Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Introducing game mechanics
You probably already know about game mechanics after playing games, but you probably
don't know they are game mechanics, as a game designer will refer to them and use them.
Game mechanics are simply the rules of the game that allow gameplay. More simply, they
build the interactivity in a game to make it playable. Game mechanics can be really simple
or they can be really complex. Let's take a look at a few simple game mechanics:
• Running
• Jumping
• Score keeping
• Shooting
• Lives
• Health
• Physics
Game mechanics are used to make a game playable. They can be simple. For example, a
player can run and jump, but there are several ways in which we can tweak running and
jumping. How fast does the player run? How high does the player jump? How many times
can the player jump?
All of these variables equate to a certain kind of gameplay. It is your job as a game design-
er to figure out what combination works out best for your game. If you want an action-
packed game, you can use really fast movements. If you are trying to evoke a more elabor-
ately thought out game, perhaps small and slower movements are best.
Tip
Whenever you put game mechanics in your game, you can evoke an emotion. Experienced
game designers can have events in games that evoke rage, jealously, and helplessness. It's
up to you to play around with game mechanics and see how you feel about them. Whenev-
er you put game mechanics in, you give the player a certain sensation. This sensation could
be blasting your way through space and then making an escape with your spacecraft, or try-
ing to collect enough apples to feed your pets. The mechanics that you lay down, lays the
foundation for the sensation the gamer plays.
Apart from the essential game mechanics of running, shooting, and so on, there are many
more complex game mechanics. Achievements give the sensation of accomplishment, the
same kind of feeling you get when you work at improving yourself. Combos are used when
