Machinations is a theoretical framework and an interactive, dynamic, graphical representation that describes games as dynamic systems and focuses on closed feedback loops within them. The intention is to find a way to express and investigate (recurrent) game structures methodologically. Machinations offers a new lens on the intuitive and delicate practice of game design and balancing.
At the heart of the frame work is a graphical notation designed to capture the dynamics of games. This notation is used in an online application that allows you to create interactive, dynamic diagrams of games. Below you can find links pages explaining the concepts behind the notation and application.
The development of a pattern library that uses the machinations notation to capture recurrent structures in games is currently the most important research effort using the framework. This is work in progress, and open to outside contributions. After all, there is a reason why this material is published on a wiki… (Although you will have to mail me to open an account for you, otherwise the spammers will not leave this site alone, unfortunately)
As far as I know. This wiki is the only place where you can play Will Wright’s theoretical game of SimWar (in an appropriately abstract and theoretical fashion of course)…