Lesson 4-Game Mechanics Flashcards
According to Sicart, what does game mechanics mean to him?
Miguel Sicart defines game mechanics from the perspective of a programmer.
Miguel Sicart defines game mechanics,(using concepts from object-oriented programming) as methods(actions) invoked by agents, designed for interaction with the game state.
Game mechanics is also defined in relation to elements of the game system, game hardware and player experience, mapping mechanics to input procedures and player emotions.
Future Kaiyi doesn’t need to rate yourself based on this line but, the reason Sicart has found his own definition of game mechanics is because the term game mechanics is defined differently by many.
According to Sicart, why is the Object oriented framework
is a useful, analytical tool?
It facilitates an analysis that does not require human players to understand in-game agency(in game, I’m guessing like code).
Using the Object oriented approach, we can analyze game mechanics as available to both human and artificial agents
In coding or object oriented programming, a method is understood as actions or behaviours available to a class.
Methods are mechanisms an object has for accessing data within another object.
A game mechanic, then, is the action invoked by an agent to interact with the game world, as constrained by the game rules.
A mechanic is limited by the rules that apply to the gameworld (Like in any LoZ game, Link cannot jump unless there is some sort of ledge).
On occasion, a rule might be applied to a particular mechanic exclusively(LIKE THE BIKE IN POKEMON). For example some mechanics can only be invoked in certain environments or gameplay contexts.
What is the best way to understand mechanics?
To think of “mechanics as methods” as verbs. Verbs with structural elements like rules which influence the verbs in a game.
Ex. in LoZ, there is run, walk, walk slowly, look at a point of interest, slash, stab, slash sideways, shoot arrows, spin attack, jump, talk, jump, ride loftwing.
All of these are methods for agency within the game world.
The object oriented programming has a second advantage and that something has a little to do with inputs
Object oriented programming determines that an agent will invoke a mechanic with the use of an input. Ex. mouse, keyboard, wiimote, wiifitboard. In Gears of War, you press A to do an action in the game.
This suggests the study of relations between input device design, and player actions.
Quick question fool, what does MUD stand for and what is it?
MUD is a mutli user dungeon. It is a multiplayer real time virtual world(usually text based).
What is MUD a combo of?
The multi user dungeon(which is usually text based) combines RPG, hack and slash, P vs P, interactive ficiton and online chat. It is a multiplayer real time virtual world.
What are context mechanics? Who’s term is this?
Mechanics that are triggered depending on the context of the player presence in the game world. This is Sicart’s term.
Read this, do not rate yourself on it though.
Contextual mechanics are analytical concepts that can be used to understand how players decode the information in a level-how a player perceives certain structures and how those structures are used to communicate intended uses or behaviours (ex. in OOT, Link sees Tri-Force on ground, if player sees it, they will make Link play Zelda’s Lullaby for some sort of passage only allowed by being recognized as a friend of the Royal family.
How does Sicart define core mechanics?
game mechanics(repeatedly) are used by agents to achieve a systematically rewarded end-game state.
So what are game mechanics concerned with in relation to rules?
Game mechanics are concerned with the actual interaction with the game state(so the game world),
while rules provide the possibility space where interaction is possible.
- Rules also regulate the game state and can even transition between states
(ex. Dragon ball-Goku goes super saiyan when there is a big boss and he needs to power up(this is made up)) - Rules can essentially be as general or particular properties of game system and its agents
Do all objects in games have properties?
Yes.
