Session- October 2018

Understanding Game Mechanics

We are going to play games! But there’s more to it than just playing, we are going to learn what are game mechanics and how to develop them.

Game mechanics are the rules of interaction inside a game that create gameplay. Each game uses mechanics but not everyone agrees on what qualifies as a “mechanic.”

We will use the C.A.P.E. method that I have created to discover game mechanics.

  • Control is how you use a controller device to make something happen.
  • Action is what happens in the game. If it has an action, it’s a game mechanic.
  • Player refers to anything you control.
  • Environment refers to anything you don’t control.

You’re going to put C.A.P.E. on your dry erase board and play one of the following games for 30-60 minutes. Fill out as much as you can on the board. If you finish your board, have the instructor review it before moving on to another game.

Here’s an example of MarioKart 64. As you can see, games have plenty of mechanics.

Upward

Grave

Surviv.io

Shrubnaut

Wyst

Glitch Dash

Cut the Rope

Celeste Classic

Fancy Pants Adventures

Super Clash Bros

Diver Down

Ducksoup Dungeon

Xenopunch

Toasterball

Ping Pong Chaos

Rocketpult

Dank Tomb

Supercar Showdown

Moomoo.io

Crossy Road

Sheepwith

Undertale Boss

Sort the Court

Shadow Brawlers

Misadventures of Crowley Flatcheeks