To me, poorly designed systems stick out like a sore thumb. Maybe it is overly optimistic to imagine rules or laws which would have better consequences in the real world. In game design, however, it’s mandatory - even if it becomes inconsequential. You can imagine that these two sit at opposite sides of a scale. At some point if a game becomes large enough - if legislation is written to law - it becomes incredibly consequential. This is a bit of a thought-piece on that scale.

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Laws are rules we can not change. The laws of religion, the laws of country, the laws of nature. We are taught from a young age to accept the world as it is - why question or challenge the systems in place if we are unable to affect them? Instead, we learn to play the game.

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Consider what happens when we move from the role of a player to the role of a lawmaker. There exists an ethical breakpoint during this move where great power, and responsibility, is gained: the ability to influence laws which bind others.

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When we design a system, we design its impact. Decisions we make will have consequences on everything it touches. If a game allows Player vs Player combat in starting zones, it drastically changes the new player experience. If a game has a party finder, players need fewer friends to play.

Proper Control Systems design begins with an intended behavior - usually a stable, ‘happy’ place - and seeks to move the world as it is (the initial condition) to that place of stability:

• A car’s cruise control is set to 60 MpH, the car accelerates or decelerates smoothly
• Enemy balance is intended to challenge players of all levels, enemy A.I. and health is scaled dynamically
• A game is intended to help players make friends, they are introduced in positive and collaborative environments

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The intended behavior is the start of the systems design process - the heart around which everything else must be built. Even sitting idly by and allowing a system to design itself (via lobbyist legislation or even community request) is a rejection of the heart, the challenge, and the responsibility that comes with the power of systems design. As soon as we have power to affect the design of a system, we gain the responsibility over the impact - our intent matters.

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That’s all for this time! Hope you enjoyed a bit of a ramble.

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Give me courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.