Rules, Mechanics, and Systems
Alright, I was gone for a bit. Lived life, touched grass, found out I'm alcohol intolerant, good times. What's that? University? Game design? Oh right, I'm thousands of dollars in debt. I should probably, like, pay attention to that.
Games! Games have gameplay. If they didn't they would be movies. Even if the gameplay is barely there (think graphic novels), it needs three things to exist.
Rules
Rules are simple. They are very literally the rules of play - think the stuff that would be in a board game ruleset. They both allow the player to interact with the game, and constrain the player. Often, they take the form of unsophisticated logic blocks in scripting.
Think about a platformer. A rule forms the very basis of the functionality. For example, "The player jumps when they hit space".
Mechanics
Compared to rules, mechanics are relatively complex, but that's a low bar. Their job is to combine multiple rules in to more intricate systems. They are typically associated with performing a particular action in a game.
Mechanics manifest themselves in player actions. For example, an ADS mechanic in an FPS game takes a player input (right click, unless you're a psychopath) and activates multiple rules (slower movement, accurate shots, different camera angle). Mechanics can be emergent sometimes, which means that adding or omitting rules can create unexpected player behaviour, like using a 3rd person camera angle to see around corners.
Systems
Systems are actually complex. They consist of several mechanics and form part of a cohesive gameplay experience. They define what is possible within the scope of a game, functioning as tests of skill and creativity. They can be defined accurately using labels that feel wide - because they are! Things like Movement System, Combat System, and Resource System. No matter what game you play, you are interacting with systems made of mechanics made of rules. Everything from a Peggle to Star Citizen.
Sweet, yap session over. Next time I'm going to break your perception of every game you play, be scared. Au revoir!













