What are Game Elements all about?

What are the Qualities of Games? 

The following consists of key excerpts taken from an article by Ian Schreiber. It aims to discuss the qualities of a game. 

The various definitions of what a game is appear to have similar themes : rules, goals, decision-making and an uncertain outcome (Schreiber, 2009).  The author defines individual gaming elements as "formal elements" because they can be broken down and examined in a straightforward manner. Furthermore, Schreiber outlines several factors in relation to certain aspects of games that designers must consider. Examples include Players, Objectives, Rules etc. 

Schreiber discusses Critical Analysis as a key feature of how game designers formulate a better understanding of their product through their consumers. They often need a detailed analysis instead of a simple comment for example "I like this game because it's fun". They strive to dig deeper into the understanding of why it entertains the player. When analysing a game the author provides three detailed steps on formal elements. 

1. Description of the games formal elements.

2. Description of the results upon interaction.

3. Generating an understanding of why certain elements were chosen instead of others. 

When designing your own game you should think about the challenges the player gets dealt with and how they proceed further into the game by conquering such obstacles. Are the challenges they get faced with fair? Does the game move in different directions? Can certain outcomes lead you to various endings? During a critical analysis, one should highlight what the target audience is for a game and is the game applicable to such an audience? Lastly, the main focus of the game that players find entertaining which can be a certain object the character uses or an aspect of the game the player can replay.

-Anna Zurawska

heres a beautiful computer setup I would like to own in the future

The following is an article on what makes a game good . Kramer (2000) suggests that the most important factors that create a good game are Originality, Freshness and Replayability and so forward. He makes a good point at the end of the article stating that "a good game will stay with us all of our lives" and "a good game makes us long to play it again". This is a very interesting read and the factors are extremely beneficial if you want to think about making a game yourself!

The following is an article on the top 50 video games of all time, according to critics. If you haven't heard of at least one of these 50 games then you're missing out. Games such as Mario, The last of us, Grand Theft Auto etc.. have incredible storylines and they will somehow always get mentioned in conversations when you're talking about your favourite game. 

Here is an article on the 10 things great games have in common. The main point that I got from this article is how certain games have soundtracks which have a lasting impact on the player. If one wants to make a phenomenal game then these points will come of great use to you. 

-Anna Zurawska