Video games are unique among art and entertainment forms because of the interaction between the game and the player. This ability to react to the player's actions gives us the gameplay that's the hallmark of our form, things like shooting down the space invader, going left or right in a maze, avoiding or engaging a foe, deciding what weapon to use, or even choosing an option in a dialog.
But what can a player express with these actions? Games tend to focus on learning and mastery over a series of challenges to achieve a pre-defined goal. This emphasis on learning and mastery can end up neglecting player expression; the player can perhaps express some stylistic approach, like what type of weapon to use, but not much more.
We rarely design games to amplify the player's expression and unique play experience, and instead concentrate on tight feedback loops supporting the game's primary goals. As games have reached new levels of fidelity we are creating richer experiences in more varied environments, but in supporting this fidelity, designers are often constraining and explicitly leading the player. This guidance provides additional intensity and more "movie-like" moments, but it betrays much of the potential games have.
I believe more expression and more uniquely player-focused experiences will provide stronger and more sustained levels of engagement. What design choices can we make to allow players to express more, without losing the ability to generate compelling experiences? This talk will look at a range of examples, discuss design choices and their implications for the players ability to express, and articulate how this player focus will boost players' involvement in our games.