???The ???play??™ is the amount
of movement that the steering wheel can move on
its own within the system, the amount the steering
wheel can turn before it begins to turn the tires of
the car. The play itself exists only because of the
more utilitarian structures of the driving- system.???5
While this is a somewhat abstract de?¬? nition, it is useful
because it points out the way in which the more
rigid systems of games can provide opportunities for
players to use imagination, fantasy, inspiration, social
skills, or other more free-form types of interaction
to achieve objectives within the game space, to play
within the game, as well as to engage the challenges
it o?¬? ers.
Play can be serious, like the pomp and circumstance
surrounding a Grand Master match in chess,
or it might be charged and aggressive, like the marathon
play environment of a multiplayer Quake tournament.
It might also be an outlet for fantasy, like the
rich online environments of World of Warcra and
City of Heroes. Designing for the type of play that will
appeal to your players, and also designing the freedom
for a bit of free play within the more rigid game
structures, are other key considerations for engaging
players in your game.
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