Understanding Games, Players, and Design Elements
2025-08-25
Slide Notes or Announcements
None
“A game is…”
Tip
Think of it like stepping into another world with its own logic!
🎮 Console
PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
💻 PC
Steam, Epic, GOG
📱 Mobile
iOS, Android
🌐 Web
Browser-based
🥽 VR/AR
Meta Quest, PSVR
🕹️ Arcade
Classic & Modern
Discussion: How does platform affect game design?
%%{init: {'theme':'base', 'themeVariables': { 'primaryColor':'#ff6b6b'}}}%%
pie title Player Motivations
"Achievers (🏆)" : 35
"Explorers (🗺️)" : 25
"Socializers (💬)" : 25
"Killers (⚔️)" : 15%%{init: {'theme':'base', 'themeVariables': { 'primaryColor':'#ff6b6b'}}}%%
pie title Player Motivations
"Achievers (🏆)" : 35
"Explorers (🗺️)" : 25
"Socializers (💬)" : 25
"Killers (⚔️)" : 15
Action
Strategy
Adventure
Puzzle
RPG
Simulation
Example: Puzzle + Racing = “Speed Sudoku Rally - Solve puzzles to unlock boost!”
graph LR
A[Game] --> B[Narrative]
A --> C[Mechanics]
A --> D[Objectives]
A --> E[Aesthetics]
A --> F[Technology]
B --> G[Story/Theme]
C --> H[Rules/Actions]
D --> I[Goals/Win Conditions]
E --> J[Look/Feel/Sound]
F --> K[Platform/Engine]graph LR
A[Game] --> B[Narrative]
A --> C[Mechanics]
A --> D[Objectives]
A --> E[Aesthetics]
A --> F[Technology]
B --> G[Story/Theme]
C --> H[Rules/Actions]
D --> I[Goals/Win Conditions]
E --> J[Look/Feel/Sound]
F --> K[Platform/Engine]
Examples: The Last of Us, Uncharted
Examples: Mass Effect, Detroit
Tell stories through the world itself!
Important
Good objectives are:
Key Principle: More meaningful choices = More engagement
Try This!
Play your favorite game with sound OFF. Notice what’s missing?
Note
Use the worksheet provided or create your own notes!
graph LR
A[Too Easy] -->|Boring| B[Just Right]
B -->|Engaging| C[Flow State]
D[Too Hard] -->|Frustrating| Bgraph LR
A[Too Easy] -->|Boring| B[Just Right]
B -->|Engaging| C[Flow State]
D[Too Hard] -->|Frustrating| B
journey
title Player Experience Over Time
section Onboarding
Tutorial: 5: Player
First Success: 7: Player
section Learning
New Mechanics: 6: Player
First Challenge: 4: Player
Mastery Moment: 8: Player
section Engagement
Flow State: 9: Player
Difficult Boss: 3: Player
Victory: 10: Playerjourney
title Player Experience Over Time
section Onboarding
Tutorial: 5: Player
First Success: 7: Player
section Learning
New Mechanics: 6: Player
First Challenge: 4: Player
Mastery Moment: 8: Player
section Engagement
Flow State: 9: Player
Difficult Boss: 3: Player
Victory: 10: Player
Remember: Every design choice has trade-offs!
Write 5 game ideas: 1. _____________ 2. _____________ 3. _____________ 4. _____________ 5. _____________
graph TD
A[Idea] --> B[Prototype]
B --> C[Test]
C --> D[Analyze]
D --> E[Refine]
E --> B
E --> F[Final Product]graph TD
A[Idea] --> B[Prototype]
B --> C[Test]
C --> D[Analyze]
D --> E[Refine]
E --> B
E --> F[Final Product]
Remember
No game is perfect on the first try! Iteration is the key to great design.
1. Initiation 🚀
Define scope and goals
2. Planning 📋
Create timeline and assign tasks
3. Execution ⚙️
Build and iterate
4. Closure ✅
Polish and release
Format: “[Game name] is a [genre] game where players [core mechanic] in order to [objective]. It’s unique because [USP].”
✅ Games are systems with rules, goals, and feedback
✅ Understanding player types helps design better experiences
✅ Every element should support the core experience
✅ Iteration and testing make games better
✅ You can make games!
Warning
Unity installation can take time - start early!
Unity Editor Interface
🎯 Understanding what makes a game
🎨 Identifying game elements
📊 Analyzing game mechanics
💡 Creating game ideas
🚀 Ready to use Unity
We’ll build this confidence together!
