D12 – Bellringer! Why are resources important to a game? Think of an example of resources within a game you play:

Resources: What are resources in a game? These are things that a player has control over, and they can use to advance the game. These might be obvious resources (land / territory in Risk; wheat in Settlers of Catan, money in Monopoly, etc.), but some other less obvious things include: Number of questions left in Twenty Questions Objects that can be used / manipulated in a video game (a sword, some food, etc.) Time (either real or game time, etc.) Turns left in the game Known info (in Clue; who is not guilty, who still might be, etc.) Resources are usually constrained or controlled, and this causes tension in the game (in Monopoly, there are only 3 dark green territories, and to get a monopoly on them, you’ve got to own all of them)

Resources, Continued: As you consider creating your OWN game, consider the following: What types of resources will the players control? How can one manipulate these resources in the game? How are these resources limited in game play? Etc. As mentioned, resources are almost always limited in some way, and when they are, this causes tension, thus leading to strategizing and game decisions, and keeps the game intriguing. Here are some situations that might arise: “Oh no…will my player have enough health to survive this latest attack?” “Can I miss the jump point, and still have enough time to reach the end of the race?” “Should I spend $300 on this property, knowing I have to pass a dangerous part of the board?” etc.

Resources, Part III Sometimes games will also have TBD resources (resources you don’t have yet, but COULD get later…). Entire games can be developed around this concept…like Settlers of Catan, for example  There also need to be mechanics or systems in place to control these unacquired resources. In Monopoly for instance, the uncontrolled properties are known (the Banker can tell you), and in many card games, the remaining cards in a deck are known as well. Sometimes however, these resources can be unknown, which adds a bit more of an element of surprise if / when they show up 

Theme Themes are AWESOME! Thematic elements include: Stories Settings Characters, etc. Themes give games topics, and answer the question: “What is the game about?” Not all games have a theme, and many do not need one. However, themes can be very helpful in different ways: #1: They make the game more engaging In RPGs, you related to the character. Settings can also make the game more exciting (i.e., haunted mansion vs. Wild West), and some games utilize different settings to keep things fresh. #2: They make the game easier to learn. With a theme, it makes the game rules easier, because many games imitate real life (a car racing game would likely have similar mechanics to a car in reality) #3: They help tell a compelling story. Just like movies, TV shows, etc., games can tell a cool story.

Themes, Part II Themes also help set player expectations. A game set in the Civil War won’t have airplanes, for example. A board game version of basketball would create the expectation of a 3-point shot, for example. Sometimes, the theme already exists. You can license an existing setting, characters, etc. by getting permission (usually for a fee) from a company or person to utilize the characters / universe that they have created. Themes are fun too because they make it easier to immerse yourself in the experience, as an army general, the head of a car company, etc.

Resource / Theme Analysis Find a game here, and play it. As you do, analyze the resources and the theme of the game. Fill out the: D12 Game Resources & Theme Worksheet