Digital GamingDigital Gaming

Kurt SquireKurt SquireMIT Comparative Media MIT Comparative Media

Studies /Studies /Indiana University ISTIndiana University IST

Game DesignGame Design

Agency: Choices & ConsequencesAgency: Choices & Consequences Goals, Challenges, Failure and Goals, Challenges, Failure and

attributionattribution Spatial NarrativesSpatial Narratives Gender and Play PatternsGender and Play Patterns

Choices and ConsequencesChoices and Consequences

Information

Feedback

Choice

“Delicious Interactions”

Choices: Power-UpsChoices: Power-Ups

Role PlayingRole Playing

Goals, Failure, & AttributionGoals, Failure, & Attribution

Embedded Goals and Success states Embedded Goals and Success states

Goals, Failure, & AttributionGoals, Failure, & Attribution

Learning Learning through through FailureFailure

Games as Narrative Games as Narrative ArchitectureArchitecture

Evocative StoriesEvocative Stories Enacted StoriesEnacted Stories Embedded StoriesEmbedded Stories Emergent StorytellingEmergent Storytelling

Evocative StoriesEvocative Stories

Enacted StoriesEnacted Stories

Embedded StoriesEmbedded Stories

Emergent NarrativesEmergent Narratives

GenderGender

Gender Play PatternsGender Play PatternsGIRLS:GIRLS: Leading characters are Leading characters are

everyday people that girls everyday people that girls can relate to, and are as real can relate to, and are as real to girls as their best friends.to girls as their best friends.

Explore and have new Explore and have new experiences, with degrees of experiences, with degrees of success and varying success and varying outcomes.outcomes.

Play focuses on multi-Play focuses on multi-sensory immersion, sensory immersion, discovery, and strong story discovery, and strong story lines.lines.

Features everyday 'real life' Features everyday 'real life' settings.settings.

Success comes through Success comes through development of friendships.development of friendships.

BOYS :BOYS : Leading characters are Leading characters are

fantasy-based action heroes fantasy-based action heroes with "super power" abilities.“with "super power" abilities.“

Win in linear. Outcome is Win in linear. Outcome is black and white; die and black and white; die and start over; one 'right' start over; one 'right' solution.solution.

Speed and action are key. Speed and action are key. Play involves stunts, daring, Play involves stunts, daring, and scatalogical humorand scatalogical humor

Features non-realistic, Features non-realistic, larger-than-life settings.larger-than-life settings.

Success comes through the Success comes through the elimination of competitors.elimination of competitors.

Games as Spatial Games as Spatial StorytellingStorytelling

Story-driven gamesStory-driven games Arrangement of spaceArrangement of space

to produce maximumto produce maximumnarrative impactnarrative impact

Atmospheric DesignAtmospheric Design

Exploratory SpacesExploratory Spaces

Social SpacesSocial Spaces

Questions, etc.Questions, etc.

ksquire@mit.eduksquire@mit.edu http://cms.mit.edu/games/education/http://cms.mit.edu/games/education/