Gameplay Design Theory

In order to enhance player engagement, I have incorporated principles from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Operant Theory into my game design decisions. These theories have been proven to strongly influence player engagement and facilitate the attainment of a state of 'flow'. Furthermore, I have applied concepts from Winn's (2008) 'Design, Play, and Experience (DPE) Framework' to effectively balance the introduction of various game elements to the player. Specifically, I have carefully staged and progressively integrated 'Learning', 'Storytelling', 'Gameplay', and 'UX' elements throughout the player's journey to minimise barriers and optimise their experience and engagement.

Player Grows Plants

Tangible Reward:

• Provides strategic advantage as it will be attacked first by enemies; therefore providing time for the player to defend the golem heart

Intangible & PX reward:

• Provides Operant Feedback Stimuli -

  • visual stimuli  

• Provides SDT feedback; - 

  • Player is making impactful change to the environment

  • Increase in player competence (early stages of game)

Player Harvests Plant

Tangible Reward:

• Player gains score

• Player gains a helpful resource; which can be cashed in to power up the player

• Player has a chance of gaining additional helpful resource; which can be cashed in to power up the player

Intangible & PX reward:

• Provides Operant Feedback Stimuli  -

  • Visual stimuli & Audio stimuli 

  • Utilises elements of chance to maximise effect

  • Reward opportunity is time limited increasing engagement

• Provides SDT feedback; - 

  • Player is making impactful change to the environment

  • Increase in player competence (early stages of game) 

  • Connection - resource can be used to support golem which is the empathetic narrative hook

Player Kills An Enemy

Tangible Reward:

• Player gains score

• Player has a chance of gaining a helpful resource; which can be cashed in to power up the player

Intangible & PX reward:

• Provides Operant Feedback Stimuli  -

  • Visual stimuli & Audio stimuli 

  • Utilises elements of chance to maximise effect

  • Reward opportunity is time limited increasing engagement

• Provides SDT feedback; - 

  • Increase in player competence (early stages of game) 

  • Connection - resource can be used to support golem which is the empathetic narrative hook

Player Grows A MacGuffinSeed

Tangible Reward:

• Player gains score

• New map area is unlocked for the player to explore; to locate the next MacGuffin seed

• Player gains access to new plant type to grow at the oasis; which provides new strategic advantages

Intangible & PX reward:

• Provides Operant Feedback Stimuli  -

  • Visual stimuli & Audio stimuli 

  • Time bound objective increasing stimulus 

  • Provides new engagement loop with growing the new plant as it will grow on a different time loop to previous plants

• Provides SDT feedback; - 

  • High difficulty challenge - related to player feeling of competence

  • Player can engage with the change when they feel ready to - provides the player agency & self-determination

  • Connection - objective directly relates to healing the the golem and the primary emotive hook of the game

Decision Tradeoffs

Defend or Explore

• Go explore or stay and defend the base against the chance your plants may be attacked by a randomly spawned monster.

Planting Choice 

• Where to plant plants to achieve the players goals of either using the plants strategically or for harvesting.

Water Conservation

• The choice trade off between using all your water to water plants and how much to keep in reserve for fighting monsters

Harvest or Leave Plants 

• The choice of when the player should harvest their plants for their trade in currency value; Vs. if to leave them in place for their strategic value to act as a butter to the enemy monsters.

When to Plant the MacGuffinSeeds

• The choice on how much preparation the player may need before planting and defending the MacGuffinseed to progress in the story.

How to spend their currency in the upgrade menu / store

• Multiple tradeoffs and opportunities for choices.

Interactions, Attributes, Choice-Action-Feedback & Game Loops