Players play: extending the lexicon of games and designing for player interaction

This document establishes a framework for design, development, research, and criticism in games that is comprised of five main elements: Mechanics, Aesthetics, Player Affordances, Context, and Dynamics. It was developed through a series of design experiments and an analysis of games whose success hinges primarily on social and cultural components not mentioned in current frameworks. Drawing on these new elements, this document presents a case study of the entire development process of a game made with this new framework. Two is a game that models how two people form partnerships and relationships in a series of challenges, relying on the interactions of players to guide its gameplay experience. The development of Two presents a strong argument for the incorporation of social and cultural elements in both the creation and analysis of games as a means to enhance the experience and impact of play.