{ "vercy": "1.0-draft", "publication": { "status": "research-draft", "adjudicationStatus": "unreviewed", "publishableCanonical": false, "generatedAt": "2026-09-13T22:45:28Z", "providers": [ "Claude" ], "breadth": "written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify", "pass": 2, "wave": 4, "engine": "claude", "enrichment": { "pass": 3, "engine": "claude", "producedAt": "2026-10-06T11:00:00Z", "ingestedAt": "2026-10-06T07:44:20+00:00", "fields": [ "agent_conduct", "ethics", "owners" ] }, "revisions": [ { "at": "2026-10-06T22:38:21+00:00", "engine": "codex", "fields": [ "owners" ], "answering_review": "430b707d9253a992604f7373603bcbfa8531a3afbe3b4045a86c388fb0c8f4ca" } ], "gate": { "passed": true, "version": "1.0", "at": "2026-10-07T10:10:26+00:00", "evidence": [ "completeness 1.00", "sense: Wikidata description", "2 live sources", "review by codex: pass" ] } }, "metaModel": { "id": "THING-Q1751513", "registryId": "vr.tr.game-mechanic", "name": "game mechanic", "version": "0.2.0-wave.4", "entryKind": "thing", "family": "Thing Registry", "domain": [ "INF.KNW" ], "status": "research-draft" }, "canonicalUrl": "https://ver.cy/models/thing/q1751513/", "model": { "registry_id": "vr.tr.game-mechanic", "name": "game mechanic", "purpose": "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.", "definition": "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.", "what_it_is_for": "Structuring play.", "affordances": [ "explain types and examples", "relay design frameworks", "describe named aliases", "relay legal protection in general terms" ], "distinguishing_features": [ "Rule-based", "Player interaction", "Combinable", "Not copyrightable as ideas" ], "appearance": "Not a physical object; seen in rulebooks, dice, cards and software behaviour.", "visual_identification": [ "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" ], "physical_properties": [ { "quantity": "MDA framework", "typical_range": "2004", "unit": "year", "note": "Hunicke, LeBlanc and Zubek" }, { "quantity": "d20 System Open Game License", "typical_range": "2000", "unit": "year", "note": "" }, { "quantity": "registry parent", "typical_range": "game rules", "unit": "note", "note": "" } ], "families_and_kinds": [ "dice and randomisation mechanics", "resource and economy mechanics", "movement and combat mechanics", "character progression mechanics", "narrative and social mechanics" ], "related_models": [ { "relation": "is a kind of", "target": "game rules", "why": "in registry terms" }, { "relation": "is analysed in", "target": "MDA framework", "why": "" }, { "relation": "includes", "target": "dice pool", "why": "" }, { "relation": "is contrasted with", "target": "game engine", "why": "" } ], "identifiers": [], "standards_and_regulation": [ "Copyright idea-expression distinction", "Patent law for game methods", "Loot box and gambling regulations for some mechanics" ], "failure_modes_and_hazards": [ "Giving legal advice on cloning games", "Partisan framing of monetisation mechanics", "Confusing mechanics and genres" ], "in_scope": [], "out_of_scope": [], "characteristics": [], "agent_conduct": { "may": [ "Describe game mechanics such as dice rolling, resource management and progression.", "Help designers analyse and balance mechanics in games they are making." ], "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." ], "requires_human": [ "Publishing a game with paid random rewards." ] }, "ethics": { "considerations": [ "Some mechanics are designed to exploit compulsion, especially in children.", "Designers' work deserves credit even where mechanics are not protected." ], "affected_parties": [ "Players", "Children and their parents", "Game designers" ] }, "owners": { "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.", "master_systems": [] } }, "sources": [ { "id": "wikidata", "title": "Wikidata item Q1751513: game mechanic", "url": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1751513", "url_status": "live", "what_it_supports": "identity and sense of the item", "checked_by": "wikidata-api" }, { "id": "wikipedia-en", "title": "Wikipedia: Game mechanics", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_mechanics", "url_status": "live", "what_it_supports": "general description of the item", "checked_by": "wikidata-api sitelink" } ], "structure": { "bundles": [ { "id": "understand", "name": "Understand", "description": "What a game mechanic is.", "rationale": "Definition.", "layers": [ { "id": "definition", "name": "Definition", "description": "Definition.", "findings": [ { "id": "definition-finding", "name": "Definition", "description": "Definition.", "questions": [ { "text": "What is a game mechanic, and how does it differ from rules as a whole, dynamics, aesthetics, genres and engines?", "kind": "definition" }, { "text": "Is the question about designing, analysing, playing or legal protection of games?", "kind": "boundary" } ] } ] }, { "id": "aliases", "name": "Aliases", "description": "Named aliases.", "findings": [ { "id": "aliases-finding", "name": "Aliases", "description": "Aliases.", "questions": [ { "text": "What are RPG systems, magic systems, die, character and narrative mechanics and video game mechanics?", "kind": "definition" }, { "text": "Which entry fits the specific mechanic?", "kind": "action" } ] } ] } ] }, { "id": "design", "name": "Design", "description": "Design.", "rationale": "Sources.", "layers": [ { "id": "mda", "name": "MDA", "description": "MDA framework.", "findings": [ { "id": "mda-finding", "name": "MDA", "description": "MDA.", "questions": [ { "text": "How does the MDA framework relate mechanics to dynamics and aesthetics?", "kind": "provenance" }, { "text": "Which references are standard?", "kind": "provenance" } ] } ] }, { "id": "balance", "name": "Balance", "description": "Game balance.", "findings": [ { "id": "balance-finding", "name": "Balance", "description": "Balance.", "questions": [ { "text": "How do designers balance mechanics through playtesting?", "kind": "provenance" }, { "text": "Which sources are cited?", "kind": "provenance" } ] } ] } ] }, { "id": "law", "name": "Law", "description": "Protection and regulation.", "rationale": "Regulation.", "layers": [ { "id": "copyright", "name": "Copyright", "description": "Copyright and patents.", "findings": [ { "id": "copyright-finding", "name": "Copyright", "description": "Copyright.", "questions": [ { "text": "Why are mechanics generally not copyrightable, and what debates surround game patents, with positions attributed?", "kind": "provenance" }, { "text": "Which entry fits idea-expression distinction?", "kind": "action" } ] } ] }, { "id": "lootboxes", "name": "Loot boxes", "description": "Monetisation mechanics.", "findings": [ { "id": "lootboxes-finding", "name": "Loot boxes", "description": "Loot boxes.", "questions": [ { "text": "How do regulators treat loot boxes and similar mechanics, checked against current sources?", "kind": "provenance" }, { "text": "Is the presentation neutral and current?", "kind": "boundary" } ] } ] } ] }, { "id": "context", "name": "Context", "description": "Examples.", "rationale": "Context.", "layers": [ { "id": "tabletop", "name": "Tabletop", "description": "Tabletop mechanics.", "findings": [ { "id": "tabletop-finding", "name": "Tabletop", "description": "Tabletop.", "questions": [ { "text": "Which mechanics define tabletop games such as deck-building and worker placement?", "kind": "provenance" }, { "text": "Which entry fits worker placement game?", "kind": "action" } ] } ] }, { "id": "video", "name": "Video games", "description": "Video game mechanics.", "findings": [ { "id": "video-finding", "name": "Video games", "description": "Video games.", "questions": [ { "text": "Which video game mechanics became widespread, such as crafting and permadeath?", "kind": "provenance" }, { "text": "Which entry fits permadeath?", "kind": "action" } ] } ] } ] } ] }, "openQuestions": [ "Should magic systems be a separate entry?", "How should game design sources be linked?", "How should loot box regulation be linked?" ], "statistics": { "bundles": 4, "layers": 8, "findings": 8, "questions": 16 } }