Key aspects of game design - a scoping review

Abstract

This scoping review presents a holistic perspective on game design research. Publications of relevant conferences on game design and associated topics have been thoroughly examined and evaluated in an iterative manner against predefined criteria. A constantly refined protocol with a priori definitions was used to provide transparent guidelines and to ensure a common understanding of criteria for publications of interest. A taxonomy of ten categories with a total of 78 either independent or interdependent aspects of game design research is lined out. The presented publications cover either novel approaches in game design or valuable enhancements to existing perspectives and techniques. Publications are identified and listed and the contribution to the knowledge state for game design research has been explicitly covered for each of the identified aspects.