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Lowell Kempf
United States
Chicago
Illinois
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A term that I recently came across for the first time is emergent gameplay. It is the idea of complex situations emerging from the interactions of relatively simple game mechanics. While I hadn’t heard those two words put together before, I’m definitely familiar with the concept.
I understand that it is more commonly used when looking at video games and is used to describe both intentional and unintentional examples. For instance, it is widely known that there is a real world market for the virtual money and goods of World of Warcraft. I’ve never played the game and even I know that. I also really doubt that Blizzard ever intended for that to happen.
At the same time, the concept of emergent gameplay is very much a part of the culture and development of board games. Cosmic Encounter has been cited as a prime example of intentional Emergent Gameplay in action. The actual rules of the game itself are really simple. I was shocked at how simple the rules were when I first played Cosmic Encounter. However, the interaction of the alien powers leads to some amazingly intricate situations.
Really, on a certain level, the idea of simple rules creating complex situations and decisions is core to the whole idea of games in general. So what I really want to know is: Where do you draw the line in defining Emergent Gameplay?
For instance, Go can be broken down into about six or so rules. (The game is played on a board. Two players place white and black stones. A stone can only be placed on an empty intersection of lines. Etc.) Yet, the gameplay itself is some of the most complex and mind blowing I have ever seen. It is a game that takes years of practice and study to even come close to mastering.
But, it’s not like that’s a surprise. Yes, as you learn more and more about how to play Go, the game play unfolds and opens up in your mind like one of those road maps that you can fit in your pocket but covers the kitchen table when you open it up. But Go’s complexity is there for everyone to see.
Is Emergent Gameplay when the interplay of the rules causes the game to create unexpected and shocking situations that you never saw coming going over the rules? Is it that moment that you never saw coming but seems so brilliant once you do see it?
I realize that it’s a term that’s open to interpretation and everyone’s definition might be different. There may be no official line in the sand that you need to cross. There might be a lot of discussion out there, trying to figure out just what is Emergent Gameplay and how it affects our experience in play.
What makes me happy, though, is that the concept is out there, as something for us to strive for and look for.
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