The Layered Approach offers a fascinating way to peel back the complexity of games, revealing how mechanics, aesthetics, technology, and narrative interact.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with different game engines, and while each has its strengths and weaknesses, here’s why I primarily teach game development with Unity.
Whether you’re working on a solo project or collaborating with a team, having a solid project structure is more than just a best practice; it can save you countless hours…
When you create a Unity project, Unity generates a folder containing a series of files and subfolders. Having a clear understanding of this structure is incredibly helpful when building out…
The Elemental Tetrad explores how mechanics, aesthetics, story, and technology work together to create compelling player experiences.
The Formal, Dramatic, and Dynamic (FDD) framework breaks down the MDA framework into smaller elements that offer a detailed lens for analysis, but with some limitations.
The MDA framework published in 2004, was developed as a formal approach to understanding games and bridging the gap between game development and design.
Throughout the recorded history of the human species, we find evidence of games. This then begs the question, if humans have been playing games for so long, why do we play games?
Studying games is not only an exploration of play, but also a way to understand human behavior, creative processes, and cultural dynamics.
To better understand what constitutes a game, it’s helpful to explore related concepts such as play and pretend. While these concepts are not specific elements of a game, they play a crucial role in shaping our understanding of what makes an activity engaging and enjoyable.