A simple game has no inherent virtue over a complicated game other than accessibility. A good game should do what it sets out to do, nothing more, but nothing less either. The experience of a game is more important than any box checked during its design. - ThreadSky

kevinwilson42.bsky.social • 7 days ago

A simple game has no inherent virtue over a complicated game other than accessibility. A good game should do what it sets out to do, nothing more, but nothing less either. The experience of a game is more important than any box checked during its design.

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foonisha.bsky.social•6 days ago

Saying that, designers should always design from a perspective of being as simple as possible without compromising the core experience. Rules checkup and edge cases are always going suck the fun out of the experience. I teach games not because I like it, but out of necessity.

foonisha.bsky.social•6 days ago

I do think that accessibility in a sense of being immediate is impossible. Unfortunately, I would love a world where I can buy a game and immediately play it like a video game, but the medium itself makes it impossible. Maybe one day...

kevinwilson42.bsky.social•6 days ago

I disagree, which is why I said what I did. For me, I design to maximize the experience, not the simplicity of the game. It's a difference in priorities that leads me down different decisions in game design. I don't think about just not compromising the core experience, but about enhancing it.

foonisha.bsky.social•6 days ago

Complexity is a not bad thing btw, I think it's necessary and unavoidable, but the payout should be satisfying and fun. The price of high complexity creates a wall to non-board gamers. I want to enjoy your game without having to do homework every time just because I haven't played in a month.

foonisha.bsky.social•6 days ago

Hey fair enough. Different values. I'm coming from a perspective of having to teach games to a lot of non-board gamers. For me, I have played enough games where I felt 'does this rule need to be here?" or some thematic effect bogs a game down. It just isn't enjoyable for newcomers.

kevinwilson42.bsky.social•6 days ago

The idea that designing to simplicity is always the correct move has become such a truism that I feel designers need to hear different points of view on the matter.

foonisha.bsky.social•6 days ago

My point of view is just that let's make it as easy as possible for players to get to your game and re-learn the game. If a developer doesn't care about that that's fine (because they know their target audience), I just think it shouldn't be underestimated.

foonisha.bsky.social•6 days ago

I think simplicity wasn't my implication. It was more so to make it as accessible which requires a lot of factors (a good rulebook and player aid goes a long way). I just think developers should at least be conscious of how a player learns your game, how they remember your game after.

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