Games GDD

Week 6 Reading - Games GDD

Design Considerations

From what I have read in the readings, I see the important role that game design can play in the player experience of a game.

'Components' - Presentation

The components of a board game is the like the equivalent of a video game's presentation. User interface, information, layout, etc. are there to help convey the messages and information to the player so they can use those info to respond or react to the current game state.

These 'components' needs to be clear, distinguishable and not confusing in order to fulfill their role in any game.

Themes

I can't say much for game boxes or cards because I don't play those games much. However, I can say something about the themes of the game working with the rules instead of against them.

This is very much like the theme of a game dictating the mechanics of a game. For example, in a fantasy game magic plays a central role in its theme and so its healing mechanics is simple and straight forward: Cast Heal II to heal 20 HP.  However in a more realistic survival game, healing is more complicated: Bleeding requires bandages to heal and poison requires antidotes to cure. Both of which requires to be crafted or scavenged in the game world.

This can immerse the player just enough because it plays to their expectations of what the game is and what they expect to experience through the use of themes as a guide.

'Rules'

Rules are important in any game because they set a limit to what can be and can't be done within the game. Rules should be clear and concise as to avoid confusion to the players. Vague rules are particularly dangerous because players are imaginative. They can come up with thing that can completely disregard the rules and there's nothing you can do to stop them.

It's best if you set the rules to be very clear and see players either break the rules in creative ways or play around them in really imaginative methods. This shows that the game has some dynamics in which the players are investing time into to explore what they can and can't accomplish.

I know this blog isn't too related to the reading but I intended to apply these subjects to video games, wherever relevant. This way we can link certain aspects of these tabletop games to video games in order to understand these rules a bit better.

I hope you enjoyed my late night rambling.

Have a nice day.