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How To Play Like a Game Designer

Posted by Zonk on from the pay-attention-you-might-learn-something dept.

jillduffy writes "The GameCareerGuide site has up an article on playing to learn. Folks who make games play them differently than you or I; they're looking at the mechanics from a first-hand perspective. James Portnow's article attempts to relay some of the essence of that experience, to allow us to play with a more critical eye: 'Playing games in order to study them is not what most people would consider "fun." This doesn't mean it isn't fun at all; it just means you have to think a different way. You have to find joy in discovering mechanics and watching their emergent properties unfold. You have to be willing to endure a certain amount of tedium in order to glean clues about the inner workings of a game. Most of all, you have to be able to enjoy playing bad games as well as good.'"

3 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. Play like a designer by techpawn · · Score: 4, Funny

    1. Find neat mimic-able game
    2. Copy game design
    3. ???
    4. PROFIT!

    --
    Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what your country did to you
  2. Tighten up those graphics! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You need to fiddle with the controller intently, then tell your mom you're going to tighten up the graphics on level 3.

  3. Re:It's not just about mechanics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm a massive fucking nerd

    This does not compute.