Game Development Essentials An Introduction

Chapter 6Gameplay

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(Tekken)

Loss Conditions(Battle of the Generals)

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

Game TheoryTragedy 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

Challenges & Game Goals/Objectives

• Advancement• Race• Puzzles• Exploration• Conflict (competition)• Capture• Chase

• Organization• Escape• Break the rules (taboo)• Construction• Solution• Outwit

BalanceFeatures

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

BalanceStatic

• Obvious strategies• Trade-offs/economics• Combination (resources)• Feedback (positive vs. negative)• Symmetry (transitive vs. intransitive)

BalanceStatic (Symmetry)

BalanceStatic (Symmetry)

BalanceDynamic• Destroy • Maintain• Restore

In Black & White: Creature Isle, players can sometimes destroy order.

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