From Breaking to Making

The document presents an academic post-mortem on two game design projects, "Will Love Tear Us Apart" (WLTUA) and "Posthuman," undertaken by a researcher to gain a maker's perspective on games. The central thesis explores the cross-pollination between game research and design, arguing that theoretical frameworks can seed game artifacts which, in turn, inform and refine the original theories. This approach differs from traditional research through design by emphasizing theory as the genesis of the artifact, rather than the artifact primarily generating theory.

WLTUA, a digital game adaptation of a song, investigated the relationship between poetry and games, particularly concerning metaphor, simulation, and the assumption that games must be "fun." The design process highlighted challenges in translating lyrical concepts to game mechanics, dealing with ambiguity in cybermedia, and intentionally creating a frustrating experience to align with the song's essence. The second project, "Posthuman," a board game, emerged from prior research on reconceptualizing game narrative, specifically distinguishing between designed story and player-generated story. Designing "Posthuman" allowed for observing how game components structured player-generated narratives during testing and public reception, providing empirical insight into experiential narrative theory.

The document also briefly discusses the ongoing transition of "Posthuman" into a video game, noting how a machine-supported environment allows for more complex theoretical translation into game design. The author concludes by reflecting on the utility of engaging in design and development for game academics, particularly theoreticians and analysts, advocating for hands-on engagement with game creation, whether digital or tabletop, to uncover pitfalls, epiphanies, and challenges that enrich theoretical understanding.