What's in a game?

What core components are involved with all games?

• player actions, humor, rewards, coins

• player goals and actions, rules, challenges

• challenges, riddles, mind-benders, tasks

• injury, re-birth, rules, questions

What are examples of feedback in a video game?

• a video recap of the task recently completed by the player

• interesting costume choices or hairstyles that the player chooses for their character

• a score or progress bar or the player’s knowledge of the status of their objective

• a running list of the top players in the online game-sphere that have achieved the highest scores of all-time

What are the foundations of any game system that control what the players can or cannot do in the game, as well as the penalties, rewards, and other consequences that result from the players’ actions?

• rules

• feedback

• tasks

• algorithms

Scout is an experienced gamer who has recently been playing a new video game that is extremely difficult. The latest challenge leaves Scout desperate for an NPC to assist. What is an NPC and how might it assist?

• An NPC is a very specific type of weapon that is difficult to obtain; if Scout gets an NPC, it will guarantee a win.

• An NPC is an additional character that is controlled by a human player; an NPC could replace Scout’s character to complete a challenge or steal upgraded weapons.

• An NPC is a character that interacts with the players but isn’t controlled by a human player; an NPC could partner with Scout to assist with a particular challenge or help with other features of the game.

• An NPC is a decorative, stationary item in the game, often with magical powers; an NPC will give Scout’s characters special powers to advance to the next level.

What do we call any element within a computer program, such as a computer game, which simulates decision-making based on algorithms defined by game designers and programmers?

• non-player characters (NPCs)

• artificial intelligence (AI)

• avatar

• roguelikes

Writing X’s and O’s in Tic-Tac-Toe, tilting tiles in Tetris, or rolling the dice and moving your game piece in Monopoly are all examples of what?

• mechanics

• roguelikes

• gameplay

• story arc

Blake’s family is settling in for a good old-fashioned game night with traditional-style board games. Many of the games that they will be playing involve dice. What is the purpose of these dice in traditional games?

• they are used as randomizers to create uncertainty and variation

• they are used to add fun and interesting sounds to the game

• they are used to improve the players visual counting skills

• they are used to frustrate players since they are often misplaced or lost

When a game is described as being “simple to learn but difficult to master”, what does this mean?

• It means that the game seems simple at first glance, but it is actually extremely difficult to learn and master.

• It means that it will take a long time to learn how to play the game, but you will be able to master it quickly.

• It means that you can learn how to play the game almost immediately, but you will want to keep playing for a long time in order to master it.

• It means that the game is incredibly simple to learn and master, and players will likely grow bored quickly.

What genre of video games includes platform games and shooter, fighting, or survival games with intense, simulated physical challenges that require a lot of fine motor-skills and hand-eye coordination?

• puzzle games

• adventure games

• action games

• simulation games

As a game designer, your goal in game design is to get your players to feel like your game is the whole world. You want your players to obtain a state of deep engagement with the game that allows them to fully invest their imagination in the game’s artificial world. If you successfully accomplish this, what have you mastered?

• roguelike state

• second person perspective

• player immersion

• seamless movement