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game-design-theory skill

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This skill helps you master game design theory including MDA, balance, and player psychology to create engaging, rewarding gameplay experiences.

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SKILL.md

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---
name: game-design-theory
version: "2.0.0"
description: |
  Comprehensive game design theory covering MDA framework, player psychology,
  balance principles, and progression systems. Master why games are fun.
sasmp_version: "1.3.0"
bonded_agent: 01-game-designer
bond_type: PRIMARY_BOND

parameters:
  - name: framework
    type: string
    required: false
    validation:
      enum: [mda, bartle, flow, reward_systems]
  - name: game_type
    type: string
    required: false
    validation:
      enum: [action, rpg, puzzle, strategy, casual, simulation]

retry_policy:
  enabled: true
  max_attempts: 3
  backoff: exponential

observability:
  log_events: [start, complete, error]
  metrics: [design_quality_score, iteration_count]
---

# Game Design Theory

## The MDA Framework

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    MDA FRAMEWORK                             │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  MECHANICS (Rules):                                          │
│  → Player actions, constraints, state changes               │
│  → Example: Jump has height limit, costs stamina            │
│                              ↓                               │
│  DYNAMICS (Behavior):                                        │
│  → Emergent gameplay from mechanic interactions             │
│  → Example: Wall-jump combos, speedrun routes               │
│                              ↓                               │
│  AESTHETICS (Experience):                                    │
│  → Emotional responses: Fun, tension, achievement           │
│  → Example: Flow state, satisfaction, immersion             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

## Core Game Loop

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    ENGAGEMENT LOOP                           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  1. INPUT    → Player takes action                          │
│  2. PROCESS  → Game calculates results                      │
│  3. FEEDBACK → Immediate visual/audio response              │
│  4. REWARD   → Progress, points, unlocks                    │
│  5. REPEAT   → Loop invites next iteration                  │
│                                                              │
│  Loop Quality Criteria:                                      │
│  ✓ Fast feedback (< 100ms)                                  │
│  ✓ Clear causation                                          │
│  ✓ Rewarding outcomes                                       │
│  ✓ Compelling repetition                                    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

## Flow Channel (Csikszentmihalyi)

```
     Anxiety
         ↑
  Hard   │     ████
         │   ██████   ← FLOW CHANNEL
Skill    │ ████████      (Optimal Engagement)
Level    │████████████
  Easy   │██████████████
         └──────────────────→
           Low    Challenge    High

TARGET: Match challenge to player skill
```

## Player Psychology

### Bartle's Player Types

| Type | Motivation | Design For |
|------|------------|------------|
| Achiever | Goals, progression | Achievements, levels |
| Explorer | Discovery, secrets | Hidden content, lore |
| Socializer | Community | Chat, guilds, co-op |
| Killer | Competition | PvP, leaderboards |

### Motivation Drivers

```
SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  AUTONOMY:   Choice and control over actions               │
│  COMPETENCE: Mastery and skill demonstration               │
│  RELATEDNESS: Connection to characters/community           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

## Reward Systems

```
REWARD TYPES:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  INTRINSIC (Internal):                                       │
│  • Achievement satisfaction                                 │
│  • Creative expression                                      │
│  • Curiosity fulfillment                                    │
│  • Skill mastery                                            │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  EXTRINSIC (External):                                       │
│  • Points, scores                                           │
│  • Unlocks, cosmetics                                       │
│  • Leaderboard position                                     │
│  • Currency rewards                                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

REWARD SCHEDULING:
• Fixed Ratio: Every N actions (predictable)
• Variable Ratio: Random timing (engaging but ethical concerns)
• Fixed Interval: Every N seconds
• Milestone: At progression checkpoints
```

## Balance Principles

| Aspect | Goal | Technique |
|--------|------|-----------|
| Mechanical | All options viable | Counter-play, trade-offs |
| Economic | Meaningful scarcity | Sinks and faucets |
| Difficulty | Appropriate challenge | Dynamic scaling |
| Competitive | Fair play | Mirror balance, no dominance |

## 🔧 Troubleshooting

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBLEM: Players find game boring                           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ROOT CAUSES:                                                 │
│ • Challenge too easy (below flow channel)                   │
│ • No clear goals or progression                             │
│ • Feedback loop too slow                                    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTIONS:                                                   │
│ → Increase challenge curve                                  │
│ → Add clear milestones and rewards                          │
│ → Speed up core loop, add variety                           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBLEM: Players frustrated / quitting                      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ROOT CAUSES:                                                 │
│ • Difficulty spike (above flow channel)                     │
│ • Unclear mechanics or feedback                             │
│ • Unfair or random feeling deaths                           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTIONS:                                                   │
│ → Smooth difficulty curve                                   │
│ → Improve tutorial and feedback                             │
│ → Make deaths feel fair and educational                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBLEM: Dominant strategy / no variety                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTIONS:                                                   │
│ → Add counter-play to dominant options                      │
│ → Buff underused alternatives                               │
│ → Create situational advantages                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

## Design Checklist

```
PRE-PRODUCTION:
□ Target audience defined
□ Core loop documented
□ Unique selling point clear
□ Reference games analyzed

PRODUCTION:
□ Mechanics serve aesthetics
□ Feedback loops verified
□ Balance spreadsheets maintained
□ Playtest schedule in place

POLISH:
□ First-time user experience tested
□ Difficulty curve validated
□ Reward timing optimized
□ Edge cases handled
```

---

**Use this skill**: When designing game systems, understanding player psychology, or balancing gameplay.

Overview

This skill provides a compact, actionable guide to game design theory, covering MDA, player psychology, reward systems, balance, and progression. It helps developers reason about why games are fun and how to structure mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics for strong player engagement.

How this skill works

The skill breaks design into the MDA framework: Mechanics (rules), Dynamics (emergent behavior), and Aesthetics (player experience). It analyzes the core engagement loop, reward scheduling, flow matching, and balance categories, then maps problems to concrete fixes and a production checklist. Output focuses on measurable design decisions you can apply to systems, loops, and progression.

When to use it

Designing or iterating core game loops and feedback timing
Defining progression, rewards, and pacing systems
Balancing mechanical, economic, and competitive aspects
Crafting onboarding, tutorials, and first-time user experience
Diagnosing player churn, boredom, or dominant strategies

Best practices

Design mechanics to support intended aesthetics; test emergent dynamics early
Keep the core loop fast with clear causation and sub-100ms feedback where possible
Match challenge to player skill to hit the flow channel; smooth difficulty ramps
Mix intrinsic and extrinsic rewards; prefer meaningful milestones over pure randomness
Use counter-play and trade-offs to keep multiple options viable; monitor usage and adjust

Example use cases

Create a progression plan with milestones, rewards, and pacing that reduce churn
Balance a multiplayer mode by introducing counter-play and mirror-balance checks
Redesign a slow or unclear core loop to improve feedback and perceived responsiveness
Set up reward schedules (fixed, variable, milestone) appropriate to ethical engagement goals
Run playtests focused on flow, then iterate difficulty curve and tutorials

FAQ

How do I choose between intrinsic and extrinsic rewards?

Prioritize intrinsic rewards for long-term engagement (mastery, discovery) and use extrinsic rewards for short-term retention and signaling. Combine them so extrinsic rewards reinforce intrinsic goals.

What’s the quickest way to debug player boredom?

Check core loop feedback latency, clarity of goals, and whether difficulty is below the flow channel. Add shorter feedback loops, clear milestones, and small challenge increases to validate fixes.