If you have ever wondered why games with poor game mechanics can still entertain players, it is perhaps because many poorly designed games are at least easy to play – and if they provide rewards according to a reliable schedule, they will entertain. As long as they keep providing rewards. Good game mechanics can aid a game by eliminating rough edges and inconsistencies, and some players (those who fit the template of our H1 and H2 clusters in particular; those with access to the Rational temperament) are actively drawn to elegant game mechanics – but it is the delivery of rewards, and not the quality of the game mechanics, which maintains a player’s interest.
Designing Rewards in Games
I’ve recently had an infatuation with Frontierville and have had an even larger infatuation with what makes such a boring, simplistic, and repetitive game so engorssing (and monetizable).I think the above quote neatly sums up a major reason why this, and other, Zynga games are so popular.
- Rewards on a reliable schedule
- Easy to play – especially the first user experience.
- Consistent game mechanics – even if simplistic.
I found this to be an interesting take on the office work environment.
- Offices are built for distraction.
- Distraction leads to nothing getting done during the work day.
- Nothing getting done during the work day leads to working weekends and late nights.
I think this is true. I’ve worked inside of large corporations as a consultant and had such little space to get things done, I had to convince them to let me work from home.
A distributed work environment done right removes these distractions. Everyone is available by IM or email depending on the urgency. And each of those can be ignored dependent on the hierarchy:
I go out of my way to give my guys the space they need, but push them to contact me if they are blocked or I can help accelerate something. I can, and often do, need to ignore their request if I’m on a call or in the middle of something more urgent, but I expect them to respond to my requests quickly. And I think that makes everything work better and everyone happier.
Well, it’s time to crank out the blog again. I figure no one ever reads the first post, so I’ll just write out some fluff about myself.
Who am I? Well, my name is in the URL. It’s a unique combination of letters as far as names go, so I don’t have any identification problems like my friend Doug Wyatt.
I’ve worked in, or with, a number of startups over the years. I love startups. They are a balls-to-the-wall experience of challenge and growth.
Previously, I worked in various digital video, automated trading, security, and game development startups. Doubloon is my current love (startup) and it’s heavy enough on talent and light enough on bullshit to really make it big time.
I’ve had a number of blogs over the years. Like most of the 133 million + other blogs out there, I’ve written blogs for fame and fortune and have gained neither from the experience. I’m not foolish enough to think this time will be any different… but if it is I’ll welcome it with open arms and hubris.
I’m a nerd for tech, but who isn’t that writes a blog?
… what else can I say about myself? A lot, but if you’re interested you’ll just have to tuck the RSS feed away and read the posts as they come. The Olympics are on and Curling is bizarrely entertaining for having such a boring premise.