On the Evolution of Games*
Katrin Becker, PhD
*not so much a presentation of results as an Invitation

overview
New(?) lens through which to examine
games
• More questions than answers...

K.Becker

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History vs Evolution
History
- event-driven, broad scope, contextual
- interested in all aspects of the past
Evolution
- data-driven, narrow scope, highly threaded
- specifically interested in change

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Change
What changes over time?
• Genres and their definitions.
• What's on the screen during play:
– Graphics
– H.U.D.

• Game play.
• Narratives.
• And, of course, technical advances.
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Evolution
Examination of change across time....

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Welcome to now..

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What can we Learn?
How a behaviour (or other aspect) may have
evolved from similar behaviours in other
games can provide some insights into
elements of designs that are successful.

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How do we proceed?
Examine game(s) from one
or more perspectives to
look at....

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How do we proceed?
Look at: Descent
• affinity (similarity) : common descent

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How do we proceed?
Look at: Environmental adaptations
• convergent evolution : different species / same
behaviour, possibly due to similar external forces

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How do we proceed?
Look at:
Spontaneous ‘mutations’

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How do we proceed?
Look at:
Selective Pressure

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Perspectives
• Games Generally
• Specific Genres
– Shooters, RPGs, etc.

• Game Elements
– H.U.D.s, graphics, interaction

• Franchises
– Mario , Pokémon , The Sims , Final Fantasy , Grand
Theft Auto , Madden NFL , Tetris , FIFA , The
Legend of Zelda , Tom Clancy

• Numbered Games
– GTA
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Evolution Basics
1. If all the individuals of a species reproduced
successfully, the population of that species
would increase uncontrollably.
2. Populations tend to remain about the same
size from year to year.
3. Environmental resources are limited.
4. No two individuals in a given species are
exactly alike.
5. Much of this variation in a population can be
passed on to offspring.
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Evolution Basics
1. If all the individuals of a species reproduced
successfully, the population of that species
would increase uncontrollably.
Enter Sturgeon’s Law:

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Evolution Basics
2. Populations tend to remain about the
same size from year to year.

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Evolution Basics
3. Environmental resources are limited.
$$$
Markets

Consoles

Development Teams
Peripherals
Imagination?
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Evolution Basics
4. No two individuals in a given species are
exactly alike.

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Evolution Basics
5. Much of this variation in a population can
be passed on to ‘offspring’.

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Why do some games change very
little over time?

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And Others Change a Great Deal?

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Struggle for Existence
• A game’s survival has to do with how
successful it is at keeping people in the
game as well as at doing what it was
designed to do:
– Entertain
– Learning
– Persuasion
– Marketing

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The Evolution of Final Fantasy

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K.Becker

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The Evolution of Mario

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Thanks!

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