Before we begin breaking down the elements of design that make a great video game, take a look at this quote from Raphael van Lierop, the founder and director of Hinterland Studio, which spawned the well-loved FPS The Long Dark two years ago:
We’ve been learning that players in general want a game that rewards them for thinking, and doesn’t penalize them with meaningless randomness. … We’ve been learning that players embrace a challenge and don’t mind failing as long as the failure seems fair.
In many ways, this quote sums up a significant portion of the information you’ll be reading later on. But what’s even more profound about this quote is its focus on the player, and supports this point made by legendary DOOM creator John Carmack 21 years ago:
The game designer shouldn’t be making a world in which the player is a small part. The player’s the boss; it’s your duty to entertain him or her.
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