Unless of course your goal is to model the competition of goals. But this is even more abstract than my usual selfThere are no perfect games, since there are always competing goals.
AgreedThese competing goals create an optimization polygon (the simplest example is usually a triangle*) in which you can put your design.
Designs can be successful at satisfying specific goals, but they can't satisfy them all.
This means there are two ways to "judge" a design:
1) Does it achieve its intended goals?
2) Does it achieve goals you agree with?
The latter is of course a subjective judgment.
I would say as far as a rpgame goes we have a function of playability towards specific goals which I would identify them as simulating particular situations. So what I would put in the triangle would be things such as action, drama, life-planning, socializing, being an agent of the empire, corporate career competition, managing a soccer team in Bundesliga (am I spelling this right??), managing your clinic as a pathologist doctor or surgeon...*) goals might be:
- Playability (how fast can you resolve any given interaction by the rules)
- Simulation (of a particular world/setting)
- Challenging play (for the player, e.g. how much of his brain power does he need to make a good decision?) Need a better word
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