This week Michael talks about the meat and potatoes of gaming -- and how structured rules and "clever" mechanics can sometimes get in the way of the fun.
Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Author: Michael Barnes
Sadly, the current hobby gaming culture doesn’t really support the kind of repeated play that would foster transparency, and it’s becoming rare to see games maintain a persistent level of popularity or presence on game tables. Despite the continued publisher support, popularity and emerging transparency among gamers of titles like ARKHAM HORROR and DESCENT, most gamers still want to play that new game instead of that old game. They want to check off another title on their “to play” list. They don’t want to invest time and effort into learning a game with an eye towards getting to the point where the design becomes transparent. The constant churn of new titles means that many hobbyists will experience most games a very small number of times- maybe even one- so that games that could become transparent over time may not ever get that chance. And the quick experience, the one-shot deal, favors the immediate impact of impressing hobbyists with smart mechanics over the harder to get at finer points of what play actually means.
Whether a game is designed intentionally to have what is effectively a transparent interface or it becomes transparent with experience, the ability of a title to get to both the best of what a game can offer as well as the finer, more interesting elements of play is one of the key things that I take into consideration when I’m asked to name favorite games or to make suggestions for game night. I’m not as impressed by an incredible set of rules that smother fun, but a little game with almost no rules and practically one mechanic like MAGICAL ATHELETE will always remain superior in my estimation. Because when I play it, I don’t see a set of rules—I see fun, laughter, and a shared competition between friends.
