What are the most important game design frameworks for beginners?

For beginners in game design, consider Bartle's Player Types: 1. Achievers: Provide clear goals and rewards. 2. Explorers: Include hidden content and non-linear exploration. 3. Socializers: Incorporate multiplayer or social features. 4. Killers: Introduce competitive gameplay mechanics. Designing with these in mind caters to various player preferences, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

Beginners should start with learning Richard Bartle's Player Types framework, which categorizes players based on their motivations and preferences.

It is said that players stand on the right side of the MDA, while developers stand on the left side. Aesthetics, or the emotional response, is the first thing players encounter. They get a hang of the game dynamics after trying out a few things. It is only after dedicating a significant amount of time to gameplay that players can fully appreciate and analyze the intricate rules or mechanics at play. For developers, the flow is the opposite.This implies that the most adept developers and designers are those who can anticipate the game dynamics during the design phase, all the while considering the aesthetics.

The MDA framework has been developed by Robin Hunicke, Marc LeBlanc, and Robert Zubek and described in "MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research". It is not a Swiss Army Knife to solve all problems, but it helps you structure the different aspects of Game Design. By integrating the perspectives of designers and players it helps you to establish an informed feedback loop with your players.

We must consider the cultural context in which mechanics operate. Dynamics go beyond mere gameplay patterns. They are evolving stories that players co-create through their interactions with the mechanics. By carefully crafting opportunities for player agency, we can nurture these dynamic narratives and create a more meaningful and memorable experience. Players actively interpret and reimagine the aesthetics they encounter, shaping their understanding of the dynamics and mechanics.

8 Kinds of Fun is actually not another framework but an essential part of the MDA framework. Marc LeBlanc is one of the authors of the "MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research". The 8 kinds of fun define the Aesthetics part of MDA. If you are interested in other perspectives you might want to look at Richard Bartle's Player Types. They partially overlap but offer a different approach.

Player motivations are dynamic and change throughout the game. A player who initially seeks challenge may later be attracted to the game's expressive potential. By understanding this fluidity, we can design experiences that cater to the changing needs and desires of the player. Players may discover unexpected ways to have different types of fun within the game, and we should design with flexibility and adaptability in mind to allow these experiences to thrive.

Theories such as LeBlanc's "8 kinds of fun" and Lazzaro's "4 keys to fun" are closely related to player type theories. Understanding the different kinds of fun can help designers cater to various player preferences and motivations. For example, Achievers might be drawn to games that emphasize Challenge and Expression, while Explorers might enjoy games with a focus on Discovery and Fantasy. While it is recommended for designers to incorporate as many kinds of fun as possible, it may not be feasible to do so in every game. In such cases, designers should identify the primary player types within their target audience and prioritize the types of fun that cater to those players' preferences.

Developed by game designer Nicole Lazzaro, the 8 Kinds of Fun categorize different types of player enjoyment in games: Sensation, Fantasy, Narrative, Challenge, Fellowship (social interaction), Discovery (exploration and curiosity), Expression (creativity and customization), and Submission (relaxation and immersion). Understanding these different types of fun helps designers create diverse and compelling gaming experiences.

Marc LeBlanc's 8 Kinds of Fun offers a comprehensive lens to examine player engagement. An additional layer to consider is "Contextual Fun," the enjoyment derived from the game's relevance to current events or personal experiences. How might designers integrate timely themes or personalization elements to enrich this aspect and create a more resonant player experience?

Progression should not only revolve around external rewards. It should also reflect the player's personal growth within the game world. Mastering new skills, overcoming challenges, and contributing to a larger narrative all contribute to a feeling of personal accomplishment and investment in the game.

The core game loop is the fundamental cycle of player interaction in a game. It includes input, which refers to the player's actions; processing, which involves the application of game rules and mechanics; and output, which encompasses game state updates and feedback to the player. This repetitive cycle is crucial for maintaining engagement and ensuring a smooth gameplay experience. Understanding and optimizing the core game loop is essential for beginners in designing responsive and enjoyable games.

Developed by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the Flow Theory describes a state of optimal experience where individuals are fully immersed and engaged in an activity. Designers can use this framework to design games that offer a balance between challenge and skill, leading to a state of flow where players are deeply absorbed and focused on the game.

Understanding and refining the core loop is essential for crafting compelling game experiences. This cycle of Motivation, Action, Feedback, and Progression forms the heartbeat of a game, ensuring players remain engaged and rewarded. While this framework is foundational, introducing an element of Emotional Resonance within these stages can significantly elevate the gameplay experience. Emotional Resonance refers to moments or elements that create a deeper emotional connection with the player, such as narrative twists, character developments, or even the satisfaction of overcoming a particularly challenging obstacle.

El juego tiene que ser entretenido y hacer parte de su interés,además colocar reglas claras y definidas con su motivación para su juego

The game design canvas is essential for novice designers. It offers a streamlined way to organize, communicate, and refine their game ideas. It helps clarify fundamental design principles and facilitates effective decision-making. By documenting elements like gameplay loops and narrative arcs, designers can identify strengths and weaknesses, leading to the development of compelling gaming experiences.

Similar to the Business Model Canvas but tailored specifically for game development, it provides a structured framework for organizing key elements such as the game's core mechanics, target audience, narrative, art style, and monetization strategy. Through the Game Design Canvas, designers can efficiently iterate and refine their ideas, ensuring that all elements synergize cohesively to deliver a compelling player experience. By visually mapping out these components on a single canvas, teams can streamline communication, identify potential design flaws, and maintain a clear vision throughout the development process, ultimately contributing to the creation of engaging and successful games.

Every creative field needs a canvas to dump out all the creativity and so does game design. A game design canvas is where you do everything before actually doing it, you organize, you design and you work on all the things.

In my experience as a product manager with 5 years of experience, leveraging game design patterns has been instrumental in crafting engaging and intuitive user experiences. An example of this is when we implemented power-ups in our mobile game to provide players with a temporary boost in their abilities, which not only increased player enjoyment but also enhanced retention rates. I agree that game design patterns are invaluable for learning from existing successes and avoiding common pitfalls, but it's crucial to also innovate and tailor these patterns to fit the unique needs and goals of your game to truly stand out in the competitive market.

Game Design Patterns are not as clearly understood as Design Patterns in Programming. Often you find a mix of patterns that apply to different levels of game design. I would find it helpful to use the MDA Framework as a general structure to describe Game Design Patterns on the level of Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics. For example, checkpoints save a player's progress (Mechanics), allow players to restore a previous game state after failing a challenging encounter (dynamics), support the exploration of game mechanics, confront challenges, and turn failure into feedback (aesthetics).

While patterns provide a foundation, we should empower players to create their own unique patterns within the game world. By offering open-ended systems and mechanics, we encourage players to experiment, explore, and ultimately co-create new and unexpected ways to play. When using game design patterns, we must consider ethics. We need to be aware of patterns that may exploit or harm players, such as excessive rewards or manipulative mechanics. By integrating ethical principles into our design process, we can ensure that our games are not only fun but also responsible and respectful towards players.

Drawing from the collective knowledge and experience of the game development community, these patterns encapsulate best practices and proven strategies for creating engaging gameplay experiences. Examples of game design patterns include the "Boss Battle," "Power-Up," and "Hidden Object," each addressing specific aspects of game mechanics, progression, and player interaction. By understanding and applying these patterns, designers can accelerate the development process, improve game balance, and enhance player satisfaction. Moreover, the systematic use of game design patterns promotes consistency across projects and facilitates effective communication among team members, fostering innovation and creativity in game design.

Examples of game design principles include "Clear Goals," "Balanced Challenge," "Reward Systems," and "Player Agency." Clear goals provide players with a sense of purpose and direction, motivating them to progress through the game. Balanced challenge ensures that gameplay remains engaging without becoming too frustrating or monotonous. Reward systems incentivize player actions and encourage continued engagement, while player agency empowers players to make meaningful choices that shape their experience. By adhering to these principles, designers can create games that are immersive, satisfying, and memorable for players, ultimately leading to successful and impactful game experiences.

Actions go beyond pressing buttons. They are a way for players to express themselves. By offering various ways for players to interact with the game world, we empower them to showcase their creativity, problem-solving abilities, and unique playstyles.

Who follows rules? We should! It's a creative job and boundaries should not be there but we should have them. There are a few principals that you should be following while embarking on the Game Dev journey. Creating Challenges, Balance, and Choices for all the decisions you take while creating your game. Feedback too are a very very important part of the process, your game is either perfect for you or you never like what you create so you need to take feedback from players, community members and literally anyone.

Take a white paper, pens and pencils, sketch and learn to draw anatomics. Just learn to draw and dominate the forms and expressions, so you can go on to armos, weapons, lighting, contrast, etc...Drawning is the most important principle , focus and concentration and creativity come first in that exercise. People are too lazy to be artist

As with all disciplines, it's important to learn the unchanging fundamentals. Game Developers are very privileged in that many of our principles are backed by in-depth neuroscience studies. This still leaves a lot of room for your philosophies and values to shape your journey as a designer. For example, FromSoftware's creative leads believe that Player frustration is not something to fear, and can be a valuable tool to communicate themes and provide a unique, emotional, player-driven experience. However, this is only possible because they're masters of the basics. Their games offer powerful feedback, a vast sandbox of tools/pathways to provide choice, and a calculated approach to balance that ensures fairness even in dire situations.

For beginners, embracing the MDA framework (Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics) is vital. Mechanics define the rules, Dynamics are the emergent behaviors, and Aesthetics focus on player experience. The D.E.S.I.G.N. framework emphasizes Depth, Emergence, Strategic Interaction, Innovation, Game Balancing, and Narrative. Considering 100 Principles of Game Design by Wendy Despain., key aspects include Player Agency, Feedback Loops, and Emotional Resonance. Understanding these frameworks cultivates a holistic approach to game design, ensuring a balance between mechanics, player engagement, Koster's fun theory and artistic expression.

For beginners, mastering frameworks like the MDA (Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics) and the 8 Kinds of Fun is crucial in understanding game design's core principles. An often overlooked but essential framework is the Player-Centric Design, focusing on tailoring experiences to player preferences and feedback from the outset. It emphasizes the importance of seeing your game through the players' eyes, ensuring engagement and satisfaction.

Game Design is an evolving field. One of the most powerful game design frameworks is studying other games. By learning from what other games are doing you are actually getting the results of thousands of hours from expert designers that have poured their souls into creating the games they do. Play games you enjoy and try to understand why they are fun. This is one of the most powerful game design frameworks you can have.

frameworks and school of thoughts such as MDA, understanding fun and Loops and Arcs are a great way to start designing games, yet another powerful tool is understanding player behavior, just by carefully watching other players play great games, you can understand what goes on in their head when they are having fun and what is ruining the fun for them, so believe the power of your intuition and try to find the fun.