Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
success. Players use this key play to test their skills and feel accomplished. In their
study players who enjoy the hard fun of challenge say they like:
• Playing to see how good I really am
• Playing to beat the game
• Having multiple objectives
• Requiring strategy rather than luck
Games with this key offer compelling challenges with a choice of strategies. They
balance the game difficulty with player skill through levels, player progress, or player
controls. In Mario Kart, the difficulty of the challenge matches the skill of novice and
advanced players (if you can't drive, you can at least throw stuff); plus it offers emo-
tional opportunities from cooperative and competitive gameplay. Games with this key
include Civilization, Halo, Top Spin Tennis, Crosswords, Hearts, Tetris, and Collapse.
Some games offer a choice of winning conditions such as EverQuest and The Sims.
Easy fun - grab attention with ambiguity, incompleteness,
and detail
Other players focus on the sheer enjoyment of experiencing the game activities.
Easy fun maintains focus with player attention rather than a winning condition. The
immersion key awakens a sense of curiosity in the player. It entices the player to
consider options and find out more. Ambiguity, incompleteness, and detail combine
to create a living world. The sensations of awe, wonder, and mystery can be very
intense. Players use this key play to fill attention with something new. In their study
players who enjoy the easy fun of immersion say they like:
• Exploring new worlds with intriguing people
• Excitement and adventure
• Wanting to figure it out
• Seeing what happens in the story, even if I have to use a walk through
• Feeling like me and my character are one
• Liking the sound of cards shuffling
• Growing dragons
Games with this key entice the player to linger, not necessarily in a 3D world but
to become immersed in the experience. Rich stimuli and ambiguity as well as detail
cause the player to pause with wonder and curiosity. Repetition and rhythm can be
hypnotic. In Mario Kart the visual display, cart technology, and zany game obstacles
