Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
ChAptEr 3
Complex systems
Emergence
In the first chapter, we explained how gameplay emerges from the game's mechan-
ics. In Chapter 2, “Emergence and Progression,” we showed that the mechanics of
games of emergence possess a particular structure in which relatively simple rules
create many different gameplay situations. In general, this also means that a game
of emergence has a high replay value. In this chapter, we will explore the relation-
ship between emergence, the structure of game mechanics, and gameplay in more
detail. We will see that for gameplay to emerge from them, the mechanics must be
balanced between order and chaos. This balance is easily upset, which creates a chal-
lenge for designers. In fact, designing emergence is something of a paradoxical task,
because one of the defining aspects of emergent behavior is that it occurs only after
a system is put into motion.
Emergence is not restricted to the domain of games. There are many different com-
plex systems that display emergent behavior, and quite a few of these systems have
been studied in the past. The
science of complexity
, popularly known as
chaos theory
,
deals with emergent systems in other fields. In this chapter, we will take a look at
some of the advances from this discipline to learn more about the structures of com-
plex systems that contribute to emergent behavior. But first we will discuss in more
detail the relationship between emergence and gameplay.
We define
gameplay
as the challenges that a game poses to a player and the actions
the player can perform in the game. Most actions enable the player to overcome
challenges, although a few actions (such as changing the color of a racing car or
chatting) may not be related to challenges. The actions that
are
related to challenges
are governed by the game mechanics. An avatar can jump only when a jumping
mechanic has been implemented in the game, for example.
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