Player–Game Interaction and Cognitive Gameplay: A Taxonomic Framework for the Core Mechanic of Videogames
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Department of Computer Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
2
Department of Computer Graphics Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Antony Bryant
Informatics 2017, 4(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics4010004
Received: 19 December 2016
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Revised: 9 January 2017
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Accepted: 9 January 2017
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Published: 13 January 2017
Cognitive gameplay—the cognitive dimension of a player’s experience—emerges from the interaction between a player and a game. While its design requires careful consideration, cognitive gameplay can be designed only indirectly via the design of game components. In this paper, we focus on one such component—the core mechanic—which binds a player and game together through the performance of essential interactions. Little extant research has been aimed at developing frameworks to support the design of interactions within the core mechanic with cognitive gameplay in mind. We present a taxonomic framework named INFORM (Interaction desigN For the cORe Mechanic) to address this gap. INFORM employs twelve micro-level elements that collectively give structure to any individual interaction within the core mechanic. We characterize these elements in the context of videogames, and discuss their potential influences on cognitive gameplay. We situate these elements within a broader framework that synthesizes concepts relevant to game design. INFORM is a descriptive framework, and provides a common vocabulary and a set of concepts that designers can use to think systematically about issues related to micro-level interaction design and cognitive gameplay.
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Keywords:
player–game interaction; core mechanic; interaction design of games; taxonomic framework; cognitive gameplay; cognition; videogames; game design; representation
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MDPI and ACS Style
Sedig, K.; Parsons, P.; Haworth, R. Player–Game Interaction and Cognitive Gameplay: A Taxonomic Framework for the Core Mechanic of Videogames. Informatics 2017, 4, 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics4010004
AMA Style
Sedig K, Parsons P, Haworth R. Player–Game Interaction and Cognitive Gameplay: A Taxonomic Framework for the Core Mechanic of Videogames. Informatics. 2017; 4(1):4. https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics4010004
Chicago/Turabian StyleSedig, Kamran, Paul Parsons, and Robert Haworth. 2017. "Player–Game Interaction and Cognitive Gameplay: A Taxonomic Framework for the Core Mechanic of Videogames" Informatics 4, no. 1: 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics4010004
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