Game Design Fundamentals

What is Game Design?

"Game design is the act of deciding what a game should be." — Jesse Schell

The MDA Framework

Designer creates Mechanics → generates Dynamics → creates Aesthetics Player experiences Aesthetics → through Dynamics → from Mechanics

Core Aesthetics (8 Kinds of Fun)

Core Loops

The fundamental cycle of player activity.

Micro Loop (Second-to-Second)

Input → Process → Feedback → State Change → Repeat

Meso Loop (Minute-to-Minute)

Encounter → Decision → Outcome → Reward → Progress

Macro Loop (Session-to-Session)

Session Goal → Play → Progress → Meta-progression → Retention

Loop Design Principles

Player Types (Bartle Types)

Design insight: Most players are hybrids. Design for multiple types.

Game Mechanics Categories

Systems Design

Resource Economy

Sources → Pools → Sinks → Feedback

Balance rule: Source rate ≈ Sink rate over time

Progression Systems

Difficulty & Flow

Flow Channel (Csíkszentmihályi)

Anxiety ↑
    │    ┌─────────────┐
    │    │   FLOW      │ ◄── Optimal experience
    │    └─────────────┘
    │         Boredom │
    └──────────────────→ Skill
         Challenge →

Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DDA)

# Simple DDA
if player_wins_streak > 3:
    difficulty += 0.1
elif player_loses_streak > 2:
    difficulty -= 0.1
difficulty = max(0.5, min(2.0, difficulty))

// Simple DDA
if (player_wins_streak > 3) {
    difficulty += 0.1;
} else if (player_loses_streak > 2) {
    difficulty -= 0.1;
}
difficulty = std::clamp(difficulty, 0.5, 2.0);

// Simple DDA
if (playerWinsStreak > 3) {
    difficulty += 0.1;
} else if (playerLosesStreak > 2) {
    difficulty -= 0.1;
}
difficulty = Math.clamp(difficulty, 0.5, 2.0);

// Simple DDA
if (playerWinsStreak > 3) {
    difficulty += 0.1;
} else if (playerLosesStreak > 2) {
    difficulty -= 0.1;
}
difficulty = Math.Clamp(difficulty, 0.5, 2.0);

Game Feel (Juice)

"The tactile, kinesthetic sense of interaction."

Level Design

Pacing

Intro → Tutorial → Ramp → Challenge → Twist → Climax → Resolution

Design Patterns

Balancing

The Triangle of Balance

        Power
          │
    Cost ←┼→ Utility

Rock-Paper-Scissors Balance

Unit A beats B beats C beats A

Testing & Iteration

Playtest Types

Data-Driven Design

Further Reading

• The Art of Game Design — Jesse Schell
• Rules of Play — Salen & Zimmerman
• Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design — Joris Dormans
• Level Up! — Scott Rogers
• Flow — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi