In 2004 an academic paper, broke down game design into 3 sections:<ol><li>Mechanics: the workings of the game, the rules, the systems, progression, music, artwork etc..</li><li>Dynamics: how the player acts in response of those mechanics</li><li>Aesthetics: how the player feels by doing the actions</li></ol>ex: Doom mechanic of ammo drops on killing enemies made the player push forward, which made them feel like Rambo.

MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design

Refers to the feelings you want the players of the game to get playing it. This is something that should be decided from the start:<ul><li>"I want my players to feel calm, relaxation and peace"</li><li>"We want our players to feel like a badass"</li><li>"We want you to feel like a God emperor"</li></ul>Whatever the choice, be aware some people will feel the opposite:<ul><li>a survival game may give thrills to some people, or make others feel anxiety</li><li>some may enjoy a calm relaxing game, others will find it boring</li></ul>

Deciding on a Aesthetic Vision

Product people steal mechanics all the time. But the good ones:<ul><li>understand the dynamics & aesthetics the mechanics create</li><li>have a well defined artistic direction: "I want my players to feel scared"</li><li>adapt "stollen" mechanics to the desired aesthetic</li></ul>ex: Alien Isolation, a survival horror game, implemented saving with automatic check-points. But they noticed that players were rushing to a checkpoint, and reloading if caught. They wanted players to feel fear so they changed it to an unpredictable & slow event (using phones). This raised the stakes and made players act with causion.

Stealing game mechanics the right way

A methodology to explain game design. Found it really useful for all product work. 

GMTK is powered by Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GameMakersToolkit When it comes to mechanics, a great source of inspiration is other video games. But how do you make sure those features will gel will the game you're actually making? === Before you watch === Content warning: Combat, Blood, Fear === Sources and Resources === - Sources [1] Game Design Deep Dive: The save system of Alien: Isolation | Game Developer https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-design-deep-dive-the-save-system-of-i-alien-isolation-i- [2] MDA: A Formal Approach To Game Design And Game Research | Research Gate https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228884866_MDA_A_Formal_Approach_to_Game_Design_and_Game_Research [3] Dreams And Journeys: An Interview With Jenova Chen | CGMagazine https://www.cgmagonline.com/interviews/journeys-interview-with-jenova-chen/ [4] The Design of Subnautica | GDC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R-x9NSBS2Y [5] Making of Resident Evil Village - The Internal Struggle | Resident Evil on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIS-TW1XeNg [6] FTL Questions Answered | FTL Fandom https://ftl.fandom.com/wiki/User_blog:JAlbor/FTL_Questions_Answered [7] Dead Space 2: Jason Graves interview | The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8264378/Dead-Space-2-Jason-Graves-interview.html [8] Blank Canvas Designing A New Era of Emotional Storytelling Through Games | Games for Change on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=n_RKKuKvAvA [9] Embracing Push Forward Combat in DOOM | GDC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KQNpQD8Ayo [10] Game Design Deep Dive: Rocket jumping in Rocket League | Game Developer https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-design-deep-dive-rocket-jumping-in-i-rocket-league-i- [11] Checkpoint Design | Yacht Club Blog https://www.yachtclubgames.com/blog/check-point-design === Chapters === 00:00 - Intro 01:33 - What is MDA? 03:37 - Analysing with MDA 05:04 - Fitting Your Vision 08:28 - Other Considerations 10:58 - Conclusion 12:26 - Patreon Credits === Games Shown === Alien Isolation (2014) Far Cry Primal (2016) Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016) Bioshock Infinite (2013) Dark Souls (2011) Blasphemous (2019) Hollow Knight (2017) Nioh (2017) Super Mario Maker 2 (2019) DOOM (2016) Shadow Warrior 2 (2016) Far Cry 4 (2014) Titanfall 2 (2016) Psychonauts 2 (2021) Watch Dogs 2 (2016) Signalis (2022) Metro Exodus (2019) Resident Evil 2 (2019) The Last Of Us Part II (2020) Silent Hill 2 (2001) Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild (2017) Far Cry 3 (2012) God Of War (2018) Opus Magnum (2017) Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005) Until Dawn (2015) Elden Ring (2022) The Witness (2016) Among Us (2018) Overcooked! 2 (2018) Persona 5 (2016) Flower (2009) Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017) SOMA (2015) The Medium (2021) Little Nightmares II (2021) Subnautica (2018) Resident Evil Village (2021) Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) Hitman 3 (2021) Civilization V (2010) FTL: Faster Than Light (2012) Florence (2018) Trombone Champ (2022) Cuphead (2017) Splatoon 2 (2017) Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (2020) Dead Space (2008) Journey (2012) Dreams (2020) Fortnite (2017) Platformer Toolkit (2022) Inside (2016) Super Meat Boy (2010) The Callisto Protocol (2022) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) Rocket League (2015) Tomb Raider (2013) Okami (2006) Neon White (2022) Pizza Tower (2023) XCOM 2 (2016) Spelunky (2012) Hi-Fi Rush (2023) DOOM Eternal (2020) Shovel Knight (2014) === Credits === Music provided by Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vtdu5y (Referral Link) Music by Lee Rosevere - https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com Music from DOOM OST, by Mick Gordon How To MASTER Air Roll Control In Rocket League | Thanovic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_x2UQqQ2mY Rambo: First Blood Part II © Tri-Star Pictures === Subtitles === Contribute translated subtitles - https://amara.org/videos/q564TTJbh8w1/

product

Product & Design

GMTK is powered by Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GameMakersToolkit

When it comes to mechanics, a great source of inspiration is other video games. But how do you make sure those features will gel will the game you're actually making?

=== Before you watch === 

Content warning: Combat, Blood, Fear

=== Sources and Resources ===

- Sources

[1] Game Design Deep Dive: The save system of Alien: Isolation | Game Developer
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-design-deep-dive-the-save-system-of-i-alien-isolation-i-

[2] MDA: A Formal Approach To Game Design And Game Research | Research Gate
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228884866_MDA_A_Formal_Approach_to_Game_Design_and_Game_Research

[3] Dreams And Journeys: An Interview With Jenova Chen | CGMagazine
https://www.cgmagonline.com/interviews/journeys-interview-with-jenova-chen/

[4] The Design of Subnautica | GDC on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R-x9NSBS2Y

[5] Making of Resident Evil Village - The Internal Struggle | Resident Evil on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIS-TW1XeNg

[6] FTL Questions Answered | FTL Fandom
https://ftl.fandom.com/wiki/User_blog:JAlbor/FTL_Questions_Answered

[7] Dead Space 2: Jason Graves interview | The Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8264378/Dead-Space-2-Jason-Graves-interview.html

[8] Blank Canvas Designing A New Era of Emotional Storytelling Through Games | Games for Change on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=n_RKKuKvAvA

[9] Embracing Push Forward Combat in DOOM | GDC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KQNpQD8Ayo

[10] Game Design Deep Dive: Rocket jumping in Rocket League | Game Developer
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-design-deep-dive-rocket-jumping-in-i-rocket-league-i-

[11] Checkpoint Design | Yacht Club Blog
https://www.yachtclubgames.com/blog/check-point-design

=== Chapters ===

00:00 - Intro
01:33 - What is MDA?
03:37 - Analysing with MDA
05:04 - Fitting Your Vision
08:28 - Other Considerations
10:58 - Conclusion
12:26 - Patreon Credits

=== Games Shown ===

Alien Isolation (2014)
Far Cry Primal (2016)
Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)
Bioshock Infinite (2013)
Dark Souls (2011)
Blasphemous (2019)
Hollow Knight (2017)
Nioh (2017)
Super Mario Maker 2 (2019)
DOOM (2016)
Shadow Warrior 2 (2016)
Far Cry 4 (2014)
Titanfall 2 (2016)
Psychonauts 2 (2021)
Watch Dogs 2 (2016)
Signalis (2022)
Metro Exodus (2019)
Resident Evil 2 (2019)
The Last Of Us Part II (2020)
Silent Hill 2 (2001)
Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild (2017)
Far Cry 3 (2012)
God Of War (2018)
Opus Magnum (2017)
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)
Until Dawn (2015)
Elden Ring (2022)
The Witness (2016)
Among Us (2018)
Overcooked! 2 (2018)
Persona 5 (2016)
Flower (2009)
Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017)
SOMA (2015)
The Medium (2021)
Little Nightmares II (2021)
Subnautica (2018)
Resident Evil Village (2021)
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
Hitman 3 (2021)
Civilization V (2010)
FTL: Faster Than Light (2012)
Florence (2018)
Trombone Champ (2022)
Cuphead (2017)
Splatoon 2 (2017)
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (2020)
Dead Space (2008)
Journey (2012)
Dreams (2020)
Fortnite (2017)
Platformer Toolkit (2022)
Inside (2016)
Super Meat Boy (2010)
The Callisto Protocol (2022)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
Rocket League (2015)
Tomb Raider (2013)
Okami (2006)
Neon White (2022)
Pizza Tower (2023)
XCOM 2 (2016)
Spelunky (2012)
Hi-Fi Rush (2023)
DOOM Eternal (2020)
Shovel Knight (2014)

=== Credits ===

Music provided by Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vtdu5y (Referral Link)

Music by Lee Rosevere - https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com

Music from DOOM OST, by Mick Gordon

How To MASTER Air Roll Control In Rocket League | Thanovic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_x2UQqQ2mY

Rambo: First Blood Part II © Tri-Star Pictures

=== Subtitles ===

Contribute translated subtitles - https://amara.org/videos/q564TTJbh8w1/

Game Maker's Toolkit is a deep dive into game design, level design, and game production, hosted by Mark Brown.

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