Objective
What experience the game should create and for whom it is intended.
Phase 02 · mechanics
The player understands the choice
and wants to make the next move
Mechanics tie the project objective, content, rules and physical components into a repeatable game loop. They are designed alongside an early visual prototype and tested through play sessions.
What is designed
A system of decisions, not a task list
The win condition and a clear game loop.
Player roles, available actions, constraints and consequences of choice.
Pace, difficulty, randomness, interaction and end conditions.
The board, card, token, rulebook and other component set.
Development cycle
The mechanics pass through several verified states
Game loop
What the player sees, chooses, does and receives in return.
Prototype
Mechanics, content and sufficient visual treatment assembled into a playable version.
Play sessions
Observation of rules compliance, pace, difficulty and player behaviour.
Balance
Adjustment of values, edge cases, duration and component composition.
Phase output
A testable game system
The deliverable is a documented game loop, rules, component structure and a prototype that can be playtested with members of the target audience and iteratively refined.
Reliable delivery: final mechanics are fixed after playtesting; visual treatment evolves alongside the prototype rather than being deferred until the end.
First step