MDA a formal approach to games design and games research

Hunicke et al (2004) describe games as 'systems that build behaviour via interaction'
How does the system work and what kinds of control does the games designer have at their disposal?

Mechanics > Dynamics > Aesthetics 

Mechanics- As a designer we only have control over this.

The mechanics is made up of the structure of the game, player location, rules of the game and of course for board games mostly dice. The mechanics is used to support the overall game play dynamics.

Dynamics- What happens when a player/you interact with the game, Choices- how rules might interact with each other also how the board interacts with the player - Tactical choices. 

Aesthetics- How the player feels - This is the key factor in making a game because player feedback is the most important thing to a designer, then they know what they have to do to change/iterate to make players feel better about playing.

In the article Hunicke et al describe a wider vocabulary of Aesthetics:

1. Sensation- Game as sense pleasure 

2. Fantasy- Game as make believe

3. Narrative- Game as drama

4. Challenge- Games as obstacle course

5. Fellowship- Game as social framework

6. Discovery- Game as uncharted territory

7. Expression- Game as self-discovery

8. Submission- Game as pastime 

This quote for me helps understand the system: 'MDA supports a formal, iterative approach to design and tuning. It allows us to reason explicitly about particular design goals, and to anticipate how changes will impact each aspect of the framework and the resulting designs/implementations.'

Hunicke et al was a very interesting article and was written in a way which helps understand also making sure it sticks in your mind. Before reading this I didn't know a few of the things they have mentioned but now it helps and has cleared a few things up for me.