How to Make a Good Game Without Engaging Mechanics

Contents:

• Why we play
• Game verbs

With the advent of interactive film and walking simulator genres, the discussion of the role of game mechanics in video games has become more relevant. This topic causes a lot of controversy among players and developers. Some argue that visuals, aesthetics, and a compelling story are enough to create an engaging gaming experience. Meanwhile, others insist that ignoring interesting gameplay mechanics contradicts the core essence of video games as a unique form of entertainment. It's important to consider that the combination of a strong story and quality gameplay can significantly enrich a player's experience and make it more memorable.

Final Fantasy 15 game designer Prasert Prasertwithyakarn emphasizes that game development shouldn't be viewed too radically. The key is to focus on the audience for which the game is being created. In this article, the editorial team of Skillbox Media's Gamedev shares key points from the speaker's lecture, discussing what exactly games can do to attract players and whether it's possible to get by without strong game mechanics.

San is a game designer working at Square Enix, a company known for its iconic games. During his career, he has focused on game development in the Final Fantasy series, where he contributed to projects such as Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 and Final Fantasy 15, as well as their expansions. His latest project, Forspoken, showcases his experience and creativity in creating unique game worlds and mechanics. Sun's work in the video game industry continues to inspire players and professionals alike, highlighting his importance within the Square Enix team.

Why We Play

To evaluate the significance of game mechanics, one must first understand their essence. According to Sun, high-quality game mechanics include clear rules defining their functioning, the goals they help achieve, different approaches to solving problems, as well as worthy challenges and rewards for overcoming them. Thus, Sun views good mechanics as a set of elements that allow the player to successfully overcome the game's obstacles. Creating balanced and engaging mechanics is a key aspect of game development, providing players with an engaging and immersive experience.

Viewing games through the lens of various challenges is a common practice among designers. Many view these challenges as the foundation of gameplay. Philosopher Bernard Suits argued that "a game is the voluntary overcoming of unnecessary obstacles." However, this view is not unique. Renowned game designer Sid Meier emphasized that "a game is a series of interesting decisions by the player." The industry still lacks a generally accepted definition of a game, either among academic researchers or designers. This leads to ongoing discussions about the meaning of various game elements and their impact on the player experience. Experts continue to analyze how challenges and choices create engaging and memorable gaming moments.

Game mechanics do play a key role and are an important component of the gameplay. However, Sun suggests looking at the gaming industry from a broader perspective. Over the course of its development, game designers have mastered many tools for conveying emotions to players. For example, immersive VR projects can immerse the player in the atmosphere, allowing them to simply observe the environment and experience vivid emotions, even if such games lack complex mechanics. This emphasizes the importance of not only game mechanics, but also emotional interaction, which can be achieved in a variety of ways.

With the development of new genres and content formats, the boundaries between games and other forms of entertainment are becoming increasingly blurred. Apps with gamification elements, interactive toys for children, and many other formats have emerged. They can evoke vivid emotions even without complex game mechanics. Sun proposes to overcome artificial barriers between different formats and recognize that a modern game is more than just a set of rules and mechanics. This is a great reason to think about what other ways games can engage and interest players.

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Game mechanics are the set of rules and systems that determine how players interact with a game and its elements. They encompass all aspects of gameplay, such as character control, completing quests, and interacting with the environment and other players. Good game mechanics create an engaging and dynamic experience, allowing players to develop strategies and make decisions, making the game more interesting and engaging. Effective game mechanics also help balance difficulty and accessibility, allowing players to progress and succeed. It's important for game mechanics to be intuitive and easy to understand, allowing players to focus on the game itself rather than learning complex rules.

Game Verbs

San suggests an analogy between game design and the process of creating ice cream. Games are purchased for the purpose of gameplay, while ice cream is intended for consumption. This comparative approach helps better understand the importance of considering the user experience when developing games, just as it is important to consider taste and texture when creating ice cream. Both processes require a careful approach and creativity to achieve the perfect result.

An ice cream maker focuses all their efforts on creating the sweetest dessert. Ideally, their goal is to achieve a magnificent taste, although the appearance of the ice cream is not always a priority. However, ice cream can be perceived not only as a delicacy to be consumed, but also as an object to admire and photograph. On the modern internet, you can find many collections of sweet brands that are perfect for posting on social media, such as Instagram. These types of ice cream may be attractive due to their aesthetic appearance, although their taste may not be up to high standards.

San suggests considering video games from a new perspective. It's not just possible to play them, but also to communicate with other players, share your achievements, and stream gameplay. Focusing on these aspects of interaction opens up new approaches to game development for designers. This allows for the creation of more engaging and social game worlds in which users can not only enjoy gameplay but also interact with each other.

The speaker uses the term "game verb" in a context unusual for the gaming industry. In the traditional sense, verbs are associated with basic game mechanics such as jumping, running, shooting, and dodging. However, Sun considers this concept more broadly. Although this usage may cause misunderstandings, it does not detract from the speaker's main idea.

Many people enjoy discovering new places. Tourists go on excursions, exploring the various corners of unfamiliar cities and enjoying their beauty. This process is engaging in itself and does not require additional challenges or game mechanics. Traveling allows people to immerse themselves in new cultures, see historical landmarks, and experience the atmosphere of the places they visit. Each new city becomes a source of inspiration and knowledge, making each trip unique and memorable.

Games can inspire people to explore new places. Environment and narrative designers play a key role in this process, but game designers can also significantly enhance the experience. Often, attractive locations are not enough to engage the player. Modern video games are characterized by their scale and high level of detail, which can lead to the perception of game worlds as homogenous. It is important for a game designer to guide the player to significant and beautiful areas. To achieve this goal, it is recommended to use visualization and itemization techniques that help highlight key elements and create interesting routes for exploration.

By visualization, San refers to various techniques for dividing an open world into sections. This can include maps divided into regions or interfaces with marked points of interest. It is also important to evenly distribute interesting activities near attractive locations to make it easier for players to explore the surroundings. This approach is used in many modern open-world games, providing a more engaging and convenient gameplay experience. Proper visualization promotes a better understanding of space and helps players navigate the world, which increases the overall level of interaction and engagement.

The desire to explore can be stimulated through itemization—external motivators that reward visiting new places. In Japan, tour guides use an interesting approach: children on excursions are given booklets that they must fill out with stickers obtained at certain locations. By collecting all the stickers, the child receives a prize. This method not only maintains interest in exploring the world around them but also promotes curiosity and active participation in excursions. Using such practices can significantly increase the level of engagement of both children and adults in the process of learning about new cultures and stories.

This approach can lead to undesirable consequences. By rewarding the player for completely clearing an area, we risk encouraging them to play not for exploration, but solely for achieving goals. While this is an acceptable design strategy, it does put the game mechanics at the forefront, which can reduce interest in exploration and interaction with the environment. It is important to find a balance between rewards and the player's ability to immerse themselves in the game while maintaining interest in exploration.

Players often engage in role-playing, which can be divided into two main categories: creating a unique character and playing as a predetermined persona. Both categories have their advantages and have no clear preferences. An open avatar gives players the opportunity to express themselves through customization and the implementation of creative ideas. At the same time, a pre-developed character allows writers to create thoughtful and engaging characters, which fosters deeper immersion in the story.

A designer must determine the game type in advance, as this significantly impacts the creation of an optimal gaming experience. Understanding the game genre allows for better planning of mechanics, visual style, and user interaction, ultimately contributing to an engaging and memorable gameplay experience. This knowledge helps to focus on the key aspects that are most important to the target audience and ensure that player expectations are met.

To provide players with the freedom to role-play characters, as in Fallout or Baldur's Gate, it is important to find the optimal balance between the number of preset characteristics. If there are too many characteristics, players may feel limited by the rules, which will hinder full immersion in the role. Effective characteristic management will create a flexible system that can support variety in gameplay and deepen interaction with the world.

San warns against creating "empty characters" in the game. This approach can lead to the player creating a complete likeness of themselves, which will make the role-playing process less engaging. The optimal solution is to give the protagonist a specific role in the game world and, perhaps, an interesting backstory. The remaining character characteristics are best left to the player's discretion, allowing them to develop their character's uniqueness and making the game more engaging.

When roleplaying a specific character, their characteristics should be clearly defined. Unlike the writers, the player doesn't always know who they're playing as. Therefore, it's important to clearly define the character's traits from the very beginning, so it's clear how they will act in various situations. This will help create a deeper and more engaging gaming experience, allowing the player to better understand their character's motivations and behavior. Clear character characteristics contribute to more engaging interactions with the world around them and other players.

Choosing the right game role-playing significantly affects other aspects Game design. For example, a carefully crafted character is best revealed through well-executed cutscenes. Meanwhile, a dummy avatar functions more effectively in an open-world game, allowing the player to express their creativity and tailor the gameplay to their preferences. This approach promotes deeper immersion and increases player engagement.

Both options are acceptable, but it's recommended to focus on one or the other for the best results. This will help improve efficiency and the final result. Choosing one direction will allow you to delve deeper into the topic and better understand its nuances, which in turn contributes to a better performance of the task.

Players' self-expression in video games is manifested not only in role-playing, but also in the process of creating unique content. This can include character customization, the arrangement of virtual homes or cities. The ability to take screenshots adds an element of creativity to almost any game, allowing players to share their achievements and creative solutions with others. Thus, players can not only immerse themselves in game worlds but also contribute their ideas and visions, which significantly enriches the gaming experience.

San emphasizes that modern video games often do not deeply develop tools for content creation and distribution. Many of them offer only a basic photo mode with a limited set of functions, which does not motivate players to create and share their images. Developers may argue that introducing complex mechanics focused on creative freedom may force some users to engage in content creation even if they have no desire to do so. However, it's important to consider that more sophisticated tools can significantly increase player engagement and satisfaction by facilitating the creation of unique user-generated content.

A sensitive approach is essential to creating a positive experience for players. One example of such a mechanic is the system for automatically recording the most spectacular moments of the game, which is found in Final Fantasy 15. In this game, the protagonist's companions take photos of each other and the surrounding world. These images can be easily shared on social media, adding an element of community interaction. This approach allows players to avoid wasting time manually taking photos, while still maintaining an emotional connection to the moments of their adventures, as each photo reflects important events in the game. Effective use of such mechanics can significantly increase player engagement and enrich their gaming experience.

With the development of multiplayer, video games have become an important platform for communication and interaction between players. Communication in games brings elements of interest and fun, making it an important aspect when developing new projects. Even in single-player games like Death Stranding, a significant part of the enjoyment is achieved through interaction with other users, which highlights the importance of the social component in modern gaming.

Not all players seek communication in games. For some, it can be an unpleasant and stressful process, so communication should not be forced. Instead, Sun suggests focusing on unobtrusive forms of interaction. For example, you can help a newcomer in the open world or leave an unwanted item for other players. Such actions bring satisfaction and help create a positive atmosphere in the game. Sun believes that mutual assistance is a natural human desire and an important element of the gaming experience.

One effective way to encourage player interaction is through pranks. It's important to organize such events properly within your project, adhering to certain restrictions. Giving too much space to pranks can degenerate into bullying instead of entertainment. Moderation and thoughtfulness are key to creating a positive atmosphere where players can enjoy interacting with each other without overstepping boundaries.

San notes the variety of mobile games in which players can create virtual boyfriends, choosing their appearance and clothing style. Other participants can also suggest their own options, opening up space for creative and funny scenarios. For example, dressing another player's boyfriend in scuba gear or a woman's dress can create comical but harmless situations. These games are not only entertaining, but also promote the development of imagination and creativity, allowing players to have fun with friends.

Streaming has gained immense popularity in recent years, and the success of projects is often measured by the number of views on the Twitch platform. Developers regularly broadcast their games live before their official release, making streaming an integral part of the gaming industry. It's important for game designers to consider this trend when developing their games. They need to consider mechanisms that will motivate streamers to launch their projects and analyze whether the audience will be interested in watching someone else play through the game. Streaming offers unique opportunities to interact with players and build a community around the game, which should also be taken into account during development.

One of the key aspects of streamer comfort is a special mode that allows you to disable licensed music in-game. This is especially important for preventing broadcasts from being blocked for copyright infringement. In multiplayer games, this mode also hides all streamer personal information, including their nickname and IP address, enhancing privacy and security during broadcasts.

Modern games are increasingly transcending their genres thanks to dedicated fans who create new works based on the original games. This manifests itself in fan art, literary works, and cosplay. Game developers are increasingly taking into account players' interests, allowing them to expand game universes and deepen interaction with the community. As a result, games are becoming not only entertainment content, but also a platform for creativity and self-expression for fans.

Fan art is often perceived as a result of a game's popularity, but this is not entirely true. A game should inspire content creation. For example, in fan fiction, fans tell new stories based on an original plot. This requires a carefully crafted universe and characters capable of evoking strong emotions. This creates the opportunity for original narratives to emerge. Players strive to reflect on the fates of characters, creating happiness for some and sorrow for others. This approach not only deepens interaction with the game world, but also contributes to the development of the community around it.

Video games offer a wealth of tools for creating vibrant emotions and engaging experiences. Game designers shouldn't limit themselves to game mechanics alone. Exploration, role-playing, content creation, interaction with other players, and streaming—all of these elements can significantly enrich the gameplay and provide players with memorable experiences without necessarily relying on complex mechanics. However, this doesn't mean mechanics should be ignored. It's important to focus on the needs of the audience. If players came to play, it's important to provide them with exactly what they're looking for.

San isn't advocating for a complete rejection of the gaming industry's heritage. Game mechanics are a powerful and unique tool that can significantly enrich the user experience. However, it's important to look beyond this aspect. It is recommended to use all available advantages that the modern gaming industry offers to create more diverse and exciting content.

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P.T. — is a unique game project that has become a true masterpiece in the horror genre. Developed by Konami and designed by Hideo Kojima, this interactive trailer for Silent Hills immerses the player in an atmosphere of horror and unpredictability.

One of the key features of P.T. is its ability to evoke fear through minimalist means. The player finds themselves trapped in a confined space, where every detail, from the sound design to the lighting, plays a vital role in creating an unsettling atmosphere. Using elements of psychological horror, the game forces the player to explore and replay the same corridor, each time discovering new elements of the plot and horror.

The genius of P.T. also lies in its interactivity. Players don’t simply observe what is happening; they actively participate in creating their experience. Every step, every decision influences the perception of the game, emphasizing the individuality of each playthrough. This creates a unique feeling of fear that cannot be repeated.

Furthermore, P.T. stands out for its storytelling approach. The game explores themes of guilt, hopelessness, and mental health, making it a deep and multi-layered work. These elements not only heighten the tension but also leave the player with questions worth pondering even after the game has been completed.

Thus, P.T. is not just a game, but a true work of art that has changed the perception of horror in video games. Its unique approach to creating fear and deep storytelling make it an integral part of the genre's cultural legacy.

The speaker uses the term "game verb" in a context unusual for the gaming industry. In the traditional sense, verbs are associated with basic game mechanics such as jumping, running, shooting, and dodging. However, Sun views this concept more broadly, which can lead to misunderstandings. However, this does not detract from the main idea the speaker is trying to convey.

One of the most significant aspects of taking into account the interests of streamers is a special mode that allows you to disable licensed music in the game. This is necessary to prevent broadcasts from being blocked due to copyright infringement. In multiplayer games, this mode also hides all streamer personal information, including nickname, IP address, and other details. This approach ensures the safety and comfort of streamers, allowing them to focus on interacting with their audience without the risk of legal problems.

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