Why Following Genre Conventions Matters in Video Games

First published as The Acagamic Tip Tuesday #5 on acagamic.com. Edited for this archive.

Players hate change. Be aware of the baby duck syndrome when designing your game. Follow genre conventions.

Genres tell players what mechanics, themes, and gameplay to expect. Newly hatched geese imprint on the first creature they see, as Konrad Lorenz showed. Players imprint in a similar way on the first game they play in a genre, and that game shapes what they expect from every later one. Designers who want a game to feel familiar and pleasant should respect those expectations. Arcade-style games make a good case study.

Arcade imprinting: nostalgia and expectations

Arcade-style games have fast action and simple mechanics, and they have been popular since the earliest days of gaming. Players who grew up with Pac-Man, Space Invaders, or Galaga imprinted on them, and they bring three expectations to every new arcade release:

• Instant action. Arcade games drop players into play right away, with little tutorial or story.
• Simple controls. A few buttons or inputs do everything.
• High-score chasing. A score gives players a clear goal and a reason to replay.

Why familiarity pays off

Following these conventions lets a new game borrow the comfort players already feel for the genre. It pays off in three ways:

• A shorter learning curve. Players who know the genre’s conventions get good faster.
• More enjoyment. A game that meets expectations satisfies players who know what an arcade game should feel like.
• More replays. Features like high-score chasing keep players coming back.

Innovating inside the genre

Conventions alone won’t make a game stand out. It also needs something new, and designers can add it without abandoning the genre’s core:

• Creative twists. A fresh mechanic or a distinctive visual style sets a game apart.
• Current technology. Better graphics, audio, or controls make an old formula feel new.
• Building on the classics. Iconic arcade games can serve as a starting point that designers extend with their own ideas.

For arcade-style games, that means fast action, easy controls, and a high score to chase, plus one or two new ideas. Get that mix right and a game meets players’ expectations while still standing out in its genre.