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been playing a bit of Roblox with a friend and a thing that& #39;s v common in Roblox & rare elsewhere in videogames is all the games which are about roleplaying. where half the mechanics are social rules rather than game code rules.
here& #39;s two screenshots. in one, I look at the FAQ for a game about doing gymnastics. in the other, I& #39;m a swan in a nest. in both games, you can perform actions in a social space, and you receive satisfaction from being seen to perform those actions, rather than a "game mechanic"
i always think about this being the difference between a boardgame and a videogame - in boardgames, the rules are like a legal law - they& #39;re socially negotiated. in videgames, the rules are like a law of physics - they& #39;re a property of the space.
but of course, that& #39;s kind of simplistic - Jenga uses physical rules, and videogames can also have socially negotiated rules (for a good example, press "Show Rules" on this page: #Glitchless">https://www.speedrun.com/oot #Glitchless )">https://www.speedrun.com/oot...
there are pockets of roleplaying in other multiplayer games - I& #39;ve got fond memories of playing Plunkbat as a group of lads on a stag do - but generally they& #39;re overshadowed by defined goals & a culture that doesn& #39;t think that way
maybe it& #39;s just an adult/kid thing - kids do love to play games of pretend... but honestly so do adults, there& #39;s just fewer socially acceptable spaces for them to do so.
like, I recently got Game Pass, and have played a good amount of both Flight Simulator & Crusader Kings III. and both are games without a defined goal where one of the main joys is inhabiting a role. yes yes, lots of systemic complexity, but it always comes back to the role
anyway... Roblox! it& #39;s neat. hope all of the designers suddenly realising it& #39;s a thing & paying attention gives rise to some more multiplayer games with some really thoughtful socially constructed rules
it has been about 12 hours since I tweeted this thread... and I still regret now starting it with "Buckle up, guys, it& #39;s time for some game theory"
