Gaming DTC 375 Post 4

The articles on game design seem to work incredibly well with McLuhan’s ideas of medium conveying a message, and altering the way we think. When designing a game there are many aspects that one needs to think about. The aesthetics of the game, the theme, the rules, strategy, and whether or not it is fun. A game is a piece of interactive design. This is true if it is a card game, board game, video game, or even a physical game like tag. McLuhan states in his book that,“ The instantaneous world of electronic informational media involves all of us, all at once. No detachment or frame is possible (53)” While this is in relation to electronic media, such as the television, computer, or electronic video games, it is also relevant to playing traditional non electronic games as well.

When one plays a game, they become completely immersed in the experience of it. It is very hard to detach from the game and analyze what is going on outside the game. This is often times what makes games fun. If the games do not distract and immerse the player, then the player will become bored, and then the will stop playing. This is what makes games like Cards Against Humanity, UNO, or Monopoly so much fun.

 They draw the player in, and distract them, this helps the player to pass the time and as the saying goes “ time flies when having fun.” Cards against Humanity is a card game that involves a central cart with a sentence or say, and players that have cards in their hand with random nouns, verbs and saying on them. The object of the game is to place the card you as the player feel best matches the card in the center, and a rotating judge choose who gets the center card.

UNO is also a card game, however, unlike Cards Against Humanity, it is number, color and actions based. There is a central card, and on the players turn, they must put down a card on top that matches, the color, number or action. If they cannot match with their current hand, then they must draw a card until they can, the object is to be the first player to be rid of all their cards. When they get down to one they must yell “UNO”.

Monopoly is a strategy game. Unlike the previous games it is a board game. The game revolves around real estate. Each player follows a path around the squares that mark the perimeter of the board. Each square has a different property and each player has a set amount of currency. As the players move around the board they can use currency to purchase the property in the squares, and then when other players land on squares they must pay rent to the owners. The object of the game is to be the wealthiest.

All of these games are entertaining even though they are vastly different. Based on the amount of time, players and patience a player may choose any of these over the others. However as Andrew Harden states in his article "Is it Really about Theme vs. Mechanics?", and I thoroughly agree with"My argument is you have fun by becoming immersed in the game,", all of these games are meant for the fun of the player.