A game setting is the world where your game takes place. It can be realistic or fantastical, historical or futuristic, familiar. A game setting can influence the gameplay, the story, the characters, and the mood of your game.
A game setting can also make your game stand out from the crowd and attract players who are interested in exploring and immersing themselves in your game world. But how do you create a map and a timeline of your game setting that is engaging, consistent, and original? In this article, we will share some tips and tricks on how to create a map and a timeline of your game setting for your game.
What Is a Map and a Timeline of Your Game Setting?
A map and a timeline of your game setting are two visual tools that can help you design and present your game world. A map is a graphic representation of your game world, showing the geography, the locations, the landmarks, and the boundaries of your game setting. A timeline is a chronological representation of your game world, showing the history, the events, the conflicts, and the changes in your game setting. Creating a map and a timeline of your game setting can help you:
- Organize and structure your game world
- Provide an overview and a context of your game setting
- Highlight the important and relevant aspects of your game setting
- Create a consistent and coherent game setting
- Generate ideas and inspiration for your game-setting
How to Create a Map and a Timeline of Your Game Setting: Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you know the benefits of creating a map and a timeline of your game setting, you can follow these steps to create your own:
Step 1: Define the Genre and the Theme of Your Game
The first step to creating a map and a timeline of your game setting is to define the genre and the theme of your game. The genre is the type or category of your game, such as action, adventure, horror, or puzzle. The theme is the main idea or message of your game, such as survival, revenge, or love. The genre and the theme of your game will help you narrow down the scope and the tone of your game setting, and give you some inspiration and direction for your game world.
For Example
If your game is a sci-fi action game with a theme of rebellion, you may want to create a game setting that is futuristic, dystopian, and oppressive, where the player has to fight against a tyrannical regime or an alien invasion. If your game is a fantasy adventure game with a theme of exploration, you may want to create a game setting that is magical, diverse, and mysterious, where the player has to discover new lands, cultures, and secrets.
Step 2: Research and Reference Existing Game Settings
The next step to creating a map and a timeline of your game setting is to research and reference existing game settings that are similar or related to your game genre and theme. You can look for game settings that are in the same genre or theme as your game, or game settings that have elements or features that you want to include in your game. Should look for game settings that are in different genres or themes but have some aspects or qualities that appeal to you or your target audience. You can use these game settings as sources of inspiration, information, and comparison for your game setting.
For Example
If you want to create a game setting that is a medieval fantasy world, you can research and reference game settings such as The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, or Dragon Age, which are all popular and successful game settings in the same genre.
You can also research and reference game settings such as Dark Souls, Shadow of the Colossus, or God of War, which are game settings in different genres, but have some elements or features that you may want to incorporate in your game setting, such as dark and grim atmosphere, colossal creatures, or mythological influences.
Step 3: Sketch the Outline of Your Map and Your Timeline
The next step to creating a map and a timeline of your game setting is to sketch the outline of your map and your timeline. You can use paper and a pencil, a computer program, or an online tool to create the basic shape and structure of your map and your timeline. You don’t have to be very detailed or accurate at this stage, as you can refine and revise your map and your timeline later. The purpose of this step is to get a general idea of how your game world looks and evolves.
For your map, you can start by drawing the outline of your game world, such as the continents, the islands, the oceans, and the borders. You can also mark the major regions, zones, or areas of your game world, such as the mountains, the forests, the deserts, and the cities. You can use different colors, symbols, or labels to differentiate and identify your map elements.
For your timeline, you can start by drawing a horizontal line that represents the time span of your game world, such as the years, the centuries, or the eras. You can also mark the major periods, phases, or stages of your game world, such as the ancient, the medieval, the modern, and the future. You can use different colors, symbols, or labels to differentiate and identify your timeline elements.
Step 4: Add Details and Variety to Your Map and Your Timeline
The next step to creating a map and a timeline of your game setting is to add details and variety to your map and your timeline. This is the most creative and fun part of the process, where you can flesh out and enrich your game world with more elements and features. You can use your imagination, your research, and your references to add more depth and diversity to your map and your timeline.
For your map, you can add more details and variety by adding the minor locations, landmarks, and features of your game world, such as the rivers, lakes, volcanoes, temples, and dungeons. You can also add more details and variety by adding the flora, the fauna, the weather, and the terrain of your game world, such as the plants, the animals, the seasons, and the biomes. You can use different shapes, sizes, textures, or patterns to make your map elements more realistic and distinctive.
For your timeline, you can add more details and variety by adding the events, the conflicts, and the changes in your game world, such as the wars, the revolutions, the discoveries, and the inventions. You can also add more details and variety by adding the characters, the groups, the beliefs, and the behaviors of your game world, such as the heroes, the villains, the factions, and the cultures. You can use different dates, names, descriptions, or stories to make your timeline elements more interesting and meaningful.
Step 5: Review and Revise Your Map and Your Timeline
The final step to creating a map and a timeline of your game setting is to review and revise your map and your timeline. This is the most important and challenging part of the process, where you can check and improve your game world for consistency, coherence, and originality. You can use your feedback, your analysis, and your intuition to review and revise your map and your timeline.
For your map, you can review and revise it by checking the accuracy, logic, and balance of your game world, such as the scale, the distance, and the proportion of your map elements. You can also review and revise it by checking the readability, clarity, and appeal of your game world, such as the color, the font, and the style of your map elements. You can use different tools, techniques, or methods to adjust and enhance your map elements, such as the zoom, the crop, or the filter.
For your timeline, you can review and revise it by checking the accuracy, logic, and balance of your game world, such as the sequence, the causality, and the impact of your timeline elements. You can also review and revise it by checking the readability, clarity, and appeal of your game world, such as the color, the font, and the style of your timeline elements. You can use different tools, techniques, or methods to adjust and enhance your timeline elements, such as the reorder, the edit, or the highlight.
HERE How To Create A Pro Game Setting 2023
The Bottom Line!
Creating a map and a timeline of your game setting is not an easy task, but it is a rewarding and enjoyable one. A map and a timeline of your game setting can make your game more appealing, engaging, and fun for your players, and more satisfying and fulfilling for yourself. By following the steps and tips we have shared in this article, you can create a map and a timeline of your game setting for your game, and make your game stand out from the rest. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below.