Game Elements: Space and Time
Mechanics

Game Elements: Space and Time

When I started this series on basic game elements, I hadn’t considered space or time. But a helpful suggestion from a reader reminded me of…

Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics, and Board Games
Mechanics

Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics, and Board Games

If you make board games, you should add [MDA] – Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics to your tool chest. Even if you just like to play and…

Five Great Game Mechanics

No matter how many games you play, there are always a handful of game mechanics that stick in your mind and keep coming back to…

Game Elements: Resources
Mechanics

Game Elements: Resources

Today I continue my investigation of the core elements of games with resources. If you missed my previous articles, you can see them here: Game…

Parallel design – main mechanism vs the rest of the game
Mechanics

Parallel design – main mechanism vs the rest of the game

Actually, the term “parallel design” usually refers to independent creators coming up with similar works, or works about the same subject, at the same time….

Game Elements: Actions
Mechanics

Game Elements: Actions

All games need actions. Otherwise, do you really have players, or just observers? Today I continue my examination of the different core elements of games…

Euro and Ameritrash: Why Blanket Terminology is Hurting Us
Mechanics

Euro and Ameritrash: Why Blanket Terminology is Hurting Us

You have a game. Maybe you made it, maybe you bought it, and you want to play it with someone else. When they ask you…

Game Elements: Scoring
Mechanics

Game Elements: Scoring

Today I’d like to continue examining the basic elements of tabletop games by discussing scoring. In my last article, I discussed goals in games, and…

Game Elements: Goals
Mechanics

Game Elements: Goals

In my last article, I gave an overview of the various high level elements one should keep in mind when designing games. Today I’m going…

Translating Mechanics from Mobile to Tabletop
Mechanics

Translating Mechanics from Mobile to Tabletop

A look at GemPacked and Gempacked Cards by guest blogger, Eduardo Baraf. Eduardo is producing his sixth title for Pencil First Games. And he’s upping…