Game Formal Elements

So, basically all of the games have some certain rules and terms and conditions to which all players agree before they start a game. They read all the rules and understand how the game is played. It's just like something they are limited to, they have certain restrictions that they can't cross this boundary to which game is build.

Games create their own temporary worlds

Either there is single player game or there is multi player games. It just depends on what type of game it is. Single player games are obviously a lot different from the multiplayer games. Even the games designed for variable players is different from the game designed for specific number of players. For example. GTA 5 is a single player game until you connect it online and play with variable number of players all around the globe and TIC TAC TOE is a 2 player game.

Role of a player varies from game to game. In some games player has to maintain a certain role and like ludo, snake and ladder while in the other games player needs to adopt to various game environment like the Grand theft auto series. Single player plays against the game system. in multiplayer games all of the players can either play against each other or play together against the game system it depends on the game type. There are some games Player vs Player (PVP) where there are only 2 players and they compete with each other like in chess or table tennis.

There are various player interaction patterns:

• Single player vs the game: one single player fights against the developed game system
• Multiple player vs the game: All the players join together to defeat the game system.
• PVP (Player vs Player interaction)
• Unilateral Competition: in this one, two or more players fight against one player. Example, tag and dodge ball.
• Multilateral Competition: 3 or more players directly compete. example warcraft III.
• Cooperative play: Two or more players cooperate against the game system.
• Team Competition: multiple groups complete against each other.

Completing objectives is the main part of the game.

Every game that is made so far has some objective. It's either to kill someone or capture.There are some games that allow users to select partial or mini objectives and make it work towards the bigger goal.

Objective of Various games:

• Capture Games: to destroy something opponent has while being killed or captured. Example starcraft, command and conquer or action games (quake). 
• Chase Games: to kill an opponent while chasing. They are structured as single player vs game, player vs player or unilateral fights between many players. Example, Need for speed.
• Race Games: to win the race. Example, need for speed, real racing, moto gp etc.
• Alignment: to align or set pieces of a puzzle. They can be single player or multi player game. Example, tic tac toe or tetris.
• Rescue or Escape: to safely escort unit or units. Most of these type of games are requited to do partial objectives to complete the main goal of the game just like in Mario bros, player has to save princess at the end by completing various small levels
• Forbidden act: Objective is to break all the rules include talking or making wrong move etc.
• Construction:  to build or maintain objects. Example SimCity, The Sims.
• Exploration: to explore game areas and cross the boundaries
• Solution: to use your knowledge to defeat other players playing the game.

Procedures: These are the methods on how to play a game and the actions that players can do while playing a game. To work on what you have to do while playing a game, think  about Who does what, where, when and how? Board games usually provide a rule sheet on paper which can be used to know how to play a game and compete if it is multiplayer game.  

Tutorials are your friends

Digital games have more complex game structures than normal physical board games or non digital games. Digital games have systems  working in  background that help while proceeding in game. The systems in digital games can sometimes be simple but in the end it becomes complicated for example Chess. Procedure is easy but outcome is complex. Limitation of the environment is the main thing to keep in mind, if a game is non digital, the procedures will be a lot easier for people to remember. If game is digital, the procedures will depend on what type of gaming mouse or keyboard or a remote you are using and how many players are. Digital game requires high end configurations now a days. You need to have a good graphic card PC or a laptop, and it's hard to play a game on laptop so you need another mouse for that. While if you are playing a non digital game that could be anything either cards or board games or maybe other form of physical game that exists in the real world. Digital games are based on certain environment and its not expandable. You stay on the same map until you win or die. Now a days there are some softwares that let you tweak the app but that's only possible if you are good at developing maps or you know how game works so you can possibly edit all the content of the game or just add more stuff to it. That's cool, right? Curious? you can search it on google, maybe some people have already made those tweaks for you and you can read the steps on how to just edit a game! Woo!

There are certain rules for every game that you see or play.

• Poker: A straight 5 consecutively ranked cards; a straight flush
• Chess: A player cannot move their king into check.
• Jak and Daxter: If a players runs out of green mama, they are “knocked out” and return to the last checkpoint of the level

Resources, these are the power ups or some items that add extra powers to the player or add up some extra features to the game. These are hard to decide if a game requires them or not. Some of the variations are like, in Player Unknown's battle ground, various guns are resources, grenades, health packs, units, power ups etc. Resources depend on game to game, some game requires different type of resources and some don't require them at all. For instance, why would a card game require guns or  health packs? why would a multiplayer game require cards? It's just that game developer needs to figure out what addons or resources they want to have in their game. I know it's hard to decide but when they decide it, the game becomes most selling game of all time!

Conflicts, occurs when a player is limited to some certain game plays or boundaries and have to follow all the rules to complete the objectives/goals. You need to stay focused and do what the game tells you, follow all the instructions. For example, in a pinball game, you have to move the ball around and hit all the points by using only 2 handles on the bottom with your keyboard arrows or whatever controls you have assigned to it. Staying in boundaries while avoiding conflicts is hard but is fun.

Obstacles, These are boundaries in a game that limits your entry or exit. Example a physical wall in game or a door. While moving around as as Player trapped in a game, game environment is already decided and you need to figure out obstacles which will block you from moving ahead or help you hide in a war game.

Opponents, These are the other players playing the game with you. Either you can decide who you want to play the game with or computer can set up CPU Players for you if you need them or go play single player games.

Boundaries, these are the limits or restrictions that are applied to a single player that makes him stay in the game environment and follow all the rules to complete all the goals and win or compete with others. Sometimes like in Player Unknown's battle ground, players are restricted to remain in a certain area or they die if they leave it. The area is marked by big blue cylinder with a definite radius and infinite height. If someone leaves that marked area, their health starts deteriorating and they finally die.

Outcome, remember that all game outcomes are uncertain. Everyone plays games in their own way and it is common that all outcomes are uncertain. Either someone kills the beast first or kills the beast's guards and then kills the beast or he happily dies or win. if you keep following all the rules, and use up all the resources without any conflicts and follow what the game tells you, then you will surely win the game. Rules are meant to make the game bit difficult by restricting the user to win the game easily. Go and play games now.