登录查看更多内容

How can game developers balance mechanics to create mystery?

由人工智能和领英社区提供技术支持

Mystery is a powerful element in game design, as it can intrigue players, motivate exploration, and foster immersion. However, creating mystery is not as simple as hiding information or adding puzzles. It also requires balancing the game mechanics, or the rules and systems that govern the gameplay, to create a sense of challenge, curiosity, and discovery. In this article, you will learn how game developers can balance mechanics to create mystery, using examples from different genres and platforms.

此文章中的业界达人

由社区从 6 条内容中精选。了解更多

Vadym Onyshko

Founder & CTO at PLAYM8
Tim Ryan

1 Define the scope of mystery

The first step to balance mechanics to create mystery is to define the scope of mystery in your game. This means deciding what aspects of the game world, story, characters, or gameplay are mysterious, and how much information you want to reveal to the players. The scope of mystery can vary depending on the genre, theme, and tone of your game. For example, a horror game might have a high scope of mystery, as the players are constantly in the dark about the threats and secrets of the environment. A puzzle game might have a low scope of mystery, as the players are given clear clues and feedback about the solutions and outcomes. The scope of mystery can also change throughout the game, as the players progress and uncover more details.

添加您的观点

Vadym Onyshko

Founder & CTO at PLAYM8
举报内容
First, decide on the type of mystery. Is it a whodunnit, a hidden world to explore, or a puzzle to solve? This is like setting the theme for a dinner party. It guides the choices you make later – whether you're going for a cozy comfort food vibe or an exotic culinary adventure.

已翻译

赞

2 Choose the appropriate mechanics

The next step to balance mechanics to create mystery is to choose the appropriate mechanics for your game. This means selecting the mechanics that match the scope of mystery, the genre, and the intended player experience. For example, if you want to create a game with a high scope of mystery and a sense of exploration, you might choose mechanics such as stealth, inventory management, environmental interaction, or branching dialogue. These mechanics can allow the players to avoid or engage with the unknown, manage their resources, discover hidden clues or items, or influence the story. On the other hand, if you want to create a game with a low scope of mystery and a sense of logic, you might choose mechanics such as pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, timing, or physics. These mechanics can challenge the players to solve puzzles, manipulate objects, coordinate actions, or understand the rules.

添加您的观点

Tim Ryan
举报内容
Mystery is answered by the question "what if". Players explore the world to uncover secrets, experiment with items to see what else they can do, experiment with crafting to discover secret recipes, or in a sandbox game, use the tools provided to invent new things that the designers never considered.

已翻译

赞
Vadym Onyshko

Founder & CTO at PLAYM8
举报内容
Selecting mechanics is like choosing your main ingredients. They need to complement the mystery. For a detective game, maybe you need mechanics for gathering clues and interrogating suspects. For a treasure hunt, perhaps a map revealing mechanic and puzzles. Each mechanic should add a layer of intrigue, like a spice that adds depth to a dish.

已翻译

赞

3 Adjust the difficulty and feedback

The final step to balance mechanics to create mystery is to adjust the difficulty and feedback of your game. This means setting the level of challenge and the amount of guidance that your game provides to the players. The difficulty and feedback can affect how the players perceive and respond to the mystery, and how satisfied they feel when they solve it. For example, if you want to create a game with a high difficulty and low feedback, you might use mechanics such as permadeath, randomization, or ambiguity. These mechanics can make the game more unpredictable, risky, or open-ended, and force the players to rely on their own skills, intuition, or interpretation. However, this can also frustrate or confuse some players, and make them lose interest or give up. On the other hand, if you want to create a game with a low difficulty and high feedback, you might use mechanics such as hints, checkpoints, or tutorials. These mechanics can make the game more accessible, forgiving, or instructive, and help the players to overcome obstacles, learn the rules, or follow the story. However, this can also reduce the challenge or the mystery, and make the game too easy or predictable.

添加您的观点

Vadym Onyshko

Founder & CTO at PLAYM8
举报内容
This is where you fine-tune the recipe. Too easy, and there's no challenge; too hard, and it's frustrating. The difficulty should be the pepper to your salt – just enough to enhance the experience without overwhelming it. Feedback is key too. It's like giving your diners a hint of what's to come with a well-crafted amuse-bouche, teasing their taste buds and keeping them engaged.

已翻译

赞

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

添加您的观点

Vadym Onyshko

Founder & CTO at PLAYM8
举报内容
Remember, mystery isn't just in the mechanics; it's in the atmosphere and story too. The setting, narrative, and even the art style contribute to the sense of mystery. They're the ambiance, music, and lighting of your dinner party, setting the mood and immersing your guests in the experience. And never underestimate the power of a good twist – it's the dessert that leaves your diners talking long after the meal is over.

已翻译

赞
Liam Daley

Design Lead @ Secret Handshake Interactive | Co-Founder
举报内容
Combining mystery with an interactive system can lead to player frusturation. Try not to be 'coy' about keeping things secret - instead, design mystery to be a joyful experience of discovery and creativity. Players should be constantly unraveling hidden treasures and unearthing new concepts to really feel like your game reflects "mystery".

已翻译

赞

Game Development

+ 关注

给文章评分

我们借助人工智能创建了此文章。您认为这篇文章怎么样？

很棒不太好

举报此文章

查看全部

How can game developers balance mechanics to create mystery?

1

2

3

4

1 Define the scope of mystery

2 Choose the appropriate mechanics

3 Adjust the difficulty and feedback

4 Here’s what else to consider

Game Development

给文章评分

感谢您的反馈

更多Game Development相关文章

更多相关阅读内容

How can game developers balance mechanics to create mystery?

1

2

3

4

1 Define the scope of mystery

2 Choose the appropriate mechanics

3 Adjust the difficulty and feedback

4 Here’s what else to consider

Game Development

给文章评分

感谢您的反馈

查看其他技能