Game Design: What is it?

Pieces from a board game.
Image Source: PHere

What is a game?

  A game has many definitions. One such definition used by Ian Schreiber is "a play activity with rules that involves conflict." Each game has a set of fundamentals that make it a game. They have ends and means; objectives, outcomes and rules defining how to get there. Decisions are made by a player, who seek objectives within the space given.
  Schreiber states that there are six properties in a game:

• It is "Free". Playing is optional.
• It is "Separate", here meaning fixed in space and time in advance.
• It has an uncertain outcome.
• It is "Unproductive". It does not create real life goods or wealth.
• It is governed by rules.
• It is make believe.

  These properties lend structure to a game, and help to distinguish the border between the game world and the real world. It is not necessary to play a game, therefore it is optional; the first decision made by the player is to play. It is not known in advance whether the player will progress or not, or if the outcome will be victory or not. Those are determined by the players choices. Playing the game will not create real world rewards; wagers and player made rewards notwithstanding. The game is made up, and has no real consequences outside of the game world; once again not including problems created by the players themselves. Perhaps the most essential property is the ruleset.

  "A game is a voluntary effort to overcome unnecessary obstacles"

Rules Create the "Play" Element in Games
Image Source: Pexels

  Schreiber states that without the given set of rules, one could take immediate steps to completing the game. Using Tic Tac Toe as an example, he says that the easiest way to win would be to write three symbols in a row on your first turn while preventing your opponent from taking a turn. However, we don't do this as the rules state that only one symbol may be placed per player per turn. And that is what makes the game. That is where the challenge and the point of the game comes from, but as Wolfgang Kramer points out in this article, rules are not sufficient to make a game. A space is needed an player to occupy said space.

  So with the game fundamentals in mind, what is game design? Schreiber mentions that there are many different tasks that fall into the category of game design; system design, level design, content design, UI design, world-building and story writing. Each one is a vital part of the overall process. The rules must be established for how the game begins, there must be rules for what can happen during the game, and there must be rules for causing the games end where applicable.

  Game design is a broad field, and the designers have many responsibilities. They create blueprints with which games can be built from. Designers must make their worlds enticing to players, to populate their game. They must actually build the world that they have designed. Rules must be established and taught to the players.

  There are always risks with any kind of design. These risks are lowered by a process called iteration. The more iterations there are, the more the designer can be sure that the rules of the game are effective. However, no matter how many iterations there are, there will always be risks. A design risk is that people won't enjoy the game. An implementation risk is that creating the game is not possible. A market risk is that people will not buy the game, even if it is good. One of the most important aspects when first creating a game, according to Lewis Pulsipher, is to focus first on gameplay before the appearance and story. Once the game is found to be enjoyable, then the other aspects can be improved.

  There are many factors and elements that make a game, and it can seem to be an overwhelming task. However, there are quick and simple exercises that Schreiber explains to make it seem less daunting. He walks through a guide on how to create your own board game using the fundamentals he explained earlier. A basic game can be created rapidly and easily, and it is upon those simple steps that the rest of the design should expand from. Here is a more in depth tutorial of how to make your own board game. While it does go a bit further than Schreiber's version, the basics are the same, and the process is broken into five basic steps, making the task seem approachable.

- Ultan