Robin Hunicke, Marc LeBlanc and Robert Zubek created a formalised system and created a model known as the Mechanics, Dynamics Aesthetics model where player and developer approach from different ends(which has been argued as false).
There is however the list of 8 aesthetics that define games according to the list that although have some flaws and would work. I believe that, with some tweaking, it could be good for reviews as it would allow game buyers to see whether they would enjoy it and developers would feel like they can focus on different genres because they are chasing the aesthetic not the final score.
I completed Anti-chamber a few days ago and loved it but I wouldn't have been able to explain why. I then ran the 8 asethetics against the game scoring out of 10 for usefulness for scratching that itch:
Sensation 10(unexpected stylish yet simple)
Expression(self discovery) 7(some of the solutions feel empowering)
Fantasy(make believe) 0(abstract world)
Fellowship(social) 1(single player however has some "lessons" on interaction)
Narrative 7(it exists in the game but can be hard to find)
Submission(pastime) 1(only because you could lose yourself finding all the proverbs)
Discovery(territory search)10(proverb wall, enough said)
Challenege 9(no tutorial but drip feeds new mechanisms slowly)
And I could see why I loved this game and who I would recommend this game to.
At the same time I just thought of a game I really hated I won't mention the name but here's the scores.
Sensation 2(2d really bad)
Expression(self discovery) 4(only because you had multiple options not to die)
Fantasy(make believe) 9(zombie apocalypse, need I say anymore)
Fellowship(social) 0(no social elements)
Narrative 2(what narrative)
Submission(pastime) 5(I could see Skinner enjoying this)
Discovery(territory search)0(Just did not exist)
Challenege 3(varied from snoore easy to who set the computer to Massacre)
There are two questions I would like to ask, firstly run your favourite and worst game you've played against the 8 aesthetics and mark them out of 10, would this information be useful to you when buying games if you saw a reviewer do this?
Secondly, why do reviewers NOT use this (I can think one or two of the obvious answers) instead of the conventional "out of 10" or Grading Scale?
PS could someone run a recent CoD through this?
There is however the list of 8 aesthetics that define games according to the list that although have some flaws and would work. I believe that, with some tweaking, it could be good for reviews as it would allow game buyers to see whether they would enjoy it and developers would feel like they can focus on different genres because they are chasing the aesthetic not the final score.
I completed Anti-chamber a few days ago and loved it but I wouldn't have been able to explain why. I then ran the 8 asethetics against the game scoring out of 10 for usefulness for scratching that itch:
Sensation 10(unexpected stylish yet simple)
Expression(self discovery) 7(some of the solutions feel empowering)
Fantasy(make believe) 0(abstract world)
Fellowship(social) 1(single player however has some "lessons" on interaction)
Narrative 7(it exists in the game but can be hard to find)
Submission(pastime) 1(only because you could lose yourself finding all the proverbs)
Discovery(territory search)10(proverb wall, enough said)
Challenege 9(no tutorial but drip feeds new mechanisms slowly)
And I could see why I loved this game and who I would recommend this game to.
At the same time I just thought of a game I really hated I won't mention the name but here's the scores.
Sensation 2(2d really bad)
Expression(self discovery) 4(only because you had multiple options not to die)
Fantasy(make believe) 9(zombie apocalypse, need I say anymore)
Fellowship(social) 0(no social elements)
Narrative 2(what narrative)
Submission(pastime) 5(I could see Skinner enjoying this)
Discovery(territory search)0(Just did not exist)
Challenege 3(varied from snoore easy to who set the computer to Massacre)
There are two questions I would like to ask, firstly run your favourite and worst game you've played against the 8 aesthetics and mark them out of 10, would this information be useful to you when buying games if you saw a reviewer do this?
Secondly, why do reviewers NOT use this (I can think one or two of the obvious answers) instead of the conventional "out of 10" or Grading Scale?
PS could someone run a recent CoD through this?
