Level 2
David Mullich
Game Mechanics
The Los Angeles Film School

Mechanics
ACTION
Actual Action
of the
Mechanic
REWARD
Reward for
Executing the
Action
TRIGGER
Event that
Triggers the
Action

Extrinsic Rewards

Intrinsic Rewards
Novelty
The Five Domains Of Play
Challenge Stimulation Harmony Threat

Movement vs. Maneuvering

Movement Limitations
 Obstacles
 Deadly Traps
 Inaccessible Areas
 Privileged Abilities
 Budgeted Action Points

What Are Progression Mechanics?

Progression
The ongoing procedures after the game’s set-
up, leading to a desired resolution.

Progression Mechanics
Design Analysis: What are the progression
mechanics in these two games?

Difficulty
 The amount of skill a player needs to
achieve the game’s goals.

Progression Stair

Flow
Flow is the mental state
in which a person
performing an activity is
fully immersed in the
game.
Over time, game
challenges increase as
the player’s skills
increase.

Flow
Most games tend to
build up each level to a
boss battle of some
type to test if they are
ready for more difficult
challenges.
When players pass this
test, they progress
through the game.

Progression Systems
Extra Credits: How Good Games Avoid Skinner Boxes

What Was The Main Message Of This
Video?

Making Progression More Meaningful
 Add a Strategic Component
 Shaping Learning Curve
 Reward Most Engaging Way To Play
 Enhance Narrative and Character
Development
 Provide Cohesion and Consistency

Analyzing Progression
Are your choke points appropriately difficult? Are users
getting stuck on certain levels unexpectedly? Which levels
are users having the most fun playing and repeating?

Score
The numerical representation of the player’s
success in the game, often not only representing
the success but also defining it.

Score Design Considerations
 Which actions or goals
give points?
 How many points are
awarded?
 Are points based on
when they are achieved?
 Can players reload saved
games?
 Are player scores
hidden?
 Are there tie breakers?
Design Analysis: Score Characteristics

Why Designers Use Scores
 Progress Indicator
 Supports Race Goal

High Score Lists
Give players the chance to rank themselves
against other players who have previously played
the game.

High Score List Design
Considerations
 How many scores
are saved?
 How are handles
supported?
 How are ties
displayed?
Design Analysis: High Score
Characteristics

Why Designers Use High Score Lists
 Replayability
 Competition in Single-Player Games

Levels
Part of a game in which all player actions take
place until a certain goal or end condition has
been fulfilled.

Level Design Considerations
 How many levels in the game?
 How do they relate to each other?
 How are they different?
 How are they completed?

Why Designers Use Levels
 Progress Indicator
 Game World Boundary
 Closure Point
 Narrative Structure
 Promotes Exploration
 Balances Complexity and Difficulty

Improved Abilities
The player’s chance of succeeding with an
action, or its calculated effect, is increased.

Improved Abilities Design
Considerations
 What ability is
improved?
 How is it improved?
 Is the chance to
succeed improved?
 Is the effect
improved?
Design Analysis: Improved Ability
Characteristics

New Abilities
Gaining new abilities during gameplay.

New Abilities Design Considerations
 What ability is given?
 Is the ability
temporary?
 What focus loci is it
given to?
 Can player choose
the ability?
 Does player have to
give up a current
ability?
Design Analysis: New Ability Characteristics

Why Designers Use New and Improved
Abilities
 Intrinsic Reward
 Empowerment
 Smooth Learning Curves
 Varied Gameplay
 Character and Team Development
 Progression for Gain Competence Goal

Gain Competence
Gaining the ability to perform a certain action
in a game.

Why Designers Use Gain Competence
Goals
 Intrinsic Reward
 Smooth Learning Curve
 Varied Gameplay
 Character Development

Gain Competence Considerations
 What is the action obtained?
 How is the action obtained?
 Is the action limited?

Race
A competition between players to be the first to
reach a certain goal, often being the first to a
certain location along an approved route.

Race Considerations
 Is this the single goal of the game?
 Which game elements are racing?
 How many players are competing?
 Does each player start at the same time?
 Are there movement limitations?
 Do players’ know each other’s position?
 Can players interfere with each other?
 Are there chargers or pick-ups?
 Are trailing players given advantages?
 How is the end determined?
 Is there a time limit?

Why Designers Use Race Goals
 Conflict and Competition
 Supports Delivery, Stealth and Rescue
Goals
 Prevents Eliminate and other goals

Choose one of the following games to play:
GAIN COMPETANCY
 Eno (2-5p, 60m)
 Power Grid:First Sparks (2-6p, 60m)
 Thunderstone (2-5p, 45m)
RACE
 Around World 80 Days (3-6p, 50-70m)
 Aton (2p, 30m)
 Ave Ceasar (3-6p, 30-60m)
 Can’t Stop (2-4p, 30-40m)
 Citadels (2-7p, 20-60m)
 Hey, That’s My Fish! (2-4p, 20m)
 Snowtails (2-5p, 45m)

Pick-Ups
Game elements that exist in the game world and
can be collected by the player, usually by moving
an Avatar or Units in contact with the Pick-Up.

Pick-Up Design Considerations
 What does it do?
 Where is it located?
 How is it produced?
 How limited is it?
Design Analysis: Pick-Up Characteristics

Why Designers Use Pick-Ups
 Progression for Collecting Goals
 Promotes Maneuvering and Races to Get
Tool
 Resources for Actions

Tools
A type of pick-up that grants privileged abilities
for as long as the pick-up is possessed by a
player or focus loci.

Tool Design Considerations
 What new, improved
or privileged abilities
does it give?
 What avatars or units
can use it?
 What skills/resources
are required to use
it?
 Can it be combined
with other tools?
Design Analysis: Tool Characteristics

Why Designers Use Tools
 New, Improved and Privileged Abilities
 Progression for Gain Competence Goals
 Balances Players, Avatars and Units

Power-Ups
Game elements that give limited-time
advantages to the player that picks them up.

Power-Up Design Considerations
 What advantage does it give?
 How long does its effect last?
 Where is it located?
 How is it produced?
 Can players trade it? Design Analysis: Power-Ups
Characteristics

Why Designers Use Power-Ups
 New, Improved and Privileged Abilities
 Empowerment
 Tension
 Promotes Strategic Locations
 Balances Skills
 Promotes Races and Competition to Get
Power-Up
 Supports Collecting, Maneuvering, Gain
Ownership and Gain Competence Goals

How Are Tools and Power-Ups
Different?

Controllers
Game elements fixed in particular locations in the
game world that allow player to perform actions
that would not otherwise be possible.

Controller Design Considerations
 What privileged
abilities does it
allow?
 Who can use it?
 What
skills/resources/tools
/extended actions
are required to use
it?
 Is it part of a large
machine or system? Design Analysis: Controller
Characteristics

Why Designers Use Controllers
 Obstacle
 Level Completion

Chargers
Locations in the game world that affect the
player’s resources when they are on the location.

Charger Design Considerations
 What resources or
improved/new/privil
eged abilities does
it provide?
 Where is it located?
 How long does it
take to charge? Design Analysis: Charger Characteristics

Why Designers Use Chargers
 Resource Generator for fueling Actions
 Supports Gain Competence, Traverse and
Race Goals

How Are Controllers and Chargers
Different?

Group Quest
Design an analog game prototype using
mechanics supporting one of the following goals:
 Gain Competence
 Race

Research and use the LMS to report on
games using progression tracking elements
discussed in class.