The micro-rhetorics of Game-o-Matic

Authors:
Mike Treanor;Bobby Schweizer;Ian Bogost;Michael Mateas
Affiliations:
University of California, Santa Cruz;University of California, Santa Cruz;University of California, Santa Cruz;University of California, Santa Cruz
Venue:
Proceedings of the International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games
Year:
2012

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Abstract

Micro-rhetorics are the representational units of meaning that emerge from the rhetorical affordances of videogame mechanics, abstract gameplay patterns, and thematic depiction. This paper explains the concept of micro-rhetorics, how game dynamics can be interpreted, and how designers can make use of game mechanics to express ideas through simple videogames. This theoretical framework is informed by the design of Game-O-Matic, a videogame authoring tool that generates games to represent ideas. It takes a network of basic relationships between actors and assembles simple arcade-style game mechanics into videogames that are able to make arguments and depict ideas.