Formal Game Elements

1. Formal Game Elements The building blocks of play

2. Formal Game Elements The Player Objectives Procedures Rules Resources Conflict Boundaries Outcome

3. The Player • There is no game without the PLAYER! • What are the roles? • What are their relationships? • Multi-player or solo? • Roles • Every player is equal • One special role vs. all others • Every player is different

4. Player Interaction Patterns • Single vs. game • Multiple players vs. game • Player vs. player • Unilateral competition (multi vs. one) • Multilateral comp. (multi vs. each other) • Cooperative play • Team cooperation

5. Single Player vs. Game

6. Single Player vs. Game

7. Multiple players vs. game

8. Multiple players vs. game

9. Player vs. player

10. Player vs. player

11. Unilateral competition(multiplayer vs. one)

12. Unilateral competition(multiplayer vs. one)

13. Multilateral competition(multiplayer vs. each other)

14. Multilateral competition(multiplayer vs. each other)

15. Cooperative play

16. Cooperative play

17. Team cooperation

18. Team cooperation

19. Objectives

20. Objectives • The main point

21. Objectives • The main point • Tone of the game

22. Objectives • The main point • Tone of the game • Genre specific objectives

23. Objectives • The main point • Tone of the game • Genre specific objectives • Multiple objectives

24. Objectives • The main point • Tone of the game • Genre specific objectives • Multiple objectives • Obvious objectives

25. Objectives • The main point • Tone of the game • Genre specific objectives • Multiple objectives • Obvious objectives • Determined by the player

26. Objectives • The main point • Tone of the game • Genre specific objectives • Multiple objectives • Obvious objectives • Determined by the player • Your favorite game’s objectives

27. Procedures

28. Procedures • Method of play

29. Procedures • Method of play • Not the rules

30. Procedures • Method of play • Not the rules • Who, what, where, when, and how

31. Procedures • Method of play • Not the rules • Who, what, where, when, and how • Starting Action

32. Procedures • Method of play • Not the rules • Who, what, where, when, and how • Starting Action • Progression of Action

33. Procedures • Method of play • Not the rules • Who, what, where, when, and how • Starting Action • Progression of Action • Special Actions

34. Procedures • Method of play • Not the rules • Who, what, where, when, and how • Starting Action • Progression of Action • Special Actions • Resolving Actions

35. Procedures • Method of play • Not the rules • Who, what, where, when, and how • Starting Action • Progression of Action • Special Actions • Resolving Actions • Defining the game “environment”

36. Rules

37. Rules • Define objects and concepts

38. Rules • Define objects and concepts • Restrict action

39. Rules • Define objects and concepts • Restrict action • Determine outcome

40. Rules • Define objects and concepts • Restrict action • Determine outcome • Need to be easy to remember

41. Rules • Define objects and concepts • Restrict action • Determine outcome • Need to be easy to remember • Need to be relevant

42. Resources

43. Resources • Lives

44. Resources • Lives • Units

45. Resources • Lives • Units • Health

46. Resources • Lives • Units • Health • Currency

47. Resources • Lives • Units • Health • Currency • Actions

48. Resources • Lives • Units • Health • Currency • Actions • Objects/inventory

49. Resources • Lives • Units • Health • Currency • Actions • Objects/inventory • Terrain/environment

50. Resources • Lives • Units • Health • Currency • Actions • Objects/inventory • Terrain/environment • Time!