Computer games, unlike books, radio and television, have the added dimension of conveying information, as they are inherently interactive. However, this interactivity is not limited to the exchange between the game and the player, but within the game as well.
In this diploma thesis we have conducted an analysis of the interactive systems within a game, which interact with each other and adapt to the player's actions. In the theoretical part, we studied the literature in the field of systems and systemic games. In the experimental part, we analysed two different systemic games from Ubisoft: Far Cry 4 and Assassin's Creed Origins, which have been sold in more than 20 million copies. We used Valve Corporation's Steam and Ubisoft's Ubisoft Connect platforms to obtain and run the games. During gameplay, we used OBS Studio version 29.0 to record the gameplay. Over the course of the research, we recorded more than 55 hours of gameplay and later used the recordings for further analysis. We observed the behaviour of the systems according to three criteria: the performance and consistency of the systems throughout the game, the alignment of the systems with the design principles of the game, and the accuracy of the display and behaviour of the systems. We came up with our own protocol for observation and analysis. First, we identified the systems that are most important and most noticeable to the players. In most cases, the systems used behaved consistently and in line with player expectations. In some cases, seemingly identical systems were used differently between games, due to differences in game design principles.
Based on the results of the gameplay analysis, we proposed four design guidelines to help in the design and production of a systemic game: (1) ensuring that the system is true to the game's core identity, (2) ensuring verisimilitude and consistency, (3) ensuring that the game's systems complement each other and work together, and (4) ensuring that the game is fun and provides an ideal experience for the player.
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