Rules & Systems
Rules, systems and balance
A game must be consistent as well as engaging
Turn rules into examples
Document legal moves, invalid actions, ties, end conditions and resets. Concrete examples let designers, developers and reviewers check the same behavior.
Think through edge cases
What happens after a disconnect, repeated command or incomplete action? What happens when several players tie? These are part of the experience, not optional technical details.
Make results explainable
Players should be able to understand why a score changed or a move was rejected. Fairness depends on consistent rules and truthful descriptions of AI and online modes.
Respect provenance
Traditional mechanics, source photographs, names, art and audio have different rights considerations. Referencing an existing game does not automatically establish permission to reuse its assets or identity.