My final project looked at how games introduces mechanics and described a toolkit which used learning theory as a base. The idea was to base the ways to introduce mechanics on theory and thereby be able to highten the chances for it to work.

I analysed how seven games introduced mechanics and used it to figure out 4 general ways for introducing mechanics. The two learning theories I used to create the toolkit was Ausubel’s Advance Organizers and Bruner’s Discovery Learning.

Abstract

This thesis creates a toolkit for game designers to use, when considering how to introduce new mechanics to players. The thesis takes it stand in constructivist learning theory. It uses Bruner’s Discovery Learning and Ausubel’s Advanced Organizers to create the toolkit. Theory, concerning the in-game learning experience, is used together with game design theory and traditional learning theory, to make the toolkit. The thesis focuses on single player action-adventure games, and a sample of games are compared to show how games introduce mechanics. The analysis of the sample shows four different ways to introduce mechanics. Two of these are used to create the toolkit. The toolkit and its value is then criticized and discussed. The toolkit points to a useful application of Advanced Organizers and scenarios to support Discovery Learning, which helps the player understand the mechanics. The toolkit needs to be verified for other genres of games. Research of how well the toolkit’s methods work, is also a requirement for further development of the toolkit. Further research into how players learn mechanics and how to keep this fun is also needed, to evolve the toolkit into a tool for a game designers to use in practice.

Download the full thesis report below:
THESIS REPORT.