Towards a Unified Language for Card Game Design

Abstract

Card game creation is a powerful tool for game design. Using playing cards, game designers can rapidly prototype and iteratively playtest a game's core mechanisms to explore alternatives and improve the gameplay. However, this process is time-consuming, imprecise and challenging to steer and focus. We aim to empower designers with solutions that automate game design processes. In particular, we study to what extent a unified game design language can offer theoretical foundations, systematic techniques and practical solutions. We propose a novel approach towards a solution that leverages the expressive power of playing cards. Initially focusing on well-known card games, we illustrate the steps for creating CardScript, a formal language and toolkit that supports game design processes. The approach also has the potential to impact a wider research area. When fully developed, a unified language with a common tool set can enable reuse, and eventually support joint research agendas. We start the discussion by highlighting perspectives that relate open challenges to opportunities for future collaboration.