From the course: Game Design Foundations: 1 Ideas, Core Loops, and Goals
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Exercise: The mechanics of play (where to start)
From the course: Game Design Foundations: 1 Ideas, Core Loops, and Goals
Exercise: The mechanics of play (where to start)
- [Instructor] The best way to learn game design is to make games. Know that I didn't say great games or good games but just games. Much of our exploration as game designers is in playing around with different game mechanics to see what kind of gameplay dynamics they produce when players get involved. Sometimes we strike gold and know that there's something there that could be the makings of a good game. And other times, well, we strike rocks. But before we go forward, let's define what a mechanic is. A mechanic is the name we give to a particular rule, or set of rules, which produces a particular outcome. For instance, taking turns is a mechanic. Jumping's a mechanic. If you look at a rule set from a board game, what you're looking at is the mechanics of that game laid bare. When players put those mechanics into motion, we have what's known as game dynamics. Game dynamics, which are also known as player dynamics, or play dynamics, are what happened to game mechanics when we add…
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