A tale of Word Placement and Dictionary Building

Homo Ludens and the rise of Homo Mechanicus. Meandering in the land of games.

Wandering. I listen to other travelers. I read the writings pinned onto these unfolded nets. The news of the day and the news of our times. About games, how they work, how they distinguish or resemble. In English. In Portuguese. In Portuguese mixed with English. Just like in computer science. Just like in other areas where we have chosen to be a foster family for new words arriving from abroad.

I read on a shining cover, of a game still to be, solitaire worker-placement. I hear newcomer walkers inquiring about the meaning of tile placement, set collection, or engine building. I observe a conversation of veterans of these lands, on the use of area control, the dynamics of press your luck, the interaction between players on an auction, or the moves provided by pick-up and deliver.

I consult one of the oracles, a reference site with a body of work that arouses reverence. In the index, no less than 53 mechanisms, sorted alphabetically, and explained. Beginning with the letter A, with acting, action/movement programming and action point allowance system, passing through deck building and point to point movement, and ending in the letters V and W, with variable player powers, voting and worker placement.

Terms strange at first. And shortly after becoming regulars.

I stop for a moment.

It crosses my mind that I had never realised the diversity of mechanisms behind board games, our unusual trend for cataloging stuff or how fast each tribe creates their own codes.

I'm still standing.

More importantly. I did not realised before the importance that mechanisms seem to have achieved, at least for some players.

Yes, there are types of games, or themes, that appeal more to some than to others. Storytelling, playing characters, developing abstract strategies, dealing with monsters, negotiating or taking part in past, present or imagined wars, undoubtedly attract travelers with different characteristics. Except for a few ones, who will try out whatever it may come!

Yes, for a creator, it is an integral part to reflect on the mechanism, or set of mechanisms, more appropriate to the concept under development, to the goal to achieve, to the story that will be lived by each player.

But... 

Are we paying too much attention to the mechanics? 

More than to the overall experience? 

To a single part, more than to the whole? 

To the means more than to the end? 

Will it be me being more attentive to this language? 

Will it be the effect of the multiplication of comments, announcements, analyses and critics?

Will it be a sign of this land and this industry reaching maturity? 

After all, will this text be a mere exercise of Word Placement and Dictionary Building?

Meanderings.