Previously, we explored why defining a game is important. Across the many definitions discussed, certain elements consistently appear; core aspects that scholars and players agree are essential to any game.
Core Requirements of a Game
Based on these observations, we can break it down games into three essential components: goals, rules, and outcomes. Each of these plays a specific role in shaping the player’s experience, from providing purpose and direction to creating challenges and determining success. By examining them individually, we can see how they work together to form the foundation of any game.
Goal
All games require some sort of goal, which is essentially what the player aims to achieve. This is often the first question a game designer must ask when developing a game.
Clear goals are essential for players to understand what they need to do to win or progress. They provide purpose and direction to the gameplay, guiding players on their journey and shaping their experience. For instance, if the goal is to “achieve the highest score,” this overarching aim gives players a clear target.
It’s important to differentiate between goals and objectives, although the terms are often used interchangeably. Goals represent long-term aims, such as “achieving the highest score,” while objectives are specific, short-term actions or milestones that help achieve these goals. For example, objectives in this game might include “collect all the bonus items” or “complete each level within a certain time limit.” Objectives are the tasks players complete to move closer to reaching the goal. In game design, goals reflect the overall purpose or endgame, while objectives are the individual tasks or challenges needed to reach the goal.
Rules
Rules are the instructions that dictate what the player can and cannot do in order to achieve their goals. They define the boundaries and constraints within the game, setting limits on player actions and interactions.
An underlying element created by the limitations set by the rules, though not explicitly mentioned, is challenge. Challenge engages the player by requiring them to leverage the rules to reach their goal, making the process fun and rewarding. The concept of artificial conflict, as mentioned by Katie Salen & Eric Zimmerman, is a direct result of rule-based constraints at odds with the goal of the game, thereby creating challenges.
Rules should also provide a balance to the game experience by maintaining the viability of various strategies and ensuring that no single strategy or approach dominates the game. Balance ensures that all players have an equal opportunity to win or lose within the game based on their actions or meaningful choices, as mentioned by Sid Meier.
Outcomes
Outcomes are what the player’s actions result in at the end of the gameplay, such as winning or losing. They must be uncertain, measurable, and often unequal, reflecting the varying levels of success or failure among players.
Although outcomes may be unequal, they should still feel balanced in relation to the rules of the game. This means that all players should have an equal opportunity to win or lose, given their actions within the game. Balance is not necessarily equal to fairness but the perception of fairness. For example, in many crane games, prizes are awarded at random intervals. Despite the randomness, players often perceive these games as balanced because everyone has an equal chance of winning. The key is that this balance must be perceived as consistent, fair, and fun to maintain player engagement.
As we move forward, it’s important to recognize that while rules and goals shape games, players bring them to life through their imagination and actions.