Week 1: Meaningful Play, Magic Circle, Atomic Elements and Core Dynamics

Question 1

What is meant by the term “Meaningful Play”?

Answer 1

The choices that players make effect the game in a significant manner.

E.g. Hollow Knight: Sparing or slaying the nailsmith / choosing your route / selecting charms

E.g. Cuphead: How you avoid different attacks / which charms and weapons you pick

Question 2

What is the descriptive definition of meaningful play?

Answer 2

The relationship between action and outcome. (player’s action changes the outcome of the game).

Question 3

What is the evaluative definition of meaningful play?

Answer 3

The choices made are clear and impactful.

The player understands the depth of their choice and the choices are relevant to the story.

Question 4

What is the Magic Circle Theory?

Answer 4

The magic circle is the threshold in which normal irl rules are suspended and replaced with the games rule. It makes the player take on a Lusory Attitude.

E.g. Menu screens, title cards, openings

Question 5

What is a Lusory Attitude?

Answer 5

The player’s acceptance and adherence to the game’s rules and what is fair given the games boundaries.

Question 6

What are Atomic Game Design elements?

Answer 6

Atomic elements in game design are fundamental building blocks which determine what is fun about a game and how the player perceives the fun.

These include the theme, mechanics, avatar and objectives…

Question 7

What is the Game State?

Answer 7

The Game State is the actual state of the game, including all known values of variables in order to determine the progress, position and flow of the game. Only necessary values can be seen by the player.

Question 8

What is the Game View?

Answer 8

The Game View is how the player perceives the game state.

Question 9

Who is the player?

Answer 9

The actual person who is interacting with the game.

Question 10

What is an avatar?

Answer 10

A manifestation of the player within the game.

Are either explicit (controlled by the player) or implicit (leader of a team in a rts).

Question 11

What is a character?

Answer 11

Personalities in the game, including NPCs or explicit avatars.

Question 12

What are Game Mechanics?

Answer 12

Mechanics are the individual rules, equation and algorithms which govern the game (e.g. short sword deals 6 attack damage).

Question 13

What are Game Dynamics?

Answer 13

Dynamics are patterns of play which emerge as a result of the mechanics, e.g. a sword fight or race

Question 14

What are Game Systems?

Answer 14

Systems: Are a collection of mechanics and dynamics, e.g. a combat system / item system / health system

Question 15

What are Goals?

Answer 15

The motivation to use dynamics (rewards)

Question 16

What is meant by the genre of a game?

Answer 16

The class which the game system matches with.

E.g. FPS, RTS, Metroidvanias, Shoot Em Ups, RPG, JRPG, Racing, Platformer, Platform fighter, Side-scroller, rogue-like

Question 17

What is meant by the theme of a game?

Answer 17

The class which the games narrative, aesthetic and content match.

E.g. Horror, fantasy, western, sci-fi, retro

Question 18

What are Core Dynamics?

Answer 18

The Core Dynamic is the central pattern of play which is essential to the game. It needs to be fun and entertaining and build a coherent experience by anchoring the playstyle.

They are often related to fundamental human needs or thought patterns our brains are hard-wired to perform.

Question 19

Name 10 Archetypal Core Dynamics:

Answer 19

Territorial Acquisition

Prediction

Spatial Reasoning

Survival

Destruction

Building

Collection

Chasing or Evading

Trading

Race to the End

Question 20

What is Territorial Acquisition?

Answer 20

The players struggle over managing a limited amount of resources.

Eg. Civilization

Question 21

What is the prediction archetype?

Answer 21

Rewarding the player for guessing the correct outcome. Could be statistical (what’s the most likely next card)or empathetic. (what’s the opponent most likely to play)

Eg. card games, Rock Paper scissors

Question 22

What is spatial reasoning?

Answer 22

Spatial pattern matching and puzzles.

Eg. Tetris, Tic-Tac-Toe, Portal

Question 23

What is the survival archetype?

Answer 23

The continuous struggle against fatal elements to maintain a status quo

Eg. Minecraft, DayZ

Question 24

What is the destruction archetype?

Answer 24

Violence against a defined opponent.

Eg. Doom, Quake, Metroid Prime

Question 25

What is the building archetype?

Answer 25

Using defined building blocks to create something aesthetic or functional

Eg. Minecraft, City Skylines

Question 26

What is the collection archetype?

Answer 26

Stockpiling resources or collecting variations of items

E.g. Pokémon, Mario Party, Monopoly

Question 27

What is the chasing or evading archetype?

Answer 27

A contest of navigation and pace with opponents

E.g. Pacman

Question 28

What is the trading archetype?

Answer 28

Exchanging resources for co-operation or manipulation

E.g. Animal Crossing

Question 29

What is the race to the end archetype?

Answer 29

The first to achieve a certain goal wins

E.g. Snakes and Ladders, Mario Kart