game mechanic
Let an agent explain game mechanics, relay types, design frameworks such as MDA, examples and legal protection from game design and legal sources in general terms with debates attributed, describe the named aliases, and distinguish mechanics from game rules as a whole, dynamics, aesthetics, genres and game engines.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Understand What a game mechanic is.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a game mechanic, and how does it differ from rules as a whole, dynamics, aesthetics, genres and engines? definition
- Is the question about designing, analysing, playing or legal protection of games? boundary
Aliases
Named aliases.
Aliases
Aliases.
- What are RPG systems, magic systems, die, character and narrative mechanics and video game mechanics? definition
- Which entry fits the specific mechanic? action
Design Design.
MDA
MDA framework.
MDA
MDA.
- How does the MDA framework relate mechanics to dynamics and aesthetics? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Balance
Game balance.
Balance
Balance.
- How do designers balance mechanics through playtesting? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Law Protection and regulation.
Copyright
Copyright and patents.
Copyright
Copyright.
- Why are mechanics generally not copyrightable, and what debates surround game patents, with positions attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits idea-expression distinction? action
Loot boxes
Monetisation mechanics.
Loot boxes
Loot boxes.
- How do regulators treat loot boxes and similar mechanics, checked against current sources? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and current? boundary
Context Examples.
Tabletop
Tabletop mechanics.
Tabletop
Tabletop.
- Which mechanics define tabletop games such as deck-building and worker placement? provenance
- Which entry fits worker placement game? action
Video games
Video game mechanics.
Video games
Video games.
- Which video game mechanics became widespread, such as crafting and permadeath? provenance
- Which entry fits permadeath? action
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Information and virtual systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- INF
- Domain
- INF.KNW
- Other names and narrower kinds
- role-playing game system, magic system, video game mechanic, narrative mechanic, die mechanic, character mechanic, resolution mechanics, faction mechanic, Jass contract, Weis, game statistic, rock–paper–scissors
What it is Filled
A rule or system of rules that defines how players interact with a game and how the game responds, such as turn-taking, dice rolling, resource management, movement, combat, scoring and progression, forming the building blocks of both tabletop and video games; the registry aliases include role-playing game systems such as the d20 System, magic systems that govern spellcasting in games, die mechanics that resolve actions with dice, character mechanics such as classes and attributes, narrative mechanics that shape story, and video game mechanics such as jumping or crafting. Game mechanics generally cannot be protected by copyright, though their expression can be, and some are patented, which is debated.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent explain game mechanics, relay types, design frameworks such as MDA, examples and legal protection from game design and legal sources in general terms with debates attributed, describe the named aliases, and distinguish mechanics from game rules as a whole, dynamics, aesthetics, genres and game engines.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Rule-based
- Player interaction
- Combinable
- Not copyrightable as ideas
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Give legal advice on whether copying a game's mechanics is lawful.
- Frame debates over monetisation mechanics, such as loot boxes, in a partisan way without attribution.
- Design mechanics meant to exploit compulsive play or gambling-like spending by minors.
- Confuse mechanics with genres in classification.
Only with a human decision
- Publishing a game with paid random rewards.
May
- Describe game mechanics such as dice rolling, resource management and progression.
- Help designers analyse and balance mechanics in games they are making.
Moral aspects Filled
- Some mechanics are designed to exploit compulsion, especially in children.
- Designers' work deserves credit even where mechanics are not protected.
Who is affected
- Players
- Children and their parents
- Game designers
Owners Filled
Steward
Designers and publishers maintain mechanics within their games; rights in game text, software and other expression, and any applicable patents covering mechanics, depend on jurisdiction and the specific rights held.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q23804016 - registry parent class
related
- game rules - in registry terms
- MDA framework
- dice pool
- game engine
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.game-mechanic
- Wikidata: Q1751513 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1751513)
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
- MDA framework: 2004 year - Hunicke, LeBlanc and Zubek
- d20 System Open Game License: 2000 year
- registry parent: game rules note
Plane INF: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Rule system governing player interaction
- Role-playing game system, magic system, video game mechanic, narrative mechanic, die mechanic, character mechanic
- Game rules include all constraints; dynamics are emergent play; aesthetics are player experiences; genres group games; engines are software
- Not a physical object; seen in rulebooks, dice, cards and software behaviour.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- explain types and examples
- relay design frameworks
- describe named aliases
- relay legal protection in general terms
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Giving legal advice on cloning games
- Partisan framing of monetisation mechanics
- Confusing mechanics and genres
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- Copyright idea-expression distinction
- Patent law for game methods
- Loot box and gambling regulations for some mechanics
Context of use required Filled
- Structuring play.
- dice and randomisation mechanics
- resource and economy mechanics
- movement and combat mechanics
- character progression mechanics
- narrative and social mechanics
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q1751513: game mechanic - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Game mechanics - general description of the item
Open questions
- Should magic systems be a separate entry?
- How should game design sources be linked?
- How should loot box regulation be linked?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q1751513/spec.json