ludology — Blog — University XP

This article will answer the question “What is the magic circle?” In addition, it’ll address the magic circle as the “separate and special place” in gaming. Characteristics and locations of the magic circle will be discussed as well as how players cross into the magic circle. Players’ rules and roles within the circle as well as their return to “reality” are covered in this article. Finally, this article closes on using the magic circle in games-based learning as well as some criticisms around its use.

ludology, player experience, magic circleDave EngJuly 9, 2020magic circle, games, ludology, player experience, rulesComment

Player Interaction

Player interaction is an important characteristic to consider when designing games. The designer has to answer the questions “How is the player going to interact with the game? How will the player interact with other players? what kind of decisions can the player make?” All of these questions should be answered when designing for player interaction. What specific role does player interaction play in game design?

game design, ludologyDave EngSeptember 17, 2019player interaction, player experience, ludology, game design, games-based learningComment

Roguelike Learning

There’s a special appeal to playing really hard games. Games were you have to grind it out over time to get anywhere. A type of those really hard games are called roguelikes. But what makes them hard? What makes them appealing? Most importantly: how can we use the difficulty of roguelike games for games-based learning?

games-based leareningDave EngAugust 27, 2019rougelike, learning, games-based learning, ludologyComment

Play is Work

Games are a type of work if you think about it. We invest our time in games. We give games our attention and our mental capacities. But why do we do that?

What makes play work? The answer is that great work is also great play. Great play makes us more productive. That means that great games can also help us become better, and more productive, individuals.

Let’s examine game play as work, and why we continue to play games, despite difficulties to the contrary. Part of why we continue to play is because we enjoy the feelings of “competent engagement” that we get from games. This allows us to get more serious about our work. It also affects how we approach game play.

fun, games-based leareningDave EngAugust 20, 2019play, ludology, engagement, games based learningComment

Narratives, Toys, Puzzles, Games

Narratives, toys, puzzles, and games all share some similar characteristics. But what makes them different and how do games tie them all together?

ludology, games-based leareningDave EngAugust 13, 2019narratives, toys, puzzles, games, ludology, games based learningComment

Achieve Explore Socialize Kill

Games and students have many things in common. One of the biggest commonalities are the type’s people they cater to. There will be the first year introductory courses that enroll mostly college freshmen. There are expansive games like Fortnite that appeal to competitive gamers. In between there are a plethora of different options available for many different types of students and gamers alike.

As a designer and instructor it’s best to understand our players and students. The better we understand them, the better able we are to cater to their needs and fully engage them in learning or play.

ludology, games-based leareningDave EngJuly 9, 2019ludology, player archetypes, games based learningComment

Real Fake Rules of Games

Black Mirror’s season five premiere Striking Vipers has an oddly coincidental connection to games and the “lusory agreement” the players follow when playing them.

Formal Game Structures

Formal game structures are the cornerstone on which game designers build their experiences. These structures shape what the designer intends to convey and what the player hopes to takeaway. Recognizing these formal structures helps your players define their experience.

ludology, games-based leareningDave EngJune 4, 2019games based learning, ludologyComment

The Nature of Games

What is a game? What makes a game? Games have been part of human history for many years. But do we even know what we are playing? What makes them fun, interesting, unique, and engaging?

ludologyDave EngApril 5, 2019games, gamification, games based learning, ludologyComment

What Makes Games so Appealing?

This is a question that never comes up in my presentations: “What makes games so appealing?” Usually people already know the answer. So, they don’t ask the question. Lots of people have different reasons why they play games: because they like the characters or the story. Because they want to escape from their everyday lives (if only for a few minutes). Some like the challenge that games provide while other people like socializing around games. But another reason that makes so appealing? It’s because they are constantly changing.

ludologyDave EngApril 2, 2019games, gamification, games based learning, ludology Comments