How to model interesting systems

[alice-i-cecile]

Name

How to model interesting systems: science, game design and complex systems

Content

• (blind) simulationism is the abdication of design
• identify interesting key elements: nouns and verbs
• define qualitative behaviors that you want to reproduce
  • feedback loops
  • stability
  • tensions
• think about opportunities for intervention
• causal diagrams
• research qualitative properties of simple, testable relationships
• build a model that gets the qualitative properties right
• alter tuning levers to get the feel you need (or optimize for goodness of fit)

[alice-i-cecile]

• ancient flamebait: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/archive/index.php?topic=24

[alice-i-cecile]

• identify goals: learning (AB petrochem), prediction, emergent behavior, managing gritty details, suspension of disbelief, fairness (tools to fight against GM fiat), biological hooks, conveyance through metaphor
• focus on the ability of players to predict what effects their actions will have