Lecture 3 of 4 in the Game Design Class, Fall 2012 - Formal elements of games

1. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
LD3. FORMAL ELEMENTS
OF GAMES
Andrea Resmini
Game Design
HT12 / HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS, NOV 9 2012
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

2. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
TODAY'S CLASS
A brief recap from L2
Formal elements
Break
Workshop
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

3. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
RECAP: GAME SPACE
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Carcassonne, board game

4. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
RECAP: GAME SPACE
every game takes place in some
kind of space that defines the
various areas of a game and the
way they are related
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

5. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
FORMAL ELEMENTS
players objectives
procedures rules resources
conflict boundaries outcome
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

6. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
#1. PLAYERS
how many players? In what
roles? Do they cooperate or
compete? How?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

7. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
a game for 1 player is
different from a game for 2,
4 or 1.000.000 players
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

8. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
CERTAINTY OF NUMBERS
a game for an exact number
of players is different from a
game for an unknown or
variable number of players
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

9. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
NUMBERS
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

10. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
ROLES OF PLAYERS
single-role games are
different from
multi-role games
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

11. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
SINGLE ROLE
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

12. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
MULTI-ROLE
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

13. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
MULTI-ROLE
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

14. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
STYLES OF PLAY
roles can also be played
differently according to
styles of play. For example:
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

15. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
ACHIEVERS
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Increasing character statistics in Oblivion

16. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
EXPLORERS
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS The Far Lands in Minecraft, http://scarilianvids.blogspot.se

17. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
PLAYER INTERACTION PATTERNS
players can interact with the
game and with one another
in accordance to a number
of different patterns
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

18. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
BASE BEHAVIORS
these patterns are shaped via
base behaviors such as direct
conflict, negotiation, trading,
or information sharing
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

19. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
SINGLE PLAYER VS GAME
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

20. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
MULTIPLE PLAYERS VS GAME
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Game of Bingo, http://blog.enclaveatwoodbridgecamapts.com/

21. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
PLAYER VS PLAYER
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

22. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
UNILATERAL COMPETITION
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Letters from Whitechapel, boccobsblog.wordpress.com

23. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
MULTILATERAL COMPETITION
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

24. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
COOPERATIVE PLAY
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

25. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
TEAM COMPETITION
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

26. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
#2. OBJECTIVES
different games might have
very different objectives
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

27. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
CAPTURE
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

28. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 ––FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
LD 3 FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
CHASE / RACE
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

29. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
ALIGN
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Tetris reloaded, divineerror.deviantart.com

30. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMESGAMES
LECTURE 3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF
BUILD / CREATE
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Tetris reloaded, divineerror.deviantart.com

31. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMESGAMES
LECTURE 3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF
SOLVE / OUTWIT
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

32. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMESGAMES
LECTURE 3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF
EXPLORE
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

33. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMESGAMES
LECTURE 3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF
FORBIDDEN ACT
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

34. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMESGAMES
LECTURE 3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF
RESCUE / ESCAPE
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

35. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
#3. PROCEDURES
different games might have
very different objectives
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

36. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
PROCEDURES IN VIDEOGAMES
game- or system-controlled
procedures in videogames
allow for much complexity
to be hidden from players
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

37. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
#4. RULES
games also enforce rules on
what players might do at
any given moment
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

38. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
ROLE OF RULES
games rules can define
limits, objects, concepts in
the game, or restrict or
delimit the field of actions
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

39. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
IF YOU PLAY CHESS
you cannot move your king
in a position that results in
a check
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

40. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
IF YOU PLAY POKER
a straight flush is precisely 5
consecutively ranked cards
of the same suit
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

41. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
RULES AND LOOPHOLES
rules can be precious for
closing loopholes, balancing
or unbalancing a game
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

42. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
DO NOT PASS GO! DO NOT COLLECT $200!
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

43. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
RULES AS TRIGGERS
rules can also determine or
trigger events or behaviors
and move the game along
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

44. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
#5. RESOURCES
in a game, resources are
outright scarce, difficult to
obtain and always valuable
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

45. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMESGAMES
LECTURE 3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF
LIVES / HEALTH
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

46. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMESGAMES
LECTURE 3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF
AMMO / UNITS
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

47. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMESGAMES
LECTURE 3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF
CURRENCY / ACTIONS
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

48. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMESGAMES
LECTURE 3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF
TIME
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

49. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
#6. CONFLICT
conflict results from the
players trying to accomplish
the game's goals within the
game's rules and boundaries
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

50. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
INEFFICIENCY
games usually offer very
inefficient means towards
their objectives
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

51. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
games challenge players and
provide a sense of
achievement through sources
of conflicts such as obstacles,
opponents, and dilemmas
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

52. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
OBSTACLES
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

53. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
OPPONENTS
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

54. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
DILEMMAS
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

55. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
#7. BOUNDARIES
boundaries separate the game
from everything that is not
the game
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

56. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
PHYSICAL AND CONCEPTUAL BOUNDARIES
not all kids in the playground
are playing tags, even if they
share the same space
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

57. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
IMPORTANCE OF BOUNDARIES
boundaries provide both a set
of constraints and context
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

58. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
WHAT IF I COULD
move the goal in a football
game out of the field or ask a
pair of aces to people playing
poker at another table?
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

59. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
CONTEXT
when Quake Tournament
ends, you are still on friendly
terms with those people you
tried to kill viciously just five
minutes before
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

60. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
#8. OUTCOME
producing one or more
winners and one or more
losers is the natural outcome
of any game
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

61. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
BALANCING GAMEPLAY FOR OUTCOMES
uncertainty is key, as nobody
likes to play when the
outcome is easily predicted
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

62. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
OUTCOMES AND PLAYER INTERACTIONS
how a game manages its
outcomes depends also on its
player interaction patterns
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS

63. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
BREAK
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Back in 15, right? Thanks.

64. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
WORKSHOP
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS Let's get going

65. GAME DESIGN :: LD3 – FORMAL ELEMENTS OF GAMES
THAT'S ALL FOLKS
coming up next time is
LD4, Dramatic elements and
player embodiment
ANDREA @RESMINI :: HIT, HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS