Cuphead (2017) Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) Into the Breach (2018) Cities: Skylines (2015) Bayonetta (2009) Minecraft (2011) Star Fox Zero (2016) XCOM: Chimera Squad (2020) Titanfall 2 (2016) Narita Boy (2021) === Credits === Music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com) Additional Music: Subject Name Here (Portal) China Theme: Atomic (Civilization VI) The Still, Cold World (Frostpunk) Reflections (Mini Metro) The Last Flame (Frostpunk) Online Menu (Dead or Alive 6) England Theme: Atomic (Civilization VI) Sophon's Prologue (Endless Space 2) Threes (Threes) Parkie's Pieces (Planet Zoo) Martian Mining and Manufacture (Offworld Trading Company) Collection Manager (Hearthstone) Pangolin Waltz (Planet Zoo) The We, Horatio Theme (Endless Space 2) Credits Theme 3 (Starfox Zero) Nartia Boy Theme (Narita Boy) === Subtitles === Contribute translated subtitles - https://amara.org/en-gb/videos/JcxvgxWY0awb/

communication

Communication

entertainment

Entertainment

product

Product & Design

GMTK is powered by Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GameMakersToolkit

Games in complex genres, like strategy and simulation, can be really hard to learn. So are there ways to make the tutorials for these games more enjoyable and more effective?

=== Sources and Resources ===

- Sources

[1] How I Got My Mom to Play Through Plants vs. Zombies | GDC on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbzhHSexzpY

[2] Bruce Shelley | Game Design Workshop
https://www.gamedesignworkshop.com/bruce-shelley

[3] Mastering Kombat: Designing Mortal Kombat 11's Empowering Tutorial Mode | GDC on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbSyH3lo1Zg

[4] How to Make Great Game Tutorials | GDC on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf7xLHUpKHE

[5] The Feature That Almost Sank Disco Elysium | GameSpot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X0-W5erEXw

[6] Evolving the UX/UI of A Total War Saga: Troy using player feedback | Gamasutra
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/373860/Deep_Dive_Evolving_the_UXUI_of_A_Total_War_Saga_Troy_using_player_feedback.php

[7] Into the Breach's interface was a nightmare to make and the key to its greatness | Rock Paper Shotgun
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/into-the-breach-interface-design

- Additional resources

This is a Talk About Tutorials, Press A to Skip | GDC on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM1pV_6IE34

Should Players Buy Their Own UI? | Gamasutra
https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/SebastianLong/20200430/362083/Should_Players_Buy_Their_Own_UI.php

=== Chapters ===

00:00 - Intro
01:23 - Splitting up the tutorial
06:01 - Tutorials across campaigns
09:17 - Making learning fun
14:37 - Using affordances
17:23 - Other techniques
19:28 - Conclusion

=== Games Shown ===

A Total War Saga: Troy (2020)
Crusader Kings III (2020)
Endless Space 2 (2017)
Ghost of Tsushima (2020)
Fallout 3 (2008)
Half-Life 2 (2004)
Total War: Warhammer II (2017)
Jurassic World Evolution (2018)
Arms (2017)
Bionic Commando (2009)
Rage 2 (2019)
Splinter Cell (2002)
Portal (2007)
Death Stranding (2019)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
Returnal (2021)
Metroid Prime (2002)
Civilization (1991)
Civilization V (2010)
Frostpunk (2018)
Persona 5 (2016)
Crusader Kings II (2012)
Mini Metro (2015)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020)
Street Fighter V (2016)
Dead or Alive 6 (2019)
Mortal Kombat 11 (2019)
God of War (2018)
Tekken 7 (2015)
Civilization VI (2016)
Civilization IV (2005)
StarCraft II (2010)
Devil May Cry 5 (2019)
Yakuza 0 (2015)
Astro's Playroom (2020)
Threes (2014)
Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019)
Planet Zoo (2019)
Offworld Trading Company (2016)
Anno 1800 (2019)
Skate 3 (2010)
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)
Two Point Hospital (2018)
Slay the Spire (2019)
Hearthstone (2014)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003)
New Super Mario Bros. U (2012)
Luigi's Mansion 3 (2019)
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019)
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (2014)
Plants vs. Zombies (2009)
Overcooked (2016)
Inside (2016)
Reigns (2016)
Disco Elysium (2019)
Heroes of Might and Magic II (1996)
Cuphead (2017)
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
Into the Breach (2018)
Cities: Skylines (2015)
Bayonetta (2009)
Minecraft (2011)
Star Fox Zero (2016)
XCOM: Chimera Squad (2020)
Titanfall 2 (2016)
Narita Boy (2021)

=== Credits ===

Music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com)

Additional Music: 
Subject Name Here (Portal)
China Theme: Atomic (Civilization VI)
The Still, Cold World (Frostpunk)
Reflections (Mini Metro)
The Last Flame (Frostpunk)
Online Menu (Dead or Alive 6)
England Theme: Atomic (Civilization VI)
Sophon's Prologue (Endless Space 2)
Threes (Threes)
Parkie's Pieces (Planet Zoo)
Martian Mining and Manufacture (Offworld Trading Company)
Collection Manager (Hearthstone)
Pangolin Waltz (Planet Zoo)
The We, Horatio Theme (Endless Space 2)
Credits Theme 3 (Starfox Zero)
Nartia Boy Theme (Narita Boy)

=== Subtitles ===

Contribute translated subtitles - https://amara.org/en-gb/videos/JcxvgxWY0awb/

Game Maker's Toolkit is a deep dive into game design, level design, and game production, hosted by Mark Brown.

BEFORE YOU EMAIL:

- I do not do sponsored videos, ad reads, or paid integrations on GMTK.
- Do NOT email me about NFTs, blockchain, or Cryptocurrency
- I am sadly not able to help with individual student projects
- I do school / university talks, studio visits, and design consulting when time allows - let's talk dates and rates!  
