Foundations

Baseline concepts for thinking about videogames before diving into the framework.

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What Makes a Videogame

Videogames are a medium of action. They are played, not just watched or read. They are neither just products nor just art. They are both and neither.

The Weekly Rhythm

Play → Name → Make → Reflect. The cycle that drives learning in VG101. Experience first, vocabulary second, making third, understanding last.

Player Psychology

How players think, feel, and respond. Flow state, motivation, the Tetris effect, feedback loops, human random vs. computer random, player fair vs. computer fair.

The Design Lens

A way of seeing videogames as they are unto themselves. This framework respects what came before while offering a lens focused on experience, heritage, and craft.