Why mechanics matter to me

Why are mechanics important to me?

Mechanics are the bones of the game, they make up the structure that supports everything in the game.

Mechanics are the muscles that give the game its strength.

Mechanics are the heart and soul of how you interact with that world.

Suffice it to say, mechanics are the key that makes a game a unique form of entertainment. Music, movies and television are all one sided, only giving you an on rails experience that is the exact same each time you replay it. Games are different.

Mechanics open up a two way communication between you and the media. It shows you a world, you control how that world tells you its story. Entertainment has been trying to do this for years, for example the “choose your own adventure” stories. I think the first one of those I read was an Animorph book. Do you remember Animorphs?

The two way communication is the Holy Grail when it comes to sharing experiences because no two people think alike.

This is why mechanics are important to me.