Video Gameplaying Response

I believe that gameplay and learning are connected on two levels.
The first is at the level of game mechanics and character control. One distinctive feature of INSIDE is that it provides no text instructions to help players solve puzzles, everything is conveyed through camera language and the player’s own gameplay trial. Players learn by doing, failing, and trying again, building knowledge through practice. Players will learn what they can do or cannot do to solve problems while gameplaying. Although the player’s available actions are limited to moving, grabbing, and jumping, these simple movements must be combined to complete each level’s challenges, which requires constant learning. You learn while playing, and after learning, you continue playing.

The second level lies in the theme of the game. I find that every game carries a theme it seeks to convey. Gameplay is a process where people can learning a lot through immersive interactions. After completing the whole experience, players are naturally influenced by this theme. For example, in INSIDE, the little boy seems to escape endless fear and control in the end, but in reality, things don’t appear that simple. As the title suggests, it is not an escape but rather being “inside.” Without any textual prompts or narrative explanation, the game communicates its story and theme through the player’s journey alongside the boy. I think this is a fascinating process that unfolds naturally and gradually. Another game I’ve recently been really enjoying is called Yanyun. It’s an open-world game set in the background of ancient China. I feel that while playing, I’ve learned a lot—about history, Chinese culture, architectural styles, language and much more. How game designers subtly weave learning into the gameplay experience is something that requires careful and deliberate design.

Article support my understanding: Exploring Gameplay and Learning in a Narrative-Centered Digital Game for Elementary Science Education (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10589268)