Understanding Game Design 101b - Competition, Part 2 - Exploration and Grind

[@GamesbyMarcWolff]

Exploration: Using your fully customized strategy to seek and engage in dynamic competitions. How dynamic may depend on the medium and genre you're designing in, but generally I mean dynamic both in the sense that it could have larger world impact, and also that it's unique each time and not solvable (but instead, as the theorem states, 'requires strategy to win').

[@danielobenhaus8100]

Hello! Yes, more competition! Better AI for a better gameplay! Many interesting and diverse victory conditions! My next point might be controversial: I think that all this Level grinding should be Made obsolete... For example: As a warrior you can wield a sharp sword or you could use a butter knife...defeating the boss by first somehow poisoning him (gaining his trust, betraying him) etc...then when he cannot defend himself anymore, use the butter knife and slowly and painfully kill him! Oh, that was dark! Ok, here another idea: What about an open world Onimusha game with multiplayer options (demons, samurai, katanas, bow and arrows, knives, fist fights etc...) You can talk to EVERY NPC...create your own story! You could even marry a woman in the first village/town and stay there most of the time... No leveling...only work, conversations, fights, use whatever items are available...instead of leveling up something, people can improve EVERY possible skill by repeating an action a lot...like in real life...repetition, repetition, reading, educating yourself... And if a really strong warrior enters your town/village that wants to kill you, you'll have to flee! Etc...Etc...you see, make everything more life like, like in real life, but not too realistic... Have a nice day!

[@GamesbyMarcWolff]

I agree, leveling could very well be obsolete in some cases, and either way it's simply a better game when the most players can participate by avoiding level mechanics. I'd be wary in your designs though of falling into simulation. Everything in a game is a game mechanic and should be fun. There's no justification for designing things into a game that have no game value - like simulating reality. I also wanted to thank you for keeping up with my channel and posting thoughtful comments. I really appreciate the discussion and I hope you get something of value from these videos.