Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Mixing Physical Mechanics with Strategic Gameplay
With discrete rules, it is possible to look ahead, to plan moves, and to create and
execute complex strategies. Although this isn't always easy, it is possible, and many
players enjoy doing it. Players interact with discrete mechanics on a mental, stra-
tegic level. Once players grasp the physics of a game, they can intuitively predict
movements and results, but with less certainty. Skill and dexterity become a more
important aspect of the interaction. This difference is crucial for gameplay and can
be seen in a comparison between
Angry Birds
and
World of Goo
, two games that mix
physical mechanics with strategic gameplay.
In
Angry Birds
, players shoot birds from a catapult at defensive structures protecting
pigs (
Figure 1.2
). The catapult is operated with a touch device, and because the
physical simulation is so precise, a small difference in launch speed or angle can have
a completely different effect on the structural damage the player causes. Catapulting
the birds is mostly a matter of physical skill. The strategy in
Angry Birds
involves
those aspects of the game that are governed by discrete rules. Players have to plan
to attack the pigs' defenses most effectively using the number and types of birds
available in the level. This requires identifying weak spots and formulating a plan
of attack, but the execution itself is based on hand-eye coordination, and the effects
can never be foreseen in great detail.
FIGURe 1.2
Angry Birds
