7 Things that STRENGTHEN a Game
Understanding the Game Design Grammar — PART 3/3
1. Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the player’s skill in managing the relationship with other players or NPCs (non-playable characters) in pursuit of a goal.
- Provide non-exclusive goals to the game actors encourage the diplomacy.
- Diplomacy enriches the opposition.
2. Cosmetics
Rich and splendid display, detail, and sense of place can greatly add a game’s emotional appeal.
Cosmetics has nothing to do with the Capacity of the game.
3. Simulation
- Is a way of providing color.
- Is the use of game design systems to reflect the atmosphere and the ethos of the game.
- Improves character identification.
- Allows insight into a situation that mere narrative cannot.
Simulating is not for every game, but when is used it can be quite powerful.
4. Variety of Encounter
“Random Elements” in a game should never be totally random.
- Player must know what outcomes are possible, and his chances of achieving what he wants to achieve. He takes a calculated risk.
- The ultimate victory or defeat of the player has to be based on his excellence as a strategist, not on his luck with dice.
5. Position Identification
- Increase the game’s emotional impact.
When you encourage players to care about “the side”, to identify with their position in the game, to identify with his character.
- Getting player to identify with their game position is straightforward when a player has a single token. but its harder when he controls many.
When the player has many tokens you have to make the player feel identification with “the side”.
Make clear the player’s point of view is the base for a successful position identification.
6. Role-playing
- Improves position identification
If you like your character you are identifying with him closely.
- Improves the game’s color
The player is partly responsible for feeding the fantasy, feeling that the world is alive and colorful and consistent.
- It’s an excellent method of socialization
Role-playing is a form of performance.
7. Narrative Tension
- “Rising Tension” is the KEY element of a PLOT.
- Tension is what makes a game fun.
- A game should be tense all the way through, but specially at the end.
So…
Do all the myriads forms of gaming have anything in common?
Yes!
All involve decision-making, managing resources in pursuit of a goal.
