The document discusses four lenses of game making: behaviorism, simulationism, narrativism, and tetrism. It notes that while behaviorism has contributed and most designers are behaviorists, it has a fatal flaw in that extrinsic motivators always subvert intent. Metrics and a focus on retention can lead to conservative game design that players notice and get bored by. The document advocates combining lenses, particularly simulationism and narrativism, to create fun and fair game dynamics while enhancing story and transporting players to other worlds.

1. The Four Lenses of
Game Making
And You
Tadhg Kelly WhatGamesAre.com

2. Vs
Dualities Are Simple

3. But They Fudge Too Much

4. Quadrant Graphs Offer More Insight

5. The Frame Axis
Emergence
Experience

6. Role
The
Fantasy
Axis
Rule

7. Experience
Rule
Role
Emergence

8. Tetrism

9. Elegant, Extensible, Dynamic

10. Narrativism

11. Meaning, Emotion, Story

12. Simulationism

13. Creative, Infinite, Veracity

14. Behaviourism

15. Guided, Compelling, Rewarding

16. Most Of You Are
Probably Behaviourists

17. Behaviourism Has Contributed Much

18. “You Can’t Improve What
You Don’t Measure!”
But It Has A Fatal Flaw

19. Extrinsic Motivators
Always Subvert Intent

20. Metrics Lead To Conservative Game Design
Players Notice This, Get Bored More Quickly

21. Low in Value.
Relies on Outliers.

22. $180m 5.6m DAU (and falling)
Which Can Get Desperate

23. Behaviourism Alone Is Not Enough.
This is True of All Lenses

24. Engagement Is More Than Retention
It’s Culture, Belief and Purpose

25. Simulationism Narrativism
These Are Values Which
Tetrism
Other Lenses Do Better.

26. Fun: The Joy of Winning While Mastering Fair Game Dynamics
Create A Fun Dynamic

27. Enhance Storysense
Immersion: Games Transport Us To Other Worlds

28. Flow: When the game
Interdependent Creativity utterly absorbs

29. Or You’ll End Up Here