Game Rules Rules define game objects and define allowable actions by the players

Game RulesGame Rules

Rules define game objects Rules define game objects and define allowable actions and define allowable actions

by the playersby the players


Consider these questions:Consider these questions: How do players learn the rules?How do players learn the rules? How are the rules enforced?How are the rules enforced? What kinds of rules work best in What kinds of rules work best in

certain situations?certain situations? Are there patterns to rule sets? What Are there patterns to rule sets? What

can we learn from these patterns?can we learn from these patterns?


Rules are generally laid out in the rules Rules are generally laid out in the rules document of board and card games. The document of board and card games. The players must remember and follow the players must remember and follow the rules.rules.

Rules in digital games may be explained Rules in digital games may be explained in the manual, or they may be designed in the manual, or they may be designed into the program. The program inforces into the program. The program inforces the rules and prevents breaking the rules.the rules and prevents breaking the rules.


Rules may close loopholes in a game’s Rules may close loopholes in a game’s system. Consider the game of system. Consider the game of MonopolyMonopoly:: ““Do not pass go, do not collect $200”. This Do not pass go, do not collect $200”. This

rule is applied when a player is sent to jail rule is applied when a player is sent to jail from any spot on the board.from any spot on the board.

The rule is important because a player could The rule is important because a player could make the argument that moving past “Go” make the argument that moving past “Go” entitles him to collect $200, turning a entitles him to collect $200, turning a punishment into a reward.punishment into a reward.


Too many rules may make your game Too many rules may make your game unplayable.unplayable.

Too few rules may make your game so Too few rules may make your game so simple as to be unchallenging.simple as to be unchallenging.

Poorly communicated rules may Poorly communicated rules may confuse or alienate players.confuse or alienate players.

Even in digital games, where the Even in digital games, where the rules are kept by the program, rules are kept by the program, players need to clearly understand players need to clearly understand the rules so they do not feel cheated.the rules so they do not feel cheated.

Examples of Game RulesExamples of Game Rules CardsCards A straight is five consecutively ranked A straight is five consecutively ranked

cards; a straight flush is five consecutively ranked cards; a straight flush is five consecutively ranked cards of the same suit.cards of the same suit.

ChessChess: A player cannot move the king into check.: A player cannot move the king into check. GoGo: A player cannot make a move that recreates a : A player cannot make a move that recreates a

previous situation on the board.previous situation on the board. WarCraft IIWarCraft II: In order to create knight units, a : In order to create knight units, a

player must have upgraded to keep and build a player must have upgraded to keep and build a stable.stable.

You Don’t Know JackYou Don’t Know Jack: If a player answers a : If a player answers a question incorrectly, the other players get a question incorrectly, the other players get a chance to answer.chance to answer.

Rules Define Objects & Rules Define Objects & ConceptsConcepts

Games do not inherit objects from the real Games do not inherit objects from the real world; rather, they create their own objects world; rather, they create their own objects and concepts, usually as part of the rule set.and concepts, usually as part of the rule set.

Even if the objects or concepts are familiar, Even if the objects or concepts are familiar, they still need to be defined by the rules.they still need to be defined by the rules.

Consider the Consider the Card gameCard game rule regarding the rule regarding the concept of a “Straight” or a Straight Flush”:concept of a “Straight” or a Straight Flush”: There is no “Straight” outside the realm of cardsThere is no “Straight” outside the realm of cards When you learn the rules of cards, one of the key When you learn the rules of cards, one of the key

concepts is to learn the make-up and values of concepts is to learn the make-up and values of certain hands.certain hands.

Card HandsCard Hands

A STRAIGHT refers to five cards in numerical order (3, 4,

5, 6, 7 or 7, 8, 9, 10, J, for example), with the cards

belonging to various suits.


FOUR OF A KIND refers to four cards of matching

numerical value and one extra card


A STRAIGHT FLUSH is a straight with all cards

belonging to the same suit


A ROYAL FLUSH contains the 10, jack, queen, king and ace of a

single suit

•Royal Flush

•Straight Flush

•Four of a Kind

•Full House

•Flush

•Straight

•Three of a Kind

•Two Pair

•Pair

•High Card

LOW HAND

HIGH HAND

Chess uses objects that relate to the real world, Chess uses objects that relate to the real world, but chess simply uses the notion of King, Queen, but chess simply uses the notion of King, Queen, etc. to give context to the behavior and value of etc. to give context to the behavior and value of the pieces.the pieces.

KingKing QueenQueen RookRook BishopBishop KnightKnight PawnPawn

The game pieces of The game pieces of MonopolyMonopoly do not have do not have separate values or inherit unique powers.separate values or inherit unique powers.

The rule concerning these pieces is that The rule concerning these pieces is that they represent a single player and locate they represent a single player and locate the player’s position on the game board.the player’s position on the game board.

Players often argue over who gets what Players often argue over who gets what piece, but in terms of gameplay rules, it piece, but in terms of gameplay rules, it doesn’t make any difference. That’s the doesn’t make any difference. That’s the rule as spelled out in rule as spelled out in MonopolyMonopoly..

Documents

Game Rules Rules define game objects and define allowable actions by the players