Transparency in Game Mechanics

Prof. Pier Luca Lanzi

Transparency in Game Mechanics��Videogame Design and Programming


transparency

http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1020408/A-Study-in-Transparency-How


Board games are definedby their transparency

Soren Johnson


Memoir ‘44 – Battle Dice


Power Grid


Innovation




Transparent and consistent rules run in the player’s head, creating engagement



Transparent abstraction focusesplayers on the inner game.


Drafting & Deck Building


Fog of war?


Transparent, visible mechanicsincrease player comfort


pre luck vs. post luck

RPGs typically favor post luck


Pre-luck is a transparent way topresent interesting decisions


Pre-luck is a transparent way topresent interesting decisions

Transparent, visible mechanicsincrease player comfort

Transparent abstraction focusesplayers on the inner game.

Transparent and consistent rules run in the player’s head, creating engagement


What connect these games?

What connect these games?

These games are static


What does “being dynamic” entail?


static dynamic

It is a continuum


static dynamic

Some static games use dynamic systems


static dynamic

Some dynamic games use static content


static dynamic

In static games, the content is primaryIn dynamic games, the mechanic is primary



What engages the player with themechanics of a dynamic game?


bad transparency good transparency


bad transparency good transparency


transparency via interface


transparency via system


transparency via theme


transparency via help


transparency via help


if mechanics are primary, thenthe key factor is transparency


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Transparency in Game Mechanics

Education