重点摘要
1. 游戏是创作者与玩家之间的对话
游戏可以向我们展示明显的选择并询问我们的想法；它们也可以向我们展示在某些情况下和系统中，选择是有限的或不一定有影响。
游戏作为对话。 游戏在创作者和玩家之间创造了一种独特的交流形式。与传统媒体不同，游戏允许互动叙事和动态体验。这种对话由游戏的规则、机制和叙事元素塑造，所有这些都由创作者精心设计以吸引玩家。
玩家的自主性和限制。 虽然游戏提供选择，但它们也有边界。有些游戏提供广泛的决定，显著影响结果，而另一些游戏则提供更有限的选择，甚至是选择的幻觉。这种自主性的范围反映了不同的设计理念和叙事方法。
- 玩家选择的类型：
- 改变剧情的决定
- 影响角色发展的反思性选择
- 战略性游戏决策
- 外观或无关紧要的选择
2. 动词和对象构成游戏设计的基础
动词是允许玩家与游戏中的其他规则互动的规则：“跳跃”、“射击”、“坠落”或“拍打”在《Joust》中就是如此。
核心游戏机制。 动词代表玩家在游戏中可以采取的行动，而对象是他们互动的元素。这一框架构成了游戏玩法的基础，定义了玩家可以做什么以及如何与游戏世界互动。
平衡与发展。 设计师必须仔细考虑动词和对象的互动，确保连贯且引人入胜的体验。随着游戏的进展，这些元素通常会演变，引入新的挑战并保持玩家的投入。
- 动词和对象的关键考虑因素：
- 清晰性和直观性
- 深度和复杂性
- 进展和发展
- 不同动词/对象之间的互动
3. 场景通过阻力和奖励塑造玩家的旅程
场景通常由许多微小的选择组成，每个玩家对场景的表现都是独特的。这就是为什么从整体上思考和设计场景通常是有用的。
设计玩家体验。 游戏中的场景经过精心结构化，以引导玩家通过挑战和奖励。它们创造了紧张和释放的节奏，塑造了游戏的整体节奏和情感旅程。
平衡结构和自由。 虽然设计师以特定意图设计场景，但他们也必须允许玩家的自主性和多样的游戏风格。这种平衡创造了一种作者化的体验，同时仍然允许自发的游戏玩法和个人故事。
- 场景设计的元素：
- 难度曲线
- 新机制或挑战的引入
- 叙事节奏和揭示
- 玩家表达的机会
- 奖励和进展
4. 视觉和音频上下文使游戏栩栩如生
游戏中对象的外观应告诉玩家它们的功能以及它们与彼此和玩家的关系。
通过设计进行交流。 游戏中的视觉和音频元素不仅仅是美学，它们为玩家提供了关键信息，传达对象的性质、游戏世界的状态和潜在的互动。
创造沉浸感和情感。 深思熟虑的视觉和声音使用加深了玩家的参与，唤起情感并增强整体体验。这些元素可以强化主题，营造氛围并引导玩家的注意力。
- 视觉和音频设计的关键方面：
- 一致的游戏元素视觉语言
- 反馈和氛围的声音提示
- 引导焦点的色彩理论和构图
- 传达角色和对象属性的动画
- 强化情感节奏的音乐
5. 流畅性平衡挑战和技能以实现最佳参与
流畅性只是描述当游戏的对象、动词和阻力以特定节奏发展时，鼓励玩家继续对话的一种方式。
保持玩家参与。 游戏中的流畅性概念描述了一种玩家完全沉浸并在适当水平上受到挑战的状态。设计师努力创造保持玩家在无聊和挫折之间的甜蜜点的体验。
适应玩家技能。 随着玩家的进步，游戏通常会增加难度以保持流畅状态。有些游戏使用动态难度调整，而其他游戏则依赖于精心的关卡设计和进展系统。
- 维持流畅性的技巧：
- 逐步引入新机制
- 增加挑战的复杂性
- 为不同技能水平提供可选的支线内容
- 鼓励改进的反馈系统
- 在激烈挑战之间的放松时刻
6. 玩家选择和解释创造出自发的故事
玩家会创造性地填补空白，想象米歇尔“万岁”罗德里格斯有一个火爆的性格，甚至是解释她鲁莽行为的背景故事。
超越作者叙事。 虽然许多游戏都有精心设计的故事，但玩家经常通过游戏玩法创造自己的叙事。这些自发的故事源于游戏系统、玩家选择和想象力的交汇。
为自发性设计。 游戏创作者可以通过提供丰富、反应灵敏的世界和系统来促进自发叙事，这些系统允许玩家表达。这种方法可以带来深刻的个人和难忘的体验，超越游戏的核心叙事。
- 鼓励自发故事的元素：
- 开放式游戏系统
- 角色定制和发展
- 玩家行为的有意义后果
- 程序生成的内容
- 多人游戏中的社交互动
7. 复杂系统和多人互动产生独特体验
如果我们希望许多不同的玩家体验他们自己独特的自发故事，一个由许多部分相互作用的复杂系统是无价的。
通过复杂性实现深度。 拥有复杂、相互作用系统的游戏为玩家探索创造了广阔的可能性空间。这种复杂性导致了自发的游戏玩法和故事，甚至设计师也未曾预料到。
人的因素。 多人游戏增加了一个额外的不可预测性和深度层次。人类玩家之间的互动创造了动态、不断变化的体验，超越了单人游戏的可能性。
- 复杂游戏系统的特征：
- 多个相互作用的机制
- 自发的策略和战术
- 程序内容生成
- 玩家驱动的经济或社会结构
- 竞争环境中的演变元游戏
人与人之间的游戏元素：
- 心理战和心理学
- 团队动态和协调
- 社交互动和社区建设
- 竞争场景发展
最后更新日期:
FAQ
What's A Game Design Vocabulary about?
- Exploration of Principles: A Game Design Vocabulary by Anna Anthropy and Naomi Clark explores the foundational principles behind effective game design.
- Shared Vocabulary: It emphasizes the importance of a shared vocabulary among creators to discuss game mechanics and design.
- Two-Part Structure: The book is divided into two parts: the first focuses on vocabulary elements like language and verbs, while the second discusses game design conversations, including storytelling and player interaction.
Why should I read A Game Design Vocabulary?
- Essential for Creators: It's a crucial resource for game creators, students, critics, and fans interested in understanding meaningful gameplay.
- Broad Overview: The book provides a comprehensive overview of video game design, filling a gap in existing literature with a clear language for discussing mechanics.
- Encourages Creativity: By understanding game design vocabulary and principles, readers can enhance creativity and improve team communication.
What are the key takeaways of A Game Design Vocabulary?
- Understanding Mechanics: Emphasizes the importance of understanding game mechanics and their interaction to create engaging player experiences.
- Role of Context: Highlights how context helps players internalize rules through visual and audio elements.
- Player Experience Focus: Stresses designing games with the player's experience in mind, considering pacing, choice, and emotional impact.
What are the best quotes from A Game Design Vocabulary and what do they mean?
- Intuitive Design: "A game creator puts a tutorial into a game because she lacks confidence in her ability to teach the player the rules of her game without explicitly stating them upfront." This highlights the importance of intuitive design.
- Central Role of Verbs: "Verbs are the rules that allow the player to interact with the other rules in the game." This emphasizes verbs as defining player actions and interactions.
- Design Choices and Politics: "The aesthetic is political." This underscores how design choices influence player perception and engagement with themes.
What are the elements of vocabulary discussed in A Game Design Vocabulary?
- Language Importance: Discusses the necessity of clear language for effective communication among designers.
- Verbs and Objects: Breaks down verbs (player actions) and objects (elements interacted with) and their role in gameplay.
- Scenes as Units: Explores how scenes shape pacing and development of verbs and objects in games.
How does A Game Design Vocabulary define the role of context in game design?
- Contextual Understanding: Context helps players understand game rules through visual and audio cues.
- Visual and Audio Elements: Emphasizes using art, animation, and sound to shape context and internalize mechanics.
- Creating Expectations: Consistent context establishes player expectations, guiding actions and decisions.
How does A Game Design Vocabulary address the concept of player agency?
- Empowering Players: Discusses the importance of player agency, allowing meaningful choices affecting gameplay.
- Designing Choices: Explores designing engaging and impactful choices for player expression.
- Balancing Challenge and Freedom: Highlights balancing challenge with freedom for exploration and experimentation.
What is the difference between authored stories and emergent stories in games according to A Game Design Vocabulary?
- Authored Stories: Deliberately crafted by designers with clear plots and character development.
- Emergent Stories: Arise from player interactions, leading to unique experiences.
- Impact on Design: Understanding this helps designers balance control over narrative versus player-created stories.
How does A Game Design Vocabulary suggest integrating story and gameplay?
- Story as System: Advocates for mechanics that convey the story, allowing narrative experience through actions.
- Exploratory Elements: Incorporates optional story elements for depth without forcing narrative.
- Balancing Narratives: Encourages balancing authored and emergent storytelling for player-shaped experiences.
What role does "resistance" play in game design according to A Game Design Vocabulary?
- Push and Pull Dynamics: Resistance creates challenges, engaging players through dynamic interactions.
- Balancing Difficulty: Discusses adjusting resistance to balance frustration and boredom.
- Influence on Storytelling: Shapes narrative by influencing player interactions and choices.
How does A Game Design Vocabulary define "playtesting"?
- Essential Design Process: Playtesting is critical for observing player interactions and gathering feedback.
- Identifying Barriers: Helps identify enjoyment barriers like confusing mechanics or pacing issues.
- Iterative Improvement: Emphasizes ongoing playtesting for refining games through multiple iterations.
What exercises are included in A Game Design Vocabulary?
- Practical Application: Includes exercises for applying concepts, like analyzing verbs and objects in games.
- Group Activities: Encourages collaboration and discussion for deeper understanding of design principles.
- Design Challenges: Challenges readers to create game elements based on vocabulary and principles.
评论
《游戏设计词汇》获得了大多数正面评价，因其对游戏机制和设计原则的深刻见解而备受赞誉。读者们欣赏Anthropy对单一机制的探索以及Clark对游戏叙事的讨论。这本书被视为新手和有经验的游戏设计师的宝贵资源，提供了对游戏设计作为一种艺术形式的新鲜视角。一些批评意见包括对某些游戏类型的偏向以及在某些领域缺乏深度。总体而言，它被认为是理解游戏设计概念的有用入门书。
