Game Design
What Makes Games Fun
and Addictive
By Jonas Lekevicius
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What is a game?
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a task
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Skill
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Luck
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Speed
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Logic
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Creativity
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Strategy
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Skill
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Luck
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Speed
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Logic
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Creativity
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Strategy
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Nothing
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Balance
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Game theory
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Obvious things
Part 1
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No game can be
played without
the interaction
of the player.
Rule #1:
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Things that
cannot be
skipped.
Mistake
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Treating game
as movie.
Mistake
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The outcome of
a game has to
be uncertain.
Rule #2:
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It can be
really easy.
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It can be
really hard.
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Making it
stupidly long
does not make
it difficult.
Mistake
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Not too easy,
Not too
difficult.
Rule #3:
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Allow to
choose
difficulty.
Solution #1:
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Make game
progressively
more difficult.
Solution #2:
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Revisit
previous
levels with new
challenges.
Solution #3:
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Rules
Part 2
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Rules of the
game define the
possible
actions of the
players.
Rule #4:
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Actions player
can do
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Game controls
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Rules are
unambiguous,
intelligible and
apply for all
players.
Rule #5:
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Simple
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Unambiguous
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same for all
players
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Players
require a clear
goal.
Rule #6:
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Game should be
playable
without having
to read the
manual.
Rule #7:
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Understand The
learning
process
Rule #8:
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Player tries
out what he
can find.
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Player
observes how
his action
change game’s
world.
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Player then
learns
fundamental
patterns.
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Visual and
Psychological
Design
Part 3
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Computer games
simulate or
change the
real world.
Rule #9:
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The game theme
has an impact
on the game’s
appeal.
Rule #10:
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Conflict and
competition are
essential for
the player’s
motivation.
Rule #11:
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Achievements
are also very
motivational.
Rule #12:
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more abstract
the character,
more players
will identify
with it.
Rule #13:
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The controls
of a game
character can
be direct or
indirect.
Rule #14:
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selection
between
different
characters
allow strategy.
Rule #14:
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Attachment
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Strategy
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Game over
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