Players
Resources
Objectives
Boundaries
Procedures
Rules
Outcomes
Conflict
Player: A voluntary participant in a game who must accept the rules and interacts with game play.
Resources: Items within a game that has value to the player, whether it's to trade, increase abilities or gives the player an advantage in some way. ( food, money, weapons)
Objectives: Something the player needs to work towards; this can also include side objectives. ( rescue the princess, kill the beast, escape)
Boundaries: A confined area in which the game takes place and the game rules apply. (wall, chess board, island)
Procedures: Methods and actions allowed by the game's rules which guide the player's behaviour and interactions.
Rules: Limits the player's actions, prescribes principles and defines the game's outcome and objectives. (must have a certain level to move on)
Outcomes: Creates uncertainty and dramatic tension for the outcome of actions and the end result of the game, devoting the player's attention. ( If you punch someone; either they punch back, you get caught, or they fall over.)
Conflict: A relationship between the players and the rules of the game which players can aggravate or work to resolve. (A character - you can work to befriend them or you can fight them.)
5 Dramatic Elements of Games
Challenge
Play
Premise
Character
Story
Challenge: Creates tension as players try to resolve problems and conflict and increasing difficulty further into the game. (more likely to die further into the game.)
Play: Provides the player with opportunities to use and enhance their imagination, inspiration, fantasy and social skills. (Chess - Logic, Minecraft - Imagination)
Premise: The way games engages with their overarching premise.
Character: An entry point for participation and experiences. Can also relate to the player.
Story: Unfolds the game and should flow and adapt throughout the game.
Although these are all key elements for a game, I personally think that Story is the most essential and important element in a game because no matter how good the game is, if there isn't a storyline/ good storyline, the player can quickly get bored and lose interest.
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