Claim set ·
data/claims/mda-framework.yamlMDA framework
Concept: MDA framework.
MDA names mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics as three linked layers: game components and algorithms, their run-time behavior, and the emotional responses they evoke in players. mda-framework/layers
p. 2, “MDA in Detail”Mechanics describes the particular components of the game, at the level of data representation and algorithms.
Dynamics describes the run-time behavior of the mechanics acting on player inputs and each others’ outputs over time.
Aesthetics describes the desirable emotional responses evoked in the player, when she interacts with the game system.Checked by claude, 2026-10-22 — read the cited definitions on page 2 of the pinned PDFCited by: MDA framework
MDA describes design analysis from mechanics toward dynamics and aesthetics, and player analysis from aesthetics through dynamics toward mechanics. mda-framework/perspectives
p. 2, “MDA in Detail”From the designer’s perspective, the mechanics give rise to dynamic system behavior, which in turn leads to particular aesthetic experiences. From the player’s perspective, aesthetics set the tone, which is born out in observable dynamics and eventually, operable mechanics.Checked by claude, 2026-10-22 — read the cited paragraph on page 2 of the pinned PDFCited by: MDA framework