introduction to the theory of game elements 18752

8/8/2019 Introduction to the Theory of Game Elements 18752

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Games without FrontiersA Resource for Game Studies & Design

Contents Games as systems

Game states and game system behaviour

Game elements as parts of game systems

Game element attributes

Definitions and examples element by element

Examples of an analysis method

Gamegame: theory meets design meets play


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All kinds of games allowed!

All games, regardless of themedia or technology they employ,contain certain elements

They are not all the same Or implemented in the same

manner or technique

Yet there are underlyingsimilarities: goals, objects to bemanipulated, environments,players, etc.


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Same but diferent

How to conceptualise this same butdiferent qualities of games?

One needs to conceptualise the qualities And build a framework that brings them

together, as in individual games

The notion of System


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Games as systems System is

a dynamic whole with interacting parts

In game systems:

1) game elements equal the parts2) elements have relationships, they interact

3) when players engage with the elements, itgives birth to another kind of interaction:

game play

game play gives birth to dynamics; the run-time behavior of the system (LeBlanc)


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The Theory of Game Elements

Conceptualises possible diferent configurationsof game systems

i.e. the diference between one game andanother is due to the fact that their systems are

configured diferently

configuration of football vs. the configuration ofPrince of Persia

The theory is a form of Applied Ludology

Which provides solutions for practical gameanalysis & design


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Element categories: overview

A game system in operation, i.e. a game being played,puts these elements into interaction

COMPOUND

ELEMENTS

game play

SYSTEMIC

ELEMENTS

BEHAVIORAL

ELEMENTS


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Game elements: overview

players

contexts

components

environment

rule set

game mechanics

theme information

interfaceCOMPOUND

ELEMENTS

game play

SYSTEMIC ELEMENTS BEHAVIORAL ELEMENTS


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All game elements have an ownership attribute

There are three kinds of ownership attributes:

[game element]-of-self

[game element]-of-other(s)

[game element]-of-system

Ownership attributes often create inherent tensionand competition to a game

Thus, many games revolve around ownershipsshifting back and forth

Game elements: overview


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Components

Components are usually objects that theplayer is able to manipulate in the courseof the game.

What moves in the game, in one way oranother (physical movement, transactions,etc.)

Components provide a source ofidentification for the player, usually in theshape of possessions, resources, and/orrepresentatives (characters/pieces)

The goals of the game are often embodiedinto components (collect 100 rings, etc.)


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Types of Components There are three types of

components:

components-of-self: componentspossessed by oneself and controlledby oneself (e.g. your monkey)

components-of-others:components possessed andcontrolled by other players (e.g. theothers monkeys)

components-of-system:components possessed andcontrolled by the game system(Bananas, NPCs, AI, etc.)


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Environment It is not mandatory yet it is very

common (boards, etc.)

The environment element setsspecific spatial boundaries forcomponents and players.

Environment embodies rules thatspecify the spatial and geometricarrangement of a game.

In some cases, components make upthe game environment.

Typical environment attributes: state,scale, vector


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Types of Environments Game environments can be broadly classified

into two following types:

Boards/fields: Static individual environments;which mainly function to embody rules byvisualising them into a grid with geometrical

relations, for example.

Setups: Even if no particular environment isneeded (as in, e.g., many card games), the otherelements need to be arranged in a fashion thatcommunicates the game state to the players.

World(s): Often these kinds of environments aredivided into parts or levels, but game-worlds alsoexist as seamless, simulated ecosystems.Function shifts towards thematic purposes.


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Rule set Rules constitute the fundamental compoundelement, rule set.

Rule set is the glue that keeps a gamesystem together and enables play with theother elements in the first place.

Rules make it possible for the system tofunction in a way that is meaningful forplayers. Rule set uses other elements as itsembodiments.

Usually the rule set states procedures oralgorithms, such as how to set up thegame in order to start playing, or howplayers are rewarded for completing a goal.


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Game mechanics The means, i.e. always there in relation to goals, the

ends

Best described with verbs; game mechanics imply (inter)action

Core mechanics (Salen & Zimmerman): what players do in agame, repeatedly

Running and kicking the ball are the core mechanics offootball; moving a piece in Chess is its core mechanic

digital games may have multiple mechanics thatcorrespond to the actions and the fantasy world the gamessimulates: Horseback riding, sword-fighting, running,

jumping, etc.


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Types of Game mechanics

generic mechanics classes

that can be actualized invarious ways

for example, a Physicalmechanic in the Contactclass could be kissing/hugging/etc!

and combined into sequencesand relations: trading isachieved by kissing, etc!


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Theme theme equals the subject matter of a game

if there is no theme in a game, the system doesnot represent anything other than its ruleset

theme functions metaphorically, enabling theplayers to understand rules and goals in termsof another subject matter

the essence of metaphor (Lakof& Johnson) :understanding and experiencing one kind of

thing in terms of another

Themes employ schemas: restaurant schemain Diner Dash


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Information

Game systems contain information

The main function of information is tostore data about game states

How and to what extent the informationis communicated to the players arequestions of game design:

Games of perfect information vs.imperfect information

The information element makes gamessuitable for computers


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Interface

In case players can not accessthe game system directly there isneed for a tool to enable that

i.e. an interface prominent in digital games

is found also in mechanicalgames, such as Pinball, Fussballtables, etc.


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Players

There would no games nor playwithout Players

Players are arguably highly complexpsychological entities

Erving Gofman (1961): games asfocused gatherings

i.e. certain types of socialarrangements that occur whenpersons are in one anothersimmediate physical presence.


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Players in focused gatherings

focused gatherings involve for the participants thefollowing communication arrangements:

a single visual and cognitive focus of attention

a mutual and preferential openness to verbalcommunication

a heightened mutual relevance of acts

an eye-to-eye ecological huddle that maximizes each

participants s opportunity to perceive the otherparticipants monitoring of him/her


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Contexts There are several contexts to any game

E.g., the context of football is a cluster offactors having to do both with the gamespopularity, tradition, players, national histories,and the sports industry with its media coverage.

The context of a game can be endlesslyexpanded to surrounding cultures...

in order to be useful, the line has to be drawnsomewhere when embarking on a concrete

analysis of a particular game.

Where actually to draw the line is a question ofperspective.


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Game elements: summary

players

contexts

components

environment

rule set

game mechanics

theme information

interfaceCOMPOUND

ELEMENTS

game play

SYSTEMIC ELEMENTS BEHAVIORAL ELEMENTS


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What ludologists do


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Another visualization


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Further resources

http://gamegame.blogs.com Card game / brainstorming tool for

game design, based on the theory ofgame elements

http://www.gameswithoutfrontiers.net Akis Thesis chapters & online analysis

tools

[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.gameswithoutfrontiers.net/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.gameswithoutfrontiers.net/http://www.gameswithoutfrontiers.net/http://gamegame.blogs.com/http://gamegame.blogs.com/

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