Game Fun

Game Fun

"Fun" in games is a very subjective term and it's dictionary definition isn't helpful in understanding what makes a game fun. Though, in recent years game developers have a much better idea of what fun in games is all about.

Looking back at our evolutionary history shows our basic drives for survival, reproduction, social interaction in family and communities. Looking back in time is also beneficial as technology now has made a particularly potent play experience that is both new and old in it's origins.

Games are specialised, and play is deep rooted into our history and we can see it in other species. Basic things animals do such as play fighting, tumbling etc. is a way for them to practice survival skills. Taking this into account, these games/play are all about reproduction and survival and social rules and behaviours.

Playing is common in childhood, and technology and video games have promoted interest in adulthood, and our culture also promotes us to keep learning in life. These observations give path to a theory to explain why people get pleasure from leisure activities that honed their ancestor's survival skills. 

You can read the article here!

Another reading discusses player types and measure of fun in a MUD.

When people examined and evaluated a MUD (Multi-user Dungeon) and what aspects of them players enjoyed the most, the four things the majority of people enjoy when playing are:

Achievement within the game context, exploration of the game, socialising with others and imposition upon others.

We can divide these categories into four player types; achievers, explorers, socialists and killers. Players tend to drift between these

play types depending on their moods, but most players tend to have a primary play style.

Interest graph

Source: mud.co.uk

The axes in this graph represent the interest of a player in a MUD. Certain player types fall into different places on the graph, for example explorers are interested in interacting with the world, so they fall on the top right of the graph.