Tel Aviv 2015Video Coverage

Kiril Uljanov: Adventures Beyond the Limits of our Universe | Casual Connect Video

January 21, 2016 — by Catherine Quinton

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Tel Aviv 2015Video Coverage

Kiril Uljanov: Adventures Beyond the Limits of our Universe | Casual Connect Video

January 21, 2016 — by Catherine Quinton

'Make the tutorial an actual part of the gameplay, not a separate section.'–Kirik UljanovClick To Tweet

One of the most challenging aspects of game design is teaching people how to play your game without seeming like you’re teaching them. Kiril Uljanov discussed some of the do’s and don’ts of game tutorials during his Casual Connect Tel Aviv 2015 lecture: “Games should be fun and engaging from the very beginning,” Kiril says. “Reading a lot of informative messages is not fun nor engaging.” His full session is available for viewing below.


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Kiril Uljanov
Kiril Uljanov

As a child, Kiril Uljanov hoped to become a travel agent, helping people to have adventures as they explored our world. Today, as lead game designer at Nordcurrent, he fulfills that dream in a different way. As he describes: “I do help people travel, but the destinations are no longer limited by a single world of ours. I take people on virtual adventures beyond the limits of our universe.”




He has always been interested in all sorts of games, from video games to table top. And he has also always been interested in how the games work. In childhood he began creating his own table top games and pen-and-paper role playing games. Eventually, although he didn’t plan on a career in the games industry, creating games became his dream. As he says, “When you combine a love for games with an understanding of their core principles, you’ve got yourself a potential game designer.”




The Right Ingredients

He began designing games long before he knew the meaning of the word “design.” He just wanted to create and wasn’t satisfied with his existing means of entertainment. So he just did what seemed interesting to him by creating games and sharing them with his friends. And he is still doing much the same thing; only the scale has changed.

Designer Kiril Uljanov drew on his prior career experience as a chef to help make Happy Chef.
Designer Kiril Uljanov drew on his prior career experience as a chef to help in creating Nordcurrent’s cooking games.

If he could create any game, without worrying about time or resources, he would return to something he created as a child. He has a blurred memory of his earliest game, a fantasy dungeon-crawl roleplaying tabletop adventure. Although there are thousands of similar games today, he still cherishes the nostalgic feeling he gets when thinking about that game.

Kiril spent some time as a chef before becoming a game designer, and he claims the two jobs actually have a lot in common. “In order to create a masterpiece, you have to apply the right ingredients in just the right way.” And, of course, his knowledge is especially useful right now; he is supervising the development of some games about cooking and managing restaurants.




He maintains that designing games is never boring and leading a team of game designers adds even more excitement. Working with colleagues from a wide variety of backgrounds, with different skills and views gives him great pleasure. What he enjoys most is bringing all the different ideas into the creative process and making them work as one in a single complicated system.

And to anyone who would also like a career in game design, he says, “Keep calm and game on!”

A cat looks on during a routine workday at Nordcurrent offices.
A cat looks on during a routine workday at Nordcurrent office.

Start with an Idea

Development of a game, as he explains, starts with an idea which is expanded, polished, detailed and built upon. But the ideas result from a process going on in the designers’ heads 24/7, as they observe and analyze what is going on around them. “The idea for a game about making delicious food can come from a simple trip to the cafeteria. You only need to grab it and then develop it into something that is fun. I’d say the beginning of a creative process is always an ongoing process in itself.”

Nordcurrent offices
Nordcurrent offices

He finds inspiration for his designs everywhere and from anything. For example, a picture in a bar was the inspiration for a game feature.

Kiril considers creative blocks unavoidable, a result of the brain needing a break from the intensity of what it has to process. But he has found almost anything can break the ice: taking a walk, reading a book, watching a movie or playing a game.




The reward for his work comes when he sees people enjoying the games he has worked so hard on. Many things can go wrong during game development, making him doubt the decisions he has made as a designer.  But, he relates, “Overcoming these and actually seeing the complete and finished product climbing up the charts is an invigorating and motivating experience.”

Constant Evolution and New Possibilities

“Do you hop on the new hype train or do you stay in the safe zone and evaluate the direction it’s going?”

The gaming industry is dynamic and fast changing, with trends that come and go, technology constantly evolving and new possibilities opening up daily. Kiril claims, “It’s like a game in itself. Do you hop on the new hype train or do you stay in the safe zone and evaluate the direction it’s going? The train may be going to a dead end, or it may deliver you to the promised land of opportunities.” The challenging part is analyzing decisions carefully while relying on your own knowledge and the experiences of others. Constantly overcoming challenges of different difficulty is an inherent part of game design, he feels. Every challenge is unique and so are the ways to achieve the desired result.

The changes he sees coming in the games industry will result from the blending of the limits between different kinds of players. Until recently you could only play a hardcore title on a console or PC. Phones were for simple, if not primitive, games. Today, mobile devices are rapidly extending their capabilities, so games are evolving and customers are becoming more demanding. He emphasizes, “You can no longer justify poor gameplay, graphics or features by pointing out the flaws of the platform, and developers need to ante up their efforts in providing quality entertainment.”

He also believes the arrival of mainstream wearable electronics, such as smart watches and glasses, and more and more widely affordable VR equipment, will drastically change the market. The interest and demand are already there; as soon as the technology arrives, the mobile market will undergo a major shakeup.

The Nordcurrent team poses for a photo.
The Nordcurrent team poses for a photo.

 

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Catherine Quinton

Catherine Quinton

Catherine Quinton is a staff writer for www.gamesauce.org. Catherine loves her hobby farm, long walks in the country and reading great novels.

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