Bullet Point Learning Design - Learn to Play: Designing Tutorials for Video Games - page 126

well in getting people to learn from your game, which ideally aids in
encouraging flow and, of course, keeps people playing.
1. Make sure all players are able to reach the same skill level very
quick ly.
2. Reward success and punish failure quickly, harshly, and
overtly.
3. Do not ignore the wealth of data at your fingertips.
Each of these can be further broken down into the points we have
covered in this topic. herefore, without further rambling, here is the
list that you may tear out and glue to your wall (make sure it is your
own wall; I claim no legal responsibility for your actions).
Three Principles of Learning Design
1. Make sure all players reach the same skill level quickly.
• No exclusionary mechanics.
• No “club” behaviors.
• Offer learning support.
• Follow the cognitive principles.
• Let skilled players be skillful as fast as possible.
• Reward failures.
2. Reward success and punish mistakes quickly, harshly, and
overtly.
• No small punishments ( except early on ).
• No small rewards ( ever! ).
• Immediate feedback on all inputs.
• Massive explosions of juiciness.
• Harsh and brutal correction of unwanted behaviors.
• Rewards must scale in their splendor and awesomeness.
3. Do not ignore the wealth of data at your fingertips.
• Dynamic difficulty adjustment.
• Test/retest player skill level.
• Use just-in-time tactics to reward continued play.
• Procedural and dynamic rewards and punishments.
• You cannot have too many data-collection hooks.