"The difference between games and other entertainment products (such as books, music, movies and plays) is that their consumption is relatively unpredictable" (Hunicke, Leblanc, Zuberk, 2004:2)
This quote really bugged me when i read it and it is one i completely disagree with. When you release a film can a director guarantee how an audience will take it? No they cant, but they can encourage towards a certain response. For example they may choose to film a scene on a rainy day to help make the mood of that scene sad and dreary. But whether that scene evokes the emotion sadness is down up the viewer.
Is that not how a designer creates a game? With one way of consumption in mind, like the player will start on level one and work their way up, but when they decide level ten looks much more fun they may just dive in there.
Any consumption of any product is unpredictable because people are unpredictable. The best you can do as a designer is make an educated guess by studying your chosen demographic.
References
LeBlanc, M., Zubek, R. & Hunicke, R., MDA: A formal approach to game design and game research. Discovery, 83(3), p.04–04.
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