Ok, last week we talked about games and their value. So I thought, why not ask you my readers to take the next step. Basically, see if you can make your own game. Here is some of what you need to do to make it work.
Mechanics: Basic game mechanics dictate how to play. For instance the cross word puzzle was invented to find people intelligent enough to break enemy codes during war. The way the words crisscross and the clues is the entire premise of the game mechanic. It is a simple game with a more complex level of skill based upon the pattern of the words that are to be used as answers and how obscure the questions are themselves. Even games like Simon Says and patty cake function on patterns and mimicry as the basic game mechanic. Basically, the mechanics dictate how the game is played and thus influence the rules.
Research: If you want a more complex game, say some something like a trivia game, or a game based on history like Historical Conquest, then more research into the game will be needed. You will need to get the facts correct and develop the questions to match. Things like monopoly can teach us about the free market system only because someone did their research on how to mimic basic everyday business practices in a game format. Chess and GO mimic different aspects of the battlefield in various forms of combat. Chess bases its form on open field combat, while its original progenitor was based on siege warfare. GO goes for the asymmetric warfare that still directly correlates with today's battlefield (like our battles against terrorism). Knowing how to translate these bits and pieces into game form is what the research is all about.
Game play: Once done with mechanics and research you have to test out your game. Basically play it with your friends and make sure all your rules and game mechanics function at each level of play. In other words figure out if the rules are too complex, if your players can easily understand/play the game and work out any bugs that would make the game less enjoyable. In short be willing to change how your game works in order to ensure everyone can enjoy it.
Conclusion: Yes, you can make your own game. You can give it meaning like teaching certain values or just plane mental exercises. Heck, you can even take an existing game and convert it into something else like how chess and checkers have three different versions of themselves (some based on different rules, some based on overall play itself). So the sky is the limit. Go ahead and enjoy making your own fun game.
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