GAME STUDIES / EXERCISE 1

╎Gwendalyn Firly Bong / 0374580

╎Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

╎Game Studies / Exercise 1

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Instructions

II. Lectures

III. Exercise 1

IV. Feedback

V. Reflection

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I. INSTRUCTIONS

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II. LECTURES

Week 1: Game Design

Core Principles of Game Design

Player Experience

• The player's experience of the game.

Focus on Emotion

• Players should feel immersed

User-centered Design:

• Consider the target audience and playstyle preferences

Flow State

• Players should experience an optimal balance of challenge and skill

PLEX 

Adventure:

• Discovery
• Exploration
• Captivation

Excel oneself:

• Suffering 
• Challenge
• Completion

Social:

• Fellowship
• Submission
• Competition

Excitement:

• Thrill
• Subversion
• Humour

Imagination:

• Expression
• Fantasy
• Simulation

Caretaking:

• Nurture
• Sympathy
• Control

Physical:

• Sensation
• Relaxation
• Eroticism
• Cruelty

Gameplay Mechanics

• The rules and systems that drive interaction.
• Primary Mechanics
• The core players perform in the game
• Movement/Turn Actions
• Dice Rolling
• Card Drawing/Playing
• Secondary Mechanics
• An additional enriching gameplay feature
• Feedback Loops
• Positive and negative reinforcement systems (rewards and penalties)
• Positive Feedback:
• Provide rewards for achieving objectives
• Give players a sense of accomplishment
• Negative Feedback
• To slow down the player's progress, e.g. paying rent in Monopoly if player lands on opponent's property.
• Dynamic Feedback Loops:
• as we progress progresses, the game difficulty ramps up, which allows players to adjust the level of challenge
• Storytelling: 
• The narrative that unfolds through play

Player Agency:

• Allowing players to influence the story creates a sense of ownership.
• Environmental Storytelling: Stories told through world design, visuals, and settings.
• Narrative Arcs: Structuring the story around conflict, climax, and resolution.

Balance and Challenge: 

• Ensuring a rewarding experience without overwhelming the player.

Difficulty Curve:

• A smooth escalation in difficulty keeps players engaged without frustration.

Enhancing & Refining Game Design:

1. Feedback and Iteration:

• Ensures the game is playable and enjoyable at all levels.
• Playtesting:
• Helps identify areas of the game that need improvement or adjustment.
• Feedback Loops:
• Identify where the difficulty may be too high or low, or a story that feels flat.
• Fine-tuning the experience:
• Iterating the feedback to ensure the polish of gameplay.

2. Immersion and Worldbuilding:

• Elevates the emotional engagement of the game.
• Immersion
• Helps players feel connected to the world and invested in the story.
• Context for actions
• Worldbuilding provides context for players' actions and deepens the emotional impact of the game.

Challenges in Game Design:

1. Overcomplication:

• Simplicity usually results in a more enjoyable experience

2. Failing to Adapt:

• Ignoring player feedback or market trends can lead to games that fail to engage

3. Monetization vs Player Experience:

• Balancing profit motives with players' enjoyment

Week 2: Balancing Fun and Educational Elements in Game Design

Fun Elements

• When games offer engaging mechanics, rewarding challenges, and an experience that feels emotionally satisfying.
• Often comes from player choice, competition, discovery, and achievement.

Educational Elements

• The educational component can range from simple knowledge acquisition to complex problem-solving, critical thinking, or real-world application.
• May involve teaching concepts, improving skills, or enhancing understanding in areas like math, language, science, or history.

• The challenge of designing games that are both entertaining and educational.
• Serious games and edutainment require a balance between engagement and learning.
• Make learning feel natural and rewarding without sacrificing fun.

Strategies to Balance Fun & Education

• Learning through play
• Using games as simulations
• Layered learning
• Layering gaming experience.
• Game mechanics as educational tools
• Problem-solving in the game
• Storytelling with purpose
• Using Narratives as reinforcements
• Avoiding Over-instruction
• Player motivation and rewards

Week 4: 

Playtesting & Iterative Design

• Focuses on how game designers build complex systems that feel responsive to player choices.
• How players' player agency can shape gameplay.
• How to refine these elements through prototyping and iteration.
• The goal is to provide students with the tools to design systems that evolve dynamically with player interaction and feedback

Types of playful experiences:

Adventure:

• Discovery
• Exploration
• Captivation

Excel oneself:

• Suffering 
• Challenge
• Completion

Social:

• Fellowship
• Submission
• Competition

Excitement:

• Thrill
• Subversion
• Humour

Imagination:

• Expression
• Fantasy
• Simulation

Caretaking:

• Nurture
• Sympathy
• Control

Physical:

• Sensation
• Relaxation
• Eroticism
• Cruelty

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III. EXERCISE 1

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IV. FEEDBACK

Week 1:

Module and project briefing

Week 2:

progress

Week 3:

progress

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V. REFLECTION

I had lots of fun doing the first task as I had to chance to talk about one of my favorite games. In the beginning, it was hard for me to pick what game to talk about since I am so passionate about a lot of them. After finally settling on BOTW, I quickly finished my assignment.