Adaptable game systems are those that can respond to different player actions, preferences, and contexts, creating a dynamic and engaging experience. They can also help you design games that are easier to update, expand, and customize. In this article, you will learn some basic principles and techniques for creating adaptable game systems in your own projects.
Before you start designing your game system, you need to have a clear idea of what you want it to achieve. What is the core gameplay loop of your system? How does it relate to the overall theme and narrative of your game? What are the challenges and rewards for the player? How do you want the player to feel while interacting with your system? Having a clear vision of your system goals will help you focus your design and avoid unnecessary complexity.
Сreate visual Core-Loop diagrams and gradually add additional modules and features to them. Connect the interactions of all individual components, and then simply sit down with your team and play through them (in your imagination). This will help you identify your own mistakes and make it much easier to explain the interdependencies of entities to the entire development team and newcomers when you dev the architecture. Always keep the core diagrams separate. Don't draw the "Big Picture"; instead, break it down into modules or parts! If you've already drawn the big picture, try to simplify it! For this purpose, any "MindMap Tool" like "Miro" would work perfectly, and for more advanced folks, "machination io" is a great choice.
One way to make your game system adaptable is to use modular and scalable components that can be combined and configured in different ways. For example, you can create a combat system that uses different types of weapons, enemies, and environments, and then adjust their attributes, behaviors, and interactions according to the difficulty level, the player's choices, or the story events. This way, you can create a variety of scenarios and outcomes without having to code every possible situation.
Another way to make your game system adaptable is to implement feedback and progression mechanisms that reflect the player's actions and performance. For example, you can use a scoring system that rewards the player for completing objectives, achieving milestones, or discovering secrets. You can also use a leveling system that allows the player to upgrade their skills, abilities, or equipment. These mechanisms can motivate the player to explore your system, challenge themselves, and feel a sense of achievement.
A third way to make your game system adaptable is to incorporate randomness and emergent gameplay elements that create unexpected and surprising situations. For example, you can use procedural generation to create random levels, items, or events that change every time the player plays your game. You can also use AI agents that have their own goals, behaviors, and interactions that can influence the game world and the player's actions. These elements can add variety, replayability, and unpredictability to your system.
Just make sure to be careful when adding randomness into systems. Too much unpredictability creates a boring experience for the player as they feel they have no control. It’s difficult to feel progression and achievement when everything is random. There are very specific cases where this works, like rouge-like dungeons. But even then, there are parameters defined to keep the experience within specific lanes. Typically randomness works best when it is laced together between systems or sections of predictability. Back to our rouge-like example, levels may be procedural, but how the enemies act and the function of each weapon is consistent. So the player can understand, progress, and enjoy the game.
A fourth way to make your game system adaptable is to allow player customization and input that affect the game experience. For example, you can provide options for the player to adjust the game settings, such as the difficulty, the graphics, the sound, or the controls. You can also provide tools for the player to create their own content, such as characters, maps, or mods. These options can enhance the player's agency, immersion, and satisfaction with your system.
The final step to create adaptable game systems is to test and iterate your system with real players. Testing your system will help you identify and fix any bugs, glitches, or errors that might affect the game functionality or quality. Iterating your system will help you improve and refine your design based on the feedback and data you collect from the players. Testing and iterating your system will ensure that your system is adaptable, fun, and engaging for your target audience.