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System Dynamics

Written by: Akram Taghavi-Burris | © Copyright 2025

Status: In Development

The Scientific Method​

In game design, the process of developing, testing, and refining game systems mirrors the scientific method, a systematic approach to problem-solving and experimentation. By applying this method, game developers can investigate, test, and optimize gameplay systems to ensure a compelling and engaging player experience.

Steps of the Scientific Method in Game Design​

  1. Purpose/Problem: The process begins with observation of the current game experience. Developers observe player behavior, gameplay mechanics, or feedback to identify issues or areas of improvement. For example, players may find a level too difficult, or certain mechanics may not be as engaging as intended. Defining a problem or purpose for investigation is crucial at this stage.

  2. Research: Once a problem is identified, developers gather research to better understand the issue at hand. This can involve studying similar games, reviewing player feedback, examining game mechanics, or analyzing gameplay data. Research helps developers understand the context of the problem and informs the next steps.

  3. Hypotheses: After conducting research, developers formulate a hypothesis, a proposed solution or idea to address the problem. For example, a developer may hypothesize that adjusting the difficulty curve or introducing a new mechanic will improve player engagement. This hypothesis will serve as the foundation for further testing and experimentation.

  4. Experiment: With the hypothesis in place, an experiment is conducted to test whether the proposed solution is effective. In game design, this usually involves creating a prototype, adjusting gameplay mechanics, or running playtests. The experiment should be designed to isolate the specific change being tested and gather measurable data on its impact.

  5. Analysis: Once the experiment is complete, the analysis phase begins. Developers assess the data collected during the experiment, such as player feedback, engagement metrics, or gameplay data, to determine whether the changes achieved the desired effect. If the new mechanic improved the player experience, the hypothesis is validated; if not, developers must revisit the design and hypothesis.

  6. Conclusion: Based on the analysis, developers draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of the experiment. The results are published or communicated to the team, and decisions are made about whether to implement the change into the game or to continue refining it. The conclusions from this phase will guide the next iteration of design or experimentation.

Iterative Process​

In game development, the scientific method is not a one-time process. It's an ongoing cycle of testing, refining, and optimizing. Iteration is key to this process, where each cycle of the scientific method leads to further experiments and refinements of the game. This continual testing and analysis help developers perfect game systems, ensuring the final experience is engaging, balanced, and fun.

Games as Systems​

The scientific method provides a structured, iterative approach to refining game systems, helping designers test, analyze, and improve their designs. This process mirrors the way games themselves function,as dynamic systems.

At their core, games are systems composed of interconnected components that interact to shape the gameplay experience. These components include:

  • Objects: The building blocks of the system, such as game pieces, characters, or environmental features.
  • Properties: Attributes that define the physical or conceptual aspects of the objects (e.g., a character's health or the size of a game piece).
  • Behaviors: The possible actions or reactions objects can have within the system (e.g., movement, attack, or defend).
  • Relationships: How these objects interact with each other (e.g., enemies attack players, or resources are gathered by characters).

Just as the scientific method allows us to experiment and adjust based on results, understanding games as systems helps us break down and refine how their components interact to create engaging gameplay. These system components, which drive dynamic interactions in games, closely align with foundational principles in programming, particularly in object-oriented programming (OOP). Just as OOP structures code around objects and their interactions, game design uses these same components to structure and define gameplay systems. By viewing games as systems, designers can deconstruct complex interactions into manageable elements, improving how objects, properties, behaviors, and relationships work together to provide a engaging player experience.

System Dynamics​

One crucial aspect of game systems is dynamics. Unlike static systems, games constantly respond to player input, process outcomes, and provide feedback in real-time. This dynamic nature of gameplay keeps the experience engaging, and understanding how these interactions work is key to designing compelling game mechanics.

Feedback​

A significant feature of game systems is feedback loops. These loops are what allow the game to react to player actions and shape the player's decisions. There are two primary types of feedback loops in games:

  • Positive feedback loops reinforce certain behaviors by amplifying success. For example, in many role-playing games, gaining experience points (XP) strengthens the player's character, making them more powerful and better equipped to win subsequent battles.
  • Negative feedback loops, on the other hand, maintain balance within the game. A good example of this is rubber-banding in racing games, which helps players who are falling behind to catch up and stay competitive, preventing a runaway leader.

Interaction Loops​

Along with games as systems, we also introduced the concept of interaction loops in games, which look at how players interact with the game system as a whole. These interaction loops influence the game's dynamics by continuously cycling through phases like decision-making, action, and feedback. Here's a quick recap:

  1. Mental Model: The player forms an understanding of how the game works based on their experiences.
  2. Action: Based on their mental model, the player takes an action (e.g., press a button, move a character).
  3. Game Reaction The game system processes that action and generates a response (e.g., the character jumps or opens a door).
  4. Feedback: The player receives feedback about their action (e.g., a sound, a visual cue) and adjusts their mental model accordingly for future decisions.

These interaction loops are the high-level cycle of gameplay, constantly repeating as the player navigates through the game, reinforcing the dynamic nature of gameplay.

Understanding game systems and their dynamic nature provides the foundation for the next critical element in game design: the game loop. Just as the scientific method guides the iterative process of refining systems, the game loop is the heartbeat of any interactive experience. It is through this continuous loop of player input, game processing, and feedback that games come to life, ensuring that gameplay remains engaging and responsive. In the following chapter, we'll explore how the game loop operates as the driving force behind these dynamic systems, keeping the gameplay experience fluid and ever-evolving.