MDA: A formal approach to Game Design

MDA: A formal approach to game design and game research is an article written in 2004 by Robin Hunichke, Marc LeBlanc, and Robert Zubek. Within it they discuss an approach to thinking about game design which they describe as the 'MDA framework', standing for Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics. Below are my notes for this interesting piece.

Framework

• Consumption of games is unpredictable
• Rules     -->      System    -->    Fun
• Mechanics --> Dynamics --> Aesthetics
• Mechanics: Components of the game. Art, data, and algorithms
• Dynamics: Run-time behaviour of mechanics with player input
• Aesthetics: Emotional responses evoked

Purpose

• Designers and players have different perspectives

Designer --------------------------------------------------------------->
                  Mechanics  --   Dynamics  --  Aesthetics
          <--------------------------------------------------------------------Player

• Experience-driven design over feature-driven

Details

• Aesthetics
• Experience, emotions evoked from game
• LeBlanc's Taxonomy is a good referral
• Some games will favour certain types of aesthetic goals over others
• Aesthetics let one describe and find flaws
• Dynamics
• Dynamics create aesthetics
• E.G. Challenge can be created by time pressure
• It's important to understand models such as probability of dice rolls and how feedback loops function
• Dynamics let one see where problems come from
• Mechanics
• Mechanics define Dynamics
• Through actions, behaviours, and control mechanics given to players
• The area designers have complete control over
• Mechanics allow for slightly changes to fix issues

I find this approach to be particularly helpful when thinking about how to iteratively improve a game. The most striking takeaway from this for me is the emphasis on the differing perspective of designer and player; although it seems like something that should be obvious, I had not fully considered it before reading this article.