Most people don’t view game design as anything more than the look of the game. But the truth is that creators must put a lot of thoughts into every aspect of the product’s creation. Game design encompasses everything from the look and atmosphere of a game to its inner-workings. A truly great design will even have a positive effect on the player’s decisions.
We need look no further for proof of concept than some of the most popular casino games. These seemingly simple games have withstood the test of time, entertaining players for centuries. But even modern websites like Mother’s Buffalo continue to unravel the mysteries of the mechanics behind casino staples. It shouldn’t be surprising that more complex video game titles will also have a lot of thought behind their design.
Level Design and Player Engagement
Level design is one of the most important elements of game creation. There are many designers who believe that player engagement relies entirely upon the individual levels. It likely is not fair to say that player activity hinges entirely on level design. But it is undeniable that interesting stages lead to a growing interest in a game. We need only examine the intense popularity of the Legend of Zelda franchise to see how intricate level design can affect a player’s engagement.
Unique and complex levels have been a staple of the Zelda franchise since its inception. From the difficult to navigate water levels of past games to the environment-reliant levels of the modern re-imaginings, Legend of Zelda has managed to leverage every aspect of game design to maximize player engagement. But the modern games do pose an interesting question when it comes to level design. That being the issue of increasing difficulty.
There is one school of game design that suggests levels must scale in difficulty. The idea here is that the players will want to be challenged. Overcoming ever-increasing challenges will give players a sense of tangible improvement, which will keep them interested in the game and the stakes it presents. On the other hand, there is a more recent approach to level design that focuses on freedom more than scale. Open world games allow players to choose what threats they face off against first. Both approaches have proven to have their own merits and flaws. But they have proven engaging in their own right.
Staying True to the Core Mechanics
A game is nothing without the mechanics that designers have spent sleepless hours crafting. They are the foundation for everything that will take place in the game from its start all the way to its end. But just as the game mechanics serve as the core of the game, there are some elements that serve as the core of the mechanics themselves. Those being the mechanics that make the game work. The top dominating battle royale games may not have a lot in common with real-time strategies. But they do share some traits. Those shared traits are the core mechanics.
The core mechanics of games are those that enable movement and resource management. Games will almost certainly fall apart if the core is not strong. That is why designers should and often do spend a majority of their time ensuring that the main mechanics are up to par. The look and feel is a secondary concern. We need only look at the rudimentary indie games that have risen to prominence in the past few years to show that this is true. These independent developers have spent most of their time and resources on ensuring that their game’s core mechanics are top notch. The graphics and visuals are largely a secondary concern. But even then, the emphasis on gameplay over graphics gives these indie games a “retro” vibe which modern players seem to enjoy.
Reward Systems Play a Big Role
The goal in any video game is to clear the level and reap the rewards of your labor. Some designers are of the opinion that the reward of finishing the game is the most important factor in creating a successful product. Reward systems are another core element of game design that most people don’t actively think about, but notice when they are missing. The old-school arcade games had a very obvious reward system that centered around points. Players would accumulate points in the arcades and hope to establish a new record.
Similar point-based reward systems still exist in modern gaming. But game designers today have taken the extra step of implementing the internet in the rewards. Services like Steam allow a player to save any progress they’ve made in their games on the cloud. Any PC gamer will certainly have noticed the notifications telling them that they’ve unlocked certain achievements while playing. These achievements are only a small part of the vast reward system that governs modern gaming. But achievements exist to compare and contrast your own progress with that of other players. What about rewards for the individual gamer?
The simplest reward system can be seen in RPG games that focus on leveling up your character. The more missions you take on and the more enemies you battle, the stronger your character will become in games like Elder Scrolls. Unlocking new abilities and gaining access to stronger items allows players to immerse themselves in the fantastical world, where they can truly feel like the legendary hero that the game is telling them that they are.
The Future of Games
Video games have changed quite significantly in the past five decades. But we can still recognize core elements in modern gaming that have been around since the era of the Nintendo Entertainment System. That may not be true for the future of gaming, at least as many developers have imagined it. There are plenty of forward thinking gamers and designers who believe that virtual reality is going to take over the gaming industry. That will allow for true immersion in gaming, that will not just make players feel like they are exploring a different world but transport them to it. If such a thing becomes possible, then the very core of gaming will have to change.
There is a specific skill involved in explaining something clearly — one that is completely separate from actually knowing the subject. Annielle Benefieldstore has both. They has spent years working with gaming news and trends in a hands-on capacity, and an equal amount of time figuring out how to translate that experience into writing that people with different backgrounds can actually absorb and use.
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