MDDN 243: A Few Quick Notes.

I have briefly looked at a few of the mechanics I listed earlier.

Day & Night Cycle:

This mechanic has varying effects depending on how it is implemented into a game. Games such as Minecraft or Terraria encourage the player to prepare for night cycles; to make shelter and weapons to defend themselves from mobs that spawn at night time.

This is vastly different from games like Animal Crossing, where the day and night cycle (which is real time) has an effect on where and when collectable bugs spawn, with many only being available during the night-time, making night time activity necessary in order to “collect ‘em all”, and ‘complete the game.’

Matching 3:

Matching 3 game mechanics are often found in simpler puzzle games, such as Zuma or bejewelled. This mechanic is essential to these games, in which you typically have to match three objects of the same colour in order to eliminate them, and progress to the next stage or level.

This mechanic is often combined with the countdown timer mechanic to put pressure on the player, and to challenge them.

Collection:

Collection mechanics encourage players to collect in game items or creatures, which adds to the replay value of games in many situations.

And example of a game with a collection mechanic would be the Animal Crossing series, in which you are given the task of collecting all available bugs, fish and fossils in order to fill up your town museum.