Game Development Essentials An Introduction (2 nd Edition)

Chapter 6 Gameplay creating the experience

Key Chapter Questions ■ How are a game’s challenges and strategies associated with gameplay? ■ What are interactivity modes and how do they relate to gameplay? ■ What is the relationship between gameplay and story? ■ What is the difference between static and dynamic balance? ■How can the Prisoner’s Dilemma and the tragedy of the commons be applied to cooperative gameplay?

Rules Victory Conditions (Mortal Kombat: Armageddon) Loss Conditions (Karaoke Revolution Party)

Interactivity Modes Player-to-game Player-to-developer Player-to-platform Player-to-player One-on-one Unilateral Multilateral Team

Game Theory Zero Sum (chess) Non Zero Sum [NZS] (Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark)

Game Theory Prisoner’s Dilemma

Game Theory Tragedy of the Commons

Types of Challenges Implicit vs. explicit Perfect vs. imperfect information Intrinsic vs. extrinsic knowledge Pattern recognition & matching Spatial awareness Micromanagement Reaction time In Conan, players must engage in the explicit challenge of defeating monsters and other dangerous bosses.

Challenges & Game Goals/Objectives Advancement Race Puzzles Exploration Conflict (competition) Capture Chase Organization Escape Break the rules (taboo) Construction Solution Outwit

Balance Features Consistent challenges Perceivably fair playing experiences Lack of stagnation Lack of trivial decisions Difficulty levels

Balance Static Obvious strategies Trade-offs/economics Combination (resources) Feedback (positive vs. negative) Symmetry (transitive vs. intransitive) In Age of Empires, players begin the game with the same resources.

Balance Static (Symmetry) Transitive Relationship (hierarchical, linear)

Balance Static (Symmetry) Intransitive Relationship (circular, non-linear)

Balance Dynamic Destroy Maintain Restore In Dead Rising, the player character focuses on restoring stability and balance to the game by exterminating zombies.

Summary Rules: victory vs. loss conditions Interactivity modes Game theory: Prisoner’s Dilemma & tragedy of the commons Types of challenges Challenges & game goals/objectives Static vs. dynamic balance