What is neat about games is something called the possibly space.

What is neat about games is something called the possibly space. This is all the possible things you can do in a game. As long as the possibility space is too large for our brain to fully process the game stays interesting.

For example in tic-tac-toe the possibility space is small. That's why small kids love tic-tac-toe but past a certain age it becomes boring - the child's brain can process all the possible moves making it possible to win or force a draw every time (mistakes aside). Chess, however, can be played for life.

Possibility space can also provide room for a key component of the engagement games provide - internalized goals. Most games have a win state such as Mario saves the Princess. When players get engaged by a game they often forsake this win state goal in favor of a 'win state' of their own - I want to collect every coin in Mario without dying.

Which is a long winded way of saying I have found my new internalized goal - to fill in this map on our Admin Office wall!

#evomc16