Games and Rules

What are Game Mechanics?

Game mechanics are actions which you let your avatar do, like swim, run, jump, collect, ride, drive or shoot. These mechanics can be found in any game. A game provides a set of actions that the players can interact with. Depending on the game mentioned set is limited to a greater or lesser extent. Such sets are like spaces. This can be a single room due to search hidden objects, a whole castle with rooms, dorms and yards to explore or even an extended fictious world that is limited by a map. Interacting with the mechanics of a game helps to understand its physics, restraints and dominant social behavior.

Imagine a horse-riding simulation: the horse jumps higher and further due to its level. Therefore, the player must buy a horse that matches with his or her level in order to achieve the best results during a horse race. But the player is just able to pay a high price for a good horse if he or she works for stable points (in-game currency). This occurrence shows the social behavior within the game by requesting work in order to get paid. One the one hand this conveys an ethical message, on the other hand it shows the capitalist principle of our society. The world of The Sims 4 is also dominated by the capitalist system in which the players can choose career paths for their avatars. Not only to earn the avatars’ keep but to fulfill their life wish, too (but the life wish is not exclusively connected with careers).