Game Mechanics



Imagine you're playing a game on your phone or computer, or with your friends outside. The game mechanics are like the rules and instructions that tell you what you can do in the game and how to win. They help make the game fair and fun for everyone.
For example, in a racing game, the game mechanics might tell you how to steer your car, how fast you can go, and what you have to do to cross the finish line first.
In a puzzle game, the game mechanics might tell you how to move the pieces around to solve the puzzle.
Game mechanics can also help make the game more challenging or add special features. For example, some games have power-ups that give you extra abilities, or time limits that make you race against the clock. These are all part of the game mechanics that make the game unique and exciting to play.

Some of the questions which arise before the designing of game mechanics are as follows:
1. Will the game be Discrete or Continuous? - Would the game have different moves or the same moves.
2. Is the game Emergent or Progressive? - 
3. Is it Free or restricted?
4. Will the Mechanisms restrict or guide the player?
5. Physics? - Different games have different physics all based on the imagination of the designers
6. Economy?
7. Winning strategy?
8. Which mechanism is the most important?

The important aspects of game mechancis are as follows:
  • Physics - How a player or an object behaves in the game world is important and a implementing a badly designed physics can either break the player immersion or make the game look wonky.
  • Internal Economy - refers to the system of resources, items, and currency within the game world. It is a fundamental mechanic that can impact player decisions, progress, and overall game experience.
  • Progression Mechanics - refers to the systems and rules that determine how a player advances or improves in a game. It can include elements such as leveling up, unlocking new abilities or upgrades, acquiring new equipment or items, or gaining new skills or knowledge.
  • Tactical Maneuvering - refers to the strategic and deliberate movements made by a player in order to gain an advantage or overcome challenges in a game. It can involve various tactics such as flanking, ambushing, baiting, diversion, and more.
  • Social Interaction - Social interaction refers to the ways that players can interact with one another within a game.

This lecture by Jarek gave an in depth insight of how game mechanics are designed, the advantages of having good game mechanics, drawbacks of a bad designed game mechanics.
Game rules can be tricky and difficult to design because the designer must cater to all of the important aspects of the game as well as the demands of the players, but once implemented, the gameplay will be smooth and be addictive enough to not break the player's immersion.

References
<a href="http://cliparts.co/clipart/1626370">Image source: Cliparts.co</a>

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