Todd Howard Quotes

Our approach to making games is to find the fun first and then use the technology to enhance the fun.

When we considered what to do with the graphics capability of the Wii, we put more attention and focus on the ability to create new experiences rather than the quality of the graphics.

The point of view is the biggest problem with games, because what we play must be clearly presented in the best way for me to have an immersive game experience.

When I create a game, I try to focus more on the emotions that the player experiences during the game play.

In video you are starting with nothing but a black screen. There's no game there. With pinball you at least start with that basic concept, but not with video. The challenge of going from no game to something today is only different because you have to create something so damn fun people will pay $1.00 every two minutes to play it.

Keep it simple, stupid. Good game design shouldn't keep you looking at the manual but should have enough depth where you feel like you bring something new to the game every time you play.

A game's concept is one of its most important assets. I feel that we must aim to satisfy both beginners and experts, and that hasn't changed since I was making 'Kirby' games.

I enjoy the process of adding elaboration into games and like to communicate with users through the details I create.

There are different games for different people and different expectations. Sometimes you want a great story, and sometimes you don't. I don't believe we should have stories in every single game. Sometimes it doesn't matter.

Making games look more photorealistic is not the only means of improving the game experience. I know, on this point, I risk being misunderstood, so remember, I am a man who once programmed a baseball game with no baseball players. If anyone appreciates graphics, it's me!

Our job as the game creators or developers - the programmers, artists, and whatnot - is that we have to kind of put ourselves in the user's shoes. We try to see what they're seeing, and then make it, and support what we think they might think.

You can't just come up with an idea for a game and stick the drama on top. It all has to be one driving thrust.

When I'm making video games today, I want people to be entertained. I am always thinking, How are people going to enjoy playing the games we are making today? And as long as I can enjoy something other people can enjoy it, too.

I've always been a proponent of the idea that technology doesn't matter to game design. The example I always like to point out is 'Tetris,' one of the greatest games ever made.

I was the lead designer on 'Portal,' and I really enjoyed making that type of game.

You can have an absolute laugh-out-loud-till-you're-crying game, but if it's not fun to play, if the mechanics aren't there, it doesn't matter.

I'm a game designer, so I care about the whole experience.

We have worked with a range of input approaches. We've worked with the range of mechanisms to drive immersion into the gaming experience.

A good game impresses you with what you're doing. I think that's a fundamental difference that I as a game designer need to recede in the background.

I believe that any sort of changes to interface that allows people to get into games and enjoy games is a great trend.

If you make it a game, gamers will play it no matter what your motivation is in making it.

Turns out, what I love doing is making games. Not hyping games or trying to sell a lot of copies. I just want to experiment and develop and think and tinker and tweak.

Good design to me is both appearance and functionality together. It's the experience that makes it good design.

Game design is a funny thing. There are people out there who are really good at it, but it's not clear that they can teach it. It's a very intuitive process. It's an art.

I talk periodically with the producers at EA and I try to be as honest as possible because as great as EA does, you just don't want to hear good things. These people are really passionate about making games and making them as realistic as possible.