You can stay stretched out on the sofa with your controller in your hand while you wait in the lobby for your next game to begin. Because I’m blogging about gameplay. So while you are sitting there I wonder if you know the answer to this question. Who created the first video game? Sometime ago I did a blog post for the GC Speckies: Come Play With Me that answered that question. You can find it here?
Let’s look at the term gameplay. What does gameplay mean exactly? Does it simply mean a series of choices? Or is it more about player interactions with the game’s system and other gamers? Could it be more about the challenges, motivation and the task performance that are involved? Perhaps it really means all of these things combined.
There are different types of gameplay:
- Asymmetric gameplay
- Cooperative gameplay
- Deathmatch
- Emergent gameplay
- Hack and slash
- Leveled gameplay
- Micromanagement
- Nonlinear gameplay
- Twitch gameplay
Each type of gameplay has its own description, history (origin from where it developed), and variations that have evolved.
We all know today’s games can vary from light action fun to very serious out of this world experiences. This means the gameplay will differ too. Some games will have an asymmetric gameplay that will require players to make a series of choices so players can develop a connection to the characters and then set players a challenge level by level. In some gameplay like this players collect things by touching them, battling enemies, or finding a character that is captured. Other games will have a much more complex gameplay.
There are some fantastic presentations on gameplay and this is one of my favourites Lego Marvel Super Heroes: LEGO Marvel Gameplay Comic-Con
Gameplay is built on the platform of playability which includes learning, motivation, challenge, skill, emotions, interwoven stories that will challenge both the creators and the players and this, in my opinion, is the basis of great gameplay. For what are we if not challenged in some way throughout life?
May the gameplay prosper!
Gameplay Tribute
By Vacen Taylor
The Assassin’s Creed lives
And the Black Ops do their duty
Alice runs but not to the Battlefield
Spells form The Elder Scrolls
The Crysis has its recon
While Halo circles space
Treasure hides in the Borderlands
Survival drives a Tomb Raider
Grand Theft Auto moves by mission
While the Mario Bros Jump
A Need For Speed sets the pace
FIFA shoots and scores.
The gameplay is alive
And transforms energy into power
Gamers rule this world
Play hard, play well.
Next month I’m looking at superhero fiction that changed the world.
Until then, be brave and bold in your chosen field of creativity. And never be afraid to explore new techniques.
