Novel games can come from novice game makers

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe how a novice to game design pushed theory about what makes a good game.

Design/methodology/approach

The game in question was developed in Twine for an introductory undergraduate course in interactive media.

Findings

It featured very little player agency, which ironically served to give players a richer experience.

Originality/value

That a novice could create something deeply personal that butted against conventional game design guidelines highlights the importance of opening game design up to as broad an audience as possible.

Citation

Chen, M. (2017), "Novel games can come from novice game makers", On the Horizon, Vol. 25 No. 4, pp. 250-252. https://doi.org/10.1108/OTH-08-2015-0054