Abstract
Video game designers can use a systems thinking approach to teach a new gameplay mechanic to players. When designers implement best practices of pacing and teaching, players are more likely to adopt and experiment with the mechanic. This methodology leads to a resilient mechanic system within a game and encourages emergent gameplay through the formation of intrinsic motivations.
Degree Date
Spring 2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.I.T.
Department
Level Design
Advisor
Katie Wood Clark
Second Advisor
Karl Steiner
Third Advisor
Mike Porter
Acknowledgements
A heartfelt thanks to the amazing faculty of SMU Guildhall. Thesis advisors Professors Katherine Wood Clark and Mike Porter, and Doctor Karl Steiner receive special thanks for their patience and grace while guiding this researcher through this process. Lastly, this researcher would not have made it this far without the love and support of his family and friends, who kept faith and used their steady hands to lift him up whenever he stumbled. His wife, Natalie Frazier, was the foundation for his successes and belief in his abilities.
Format
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Aing, Kyle M., "Systemic Design: Adopting a Mechanic and Emergent Uses" (2026). Level Design Theses and Dissertations. 35.
https://scholar.smu.edu/guildhall_leveldesign_etds/35
