#BehindTheScenes

During that time I was delving into Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design by Ernest Adams. My thoughts where heavily occupied by the concept of emergent systems and Machinations - formalised game economy language introduced in the book. Since, most of the games I had made in the past were mostly puzzle-oriented or action-based I decided to give it a try and design mechanics in more emergent way. I teamed up with my dear friend Wojtek and started working on Nambo Djambo during Global Game Jam 2022.

The concept was based on two conflicting forces that need to work together in order to progress. Player controls two characters that produce unique resources. By combining both resources player creates golden resource that gives score points. At the same time, what one character produces in order to progress is a hazard for the other character. Players need to strike a balance between placing resources on the map to earn as many points as possible and creating a map setup that would not be too hard for the other character.

The game was a quick experiment but gave me a solid perspective on emergent systems - how to create interdependencies between game elements, how different entry data results in a different experience for the player, how to combine strategy and action mechanics, and what are the challenges of communicating and teaching emergent mechanics to the player. And finally, I got a chance to practice, what I learned in theory in the Game Mechanics.

Great book by the way.