Swipe This!: The Guide to Great Touchscreen Game Design

Chapter 11: Make Your Own Star Wars

When video game designers get together, they often ask each other this question: “If you could design any game you wanted, what game would you make?” Every designer I know has an answer. I know I do, and I know you do! Go ahead and write yours below!

If I could design any game I wanted, it would be about:

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Many years ago, my friend and fellow game designer Hardy LeBel asked me this same question. I gave him my usual answer: to design a Batman or a Star Wars licensed game1 and I launched into my game design pitch on the world’s greatest game.

Hardy stopped me mid-pitch and asked: “Why would you want to do that?”

“Do what?”

“Design a game based on someone else’s ideas? You’re a creative guy; why don’t you make your own Star Wars?”

MAKE MY OWN STAR WARS.

To be honest, the thought had simply never occurred to me before. I mean, I knew how to write a story and create good action scenes and design interesting looking characters2. I had all of the tools I needed to create my own universe of adventure, so why shouldn’t I create my own Star Wars?

You don’t need to follow someone else’s idea. You don’t need to play in someone else’s universe. Your ideas are just as valid as anyone else’s. All they need is to be brought to life.

The only thing ...