design process
Playing by Yourself – Tabletop Automa
We can’t always find others to play with. Enter ‘Automa’; both ‘official’ – included with published COTS games, and ‘unofficial’ fan-built solo play systems. […]
Game Mechanisms
Application
Simulations vs Games
Games and simulations are often mentioned together. They do share some of the same characteristics; but games and simulations are different from one another. […]
Uncategorised
Elevate Your Next Puzzle With These Design Secrets
Around 58% of mobile games are puzzles, mostly playable in single-player mode. They are shown to improve cognitive functions, reduce anxiety and enhance memory. […]
Ideas
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? […]
Ideas
Take a chance on Dice
The flatness of cards informs how they can be played with, and in the same way, the fact that dice are 3D objects opens up different possibilities for their use […]
Ideas
Applied Games-Based Learning
How do you apply games-based learning? What specific learning outcomes can you target? What games are specifically available to meet the needs of your students? […]
learning topics
What Makes a Good Strategic Game?
What game experiences help you to create strategic responses to specific challenges? And which work for developing widely applicable strategic thinking skills? […]
design process
The Future of Randomness
Human beings are fearful in unexpected situations and often ‘imagine the worst’. However, imagination also stimulates human curiosity and makes life fun. […]
Ideas
People as Pieces – Social Mechanics in Games
What are ‘Social’ mechanics which use players themselves as ‘pieces’ in the game, manipulate player dynamics and relationships, or otherwise ‘play with’ people? […]
experiment
Using Off The Shelf Games for Learning
Bespoke learning game design fits your learning outcomes precisely, but can be costly. An off the shelf game can be a cost effective and high value alternative. […]
Download
The Game of You – Character Sheet
Te first of a series of fully customisable RPG ‘real-play’ tracking sheets to help you gamefully track progress to big life and work goals […]
Application
RPGs to Level Up in Life
While D&D is not a Quantified Self (QS) game, you’re not playing yourself, the mechanisms and experiences within RPGs have definitely informed the QS movement. […]
design process
Game Dynamics
There are different actions that players can take in your game. Alone they are meaningful for the player; but together they form the game’s dynamic. […]
design process
Speculative Learning Game Design (and Mushrooms)
This is design itself as a form of play, and there is just one simple rule that you need to follow to make ‘speculative’ design like this work to a brief. […]
design process
Storytelling and Motivation in Mobile Games
Because almost everyone can easily access mobile games, it makes sense for game development companies to develop or convert games for mobile platforms. […]