Improbable Insights

As Game Developer Conference approaches, I began thinking about how games are made, and how players approach games differently. For example, I came across this description of a game being played: Imagine exploring space, colonizing planets, setting up trade routes. This game is so immersive, you feel like you really are setting up your own empire -- unnamed commentator He's talking about this: [caption id="attachment_470" align="alignleft" width="500"] Roll for the Galaxy[/caption] The game is Roll for the Galaxy. It's actually a pretty good game, but the main mechanics involve laying out tiles, figuring out victory point, and rolling dice. I have a great time with this game, but I can't say I've ever envisioned myself building a massive star empire. We've discussed theme versus mechanics in a previous podcast. Let's talk about abstractions: how they enable games to exist, and why some people find certain abstractions immersive and others don't. Meaning "Grognard" hearkens back to the French term for vet