What does the term "game mechanics" mean?

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lucianocasanova

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#1  Edited By lucianocasanova
Member since 2014 • 813 Posts

Ex. The game mechanis in sports games are diffrent from those found in racing games

What does this mean. Another term for gameplay?

Thanks

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tatman87

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#2 tatman87
Member since 2015 • 227 Posts

I think it's a wide variety of things. Even games of the same genre or series can have different mechanics. For example, the inventory in Diablo 3 can be described as a game mechanic. The inventory in the console and PC versions of the game are mechanically different.

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osan0

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#3 osan0
Member since 2004 • 17777 Posts

i always look at it as gameplay is a series of game mechanics.

game mechanics is more nuts and bolts stuff. character movement. the rules of the game. the controls. collision detection. balance. that kind of thing. vitally important stuff for any game.

they have to be developed well in isolation and also have to work effectively together to be good gameplay.

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The_Funyarinpa

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#4 The_Funyarinpa
Member since 2015 • 504 Posts

heres a definition

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Archangel3371

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#5 Archangel3371
Member since 2004 • 43988 Posts

Yeah I figure it to mean all the aspects that make up the gameplay.

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tatman87

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#6 tatman87
Member since 2015 • 227 Posts

@osan0 said:

i always look at it as gameplay is a series of game mechanics.

game mechanics is more nuts and bolts stuff. character movement. the rules of the game. the controls. collision detection. balance. that kind of thing. vitally important stuff for any game.

they have to be developed well in isolation and also have to work effectively together to be good gameplay.

Well put.

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MirkoS77

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#7  Edited By MirkoS77
Member since 2011 • 17637 Posts

Basically the means and dictates between player and software. Interface. This doesn't necessarily mean gameplay.

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centrifugal

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#8 centrifugal
Member since 2015 • 104 Posts

To me it means the smoothness of game play and the interface that you use. Example would be choppiness during combat, clunky controls/menus, and how the physics engine works.

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Lulu_Lulu

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#10 Lulu_Lulu
Member since 2013 • 19564 Posts

A Game Mechanic is something that allows you to do a "Thing". Thats pretty much what it is.

Gameplay on the other hand..... I don't have definition for that..... all I can tell is it consists of: Rules, Interactivity, a Goal and a Challenge.

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mastermetal777

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#11 mastermetal777
Member since 2009 • 3236 Posts

What everyone is saying is pretty much on point. Think of the gameplay as a machine. The mechanics would be the pieces that make the machine do its job.

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Gooeykat

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#12 Gooeykat
Member since 2006 • 3412 Posts

Mechanics: the machinery or working parts of something.

In this case the game itself. It's a term often used in association with gameplay, but I suppose it could be used regarding the technical parts of the game, i.e. game engine.

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MirkoS77

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#14 MirkoS77
Member since 2011 • 17637 Posts

@Lulu_Lulu: aha! Just like TLoU. Amirite?

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DaVillain

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#15 DaVillain  Moderator
Member since 2014 • 55898 Posts

@the_funyarinpa said:

heres a definition

Thread/

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Lulu_Lulu

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#16 Lulu_Lulu
Member since 2013 • 19564 Posts

@MirkoS77:

YEP :)

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illmatic87

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#17 illmatic87
Member since 2008 • 17935 Posts

It's a guy that comes to your house with a wrench in hand and a yellow protective helmet to fix the game disc or digital download

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garywood69

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#18 garywood69
Member since 2013 • 518 Posts

Just think of it terms of real life mechanics. As in, the branch of physics, not people who fix cars. It's just about the rules of interaction in the virtual world you're given.

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#19 Jacanuk
Member since 2011 • 20281 Posts

@lucianocasanova said:

Ex. The game mechanis in sports games are diffrent from those found in racing games

What does this mean. Another term for gameplay?

Thanks

Game Mechanics is a broader term than just gameplay, it contains pretty much everything that you will see ingame, inventory, gameplay, camera usage, etc. etc.

So no its not another term for just gameplay.

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yukushi

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#20 yukushi
Member since 2011 • 2368 Posts

@lucianocasanova: Game mechanics is a character in the game who fix things that breaks down if you dont see him in the game look under options.