Table 3 Levels of game design elements... | Emerald Publishing

Table 3

Levels of game design elements by the level of abstraction

Level	Description	Example
Game interface design patterns	Common, successful interaction design components and design solutions for a known problem in a context, including prototypical implementations	Badge, leaderboard, levels
Game design patterns and mechanics	Commonly reoccurring patterns of the design of a game that concerns gameplay	Time constraint, limited resources, turns
Game design principles and heuristics	Evaluative guidelines to approach a design problem or analyze a given design solution	Enduring play, clear goals, variety of game styles
Game models	Conceptual models of the components of games or game experience	MDA, challenge, fantasy, curiosity, game design atoms, CEGE
Game design models	Game design-specific practices and processes	Playtesting, play-centric design, value-conscious game design

Level	Description	Example
Game interface design patterns	Common, successful interaction design components and design solutions for a known problem in a context, including prototypical implementations	Badge, leaderboard, levels
Game design patterns and mechanics	Commonly reoccurring patterns of the design of a game that concerns gameplay	Time constraint, limited resources, turns
Game design principles and heuristics	Evaluative guidelines to approach a design problem or analyze a given design solution	Enduring play, clear goals, variety of game styles
Game models	Conceptual models of the components of games or game experience	MDA, challenge, fantasy, curiosity, game design atoms, CEGE
Game design models	Game design-specific practices and processes	Playtesting, play-centric design, value-conscious game design

Source(s): Deterding et al. (2011)