thread: 2013-09-23 : Game Texts on the Object of the Game
On 2013-09-24, John Mc wrote:
Over the Edge
But beneath the surface, what's going on here? What is the game really about? I developed the island of Al Amarja as a playground of the imagination...It is my hope that [the rules'] simplicity will encourage you to concentrate on your goal (enjoyable role-playing) without getting caught up in the vehicle (the rules)."
Shooting the Moon
In Shooting the Moon, you take on the role of three characters brought together, and put through the wringer, by love.
Two Suitors compete for the affection of a shared Beloved, who has overwhelming odds of their own to face. United and divided by their shared fated and interwined destines - in the game you see what these three characters are made of, and what they will do for love.
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I like both of those games, and they were nearby. :)
From above, I feel like the text from Shadow of Yesterday does a decent job of explicitly stating the object of the game. The Burning Wheel text sounds like it's stating an object, but I find it confusing. I highly doubt manipulating numbers is the real object of the game. Here's the rest of the intro, so you can judge for yourself:
Burning Wheel (Cont.)
Though the game has no world full of ethics and laws, the rules do contain a philosophy and outlook that implies a certain type of place. There are consequences to your choices in this game. They range from the very black and white, "If I engage in this guel, my character might die." to the more complex, "If my character undertakes this task, he'll be changed and I don't know exactly how." Recognizing that the system enforces these choices will help you navigate play. I always encourage players to think before they test their characters. Are you prepared to accept the consequences of your actions?