I presentation on the overuse of the word fun and an introduction to Le Blancs MDA framework

1. FUN
It is often said that games are fun, it is stated that for a
game to be a game it has to be fun, So… the games essence
is the fact that it is fun.
A good game is said to be fun, and you can tell a bad game
because it is not fun.
How do we… as a group and as individuals feel about these statements?

2. FUN
Quantifiable? Qualifiable?

3. The Quantifiability of FUN
Can fun be measured? If so what is the
measurement of fun and how do we measure
it?

4. The Qualifiability of FUN
What qualifies as fun? Do we all have the same
sort of fun and when do we know when we
are having it?

5. Are we having the same sort of fun
when we play…

6. Are we having the same sort of fun
when we play…

7. FUN “FUN”

8. So… Are there different forms of “fun”

9. MDA

10. MDA
A formalist framework for game design and criticism
“MDA is a formal approach to understanding
games . One which attempts to bridge the gap
between game design and development,
game criticism, and technical game research.
We believe this methodology will clarify and
strengthen the iterative processes of
developers, scholars and researchers alike,
making it easier for all parties to decompose,
study and design a broad class of game
designs and game artifacts.”

11. MDA
MDA was developed and taught as part of the
Game Design and Tuning Workshop at he
Game Developers Conference, San Jose 2001-
2004 by Robin Hunicke, Marc LeBlanc, Robert
Zubek
(we looked at part of the MDA framework for H&A 3 relating to the reading Costikyan, G. quot;I
Have No Words & I Must Design: Toward a Critical Vocabulary for Gamesquot; Computer Games
and Digital Cultures Conference Proceedings, Tampere: Tampere University Press, June,
2002)

12. MDA
“[A formalist approach] is especially important
when working with computer and video
games, where the interaction between coded
subsystems creates complex, dynamic (and
often unpredictable) behaviour. Designers and
researchers must consider interdependencies
carefully before implementing changes, and
scholars must recognize them before drawing
conclusions about the nature of the
experience generated.”

13. MDA
“Fundamental to this framework is the idea
that games are more like artifacts than media.
By this we mean that the content of a game is
its behavior . not the media that streams out
of it towards the player.
Thinking about games as designed artifacts
helps frame them as systems that build
behavior via interaction. It supports clearer
design choices and analysis at all levels of
study and development.”

14. Games are State Machines
Input Output
Rules
(Player)
State
(Graphics/
Sound)
• All games are computer games.
• Game design transcends media.
games serve an emotional purpose, not a pragmatic one

15. Consumes
Creates GAME
Designer Player

16. CODE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS
GAME
RULES FUN
SESSION
games serve an emotional purpose, not a pragmatic one

17. MECHANICS
DYNAMICS
AESTHETICS
MDA
MDA

18. “…describes the particular
components of the game, at the
MECHANICS
level of data representation and
algorithms.”
“…describes the run-time behaviour
DYNAMICS of the mechanics acting on player
inputs and each others outputs over
time.”
“… describes the desirable emotional
responses evoked in the player, when
AESTHETICS
she interacts with the game system.”

19. AESTHETICS
In describing the aesthetics of a game, we want to move away
from words like “fun” and “gameplay”. towards a more directed
vocabulary. This includes but is not limited to the taxonomy listed
here:
1. Sensation
2. Fantasy
3. Narrative
4. Challenge
5. Fellowship
6. Discovery
7. Expression
8. Submission

20. AESTHETICS
1. Sensation 5. Fellowship
Game as sense-pleasure Game as social framework
2. Fantasy 6. Discovery
Game as make-believe Game as uncharted territory
3. Narrative 7. Expression
Game as drama Game as self-discovery
4. Challenge 8. Submission
Game as obstacle course Game as pastime

21. AESTHETICS
(Examples of games)
Charades: Fellowship, Expression, Challenge.
Quake: Challenge, Sensation, Competition, Fantasy.
The Sims: Discovery, Fantasy, Expression, Narrative.
Final Fantasy: Fantasy, Narrative, Expression, Discovery,
Challenge, Submission.

22. DYNAMICS
“Dynamics work to create aesthetic experiences. For
example, challenge is created by things like time pressure
and opponent play. Fellowship can be encouraged by
sharing information across certain members of a session (a
team) or supplying winning conditions that are more
difficult to achieve alone (such as capturing an enemy
base).”

23. MECHANICS
“Mechanics are the various actions, behaviours and control
mechanisms afforded to the player within a game context.
Together with the game’s content (levels, assets and so on)
the mechanics support overall gameplay dynamics.”

24. Designer
MECHANICS
DYNAMICS
AESTHETICS
Player