Genres and what a game means to a player The use of genres to identify and categorize the content of different forms of art is nothing new, however the change in genre in games can have a massive impact on the gameplay experience. The differences and defining points of genres within gaming have grown and…
Category: Gaming and Society
How genres shape the impact of a game: Forum for Creativity
Genres and what a game means to a player The use of genres to identify and categorize the content of different forms of art is nothing new, however the change in genre in games can have a massive impact on the gameplay experience. The differences and defining points of genres within gaming have grown and…
How genres shape the impact of a game: Meditative Spaces
Genres and what a game means to a player The use of genres to identify and categorize the content of different forms of art is nothing new, however the change in genre in games can have a massive impact on the gameplay experience. The differences and defining points of genres within gaming have grown and…
Tutorialize the conversation: speaking to non-gamers about games
I love talking about video games and games in general with my fellow gamers. We have shared experience that make it easy for us to connect and discuss the structure, strengths, and weaknesses of the games we play. However, I find it equally enjoyable to explain games and gaming culture to the uninitiated; people who…
Going with what works: why designing a game requires a surrender to change
When a developer decides to create a game they often begin with wanting to create an experience they themselves find interesting. The truth of the matter is, as I discussed in my article Children are Game Designer: how child’s play mirrors professional game development; developers are children at heart, seeking ways to express play, with the…
I chose to save Roman and Niko took revenge: blurring identities and the gamer experience
The bewildered audience The worst fear that is often associated with video games is that the player will lose the ability to distinguish themselves from the characters they play. Examples include players who play Grand Theft Auto getting the urge to steal cars, Call of Duty players becoming obsessed with firearms and killing sprees, or…
Hitting the old dusty trail: Peter Molyneux quietly delivers
Peter Molyneux is a world famous, or infamous depending on who you’re talking to, designer and programmer. Throughout his career in the video game industry, he has garnered a reputation for over-stating the experiences his games will deliver; building up a fantasy of gameplay that excited the players pre-release, only to be brought down to…
Board games are for lovers (of design): why rules documents are pure game design
Video games have taken the world by storm and it is easy to understand why, they are engaging, immersive, at times visually stunning, and grow more magnificent with each new digital technology introduced. However, gaming has a long history in analogue form dating back to the earliest days of mankind. What are the strengths of games…
Chasing perfection & fearing failure: the problem with relying on guides
In need of guidance We have all at one point or another, looked up how to defeat a boss, or where the final key was for a chest that would give us the perfect sword for our build. Whatever the circumstances, sometimes we don’t feel like figuring out the most challenging problems on our own…
Forge of Empires: progression and maintaining culture
The challenge of progression models Within the mobile market, builder games are a genre in which players start with rudimentary structures and spaces, and develop them into their ideal, custom world. These games often feature elements where players consistently return to a game throughout the day to continue to progress. Each level of progress is gated by…
Binge gaming part 5: Stasis pod
How binge gaming can help a player In truth, binging on a game when life is at a low can be a saving grace; it can help you to continue feeling like you are growing as a person even though the world around you has forced you to feel small or powerless. Since games are active pastimes, the…
Binge gaming part 4: looking at the clock
My friends are online The drive to binge play can be multiplied by the social dynamic of playing with friends locally or online. With platforms from PC to console to mobile all developing the option to play matches against / with real players aka PvP (player versus player), it is more common than ever to coordinate times and…
Play Professor 