Week 1: Meaningful Play, Magic Circle, Atomic Elements and Core Dynamics Flashcards
What is meant by the term “Meaningful Play”?
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
What is the descriptive definition of meaningful play?
The relationship between action and outcome. (player’s action changes the outcome of the game).
What is the evaluative definition of meaningful play?
The choices made are clear and impactful.
The player understands the depth of their choice and the choices are relevant to the story.
What is the Magic Circle Theory?
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
What is a Lusory Attitude?
The player’s acceptance and adherence to the game’s rules and what is fair given the games boundaries.
What are Atomic Game Design elements?
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…
What is the Game State?
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.
What is the Game View?
The Game View is how the player perceives the game state.
Who is the player?
The actual person who is interacting with the game.
What is an avatar?
A manifestation of the player within the game.
Are either explicit (controlled by the player) or implicit (leader of a team in a rts).
What is a character?
Personalities in the game, including NPCs or explicit avatars.
What are Game Mechanics?
Mechanics are the individual rules, equation and algorithms which govern the game (e.g. short sword deals 6 attack damage).
What are Game Dynamics?
Dynamics are patterns of play which emerge as a result of the mechanics, e.g. a sword fight or race
What are Game Systems?
Systems: Are a collection of mechanics and dynamics, e.g. a combat system / item system / health system
What are Goals?
The motivation to use dynamics (rewards)
What is meant by the genre of a game?
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
What is meant by the theme of a game?
The class which the games narrative, aesthetic and content match.
E.g. Horror, fantasy, western, sci-fi, retro
What are Core Dynamics?
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.
Name 10 Archetypal Core Dynamics:
Territorial Acquisition
Prediction
Spatial Reasoning
Survival
Destruction
Building
Collection
Chasing or Evading
Trading
Race to the End
What is Territorial Acquisition?
The players struggle over managing a limited amount of resources.
Eg. Civilization
What is the prediction archetype?
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
What is spatial reasoning?
Spatial pattern matching and puzzles.
Eg. Tetris, Tic-Tac-Toe, Portal
What is the survival archetype?
The continuous struggle against fatal elements to maintain a status quo
Eg. Minecraft, DayZ
What is the destruction archetype?
Violence against a defined opponent.
Eg. Doom, Quake, Metroid Prime
