Wax on, Wax off
The isolation principle of game design
The "isolation principle" is an efficient & intuitive way of teaching players new concepts without interrupting the game’s flow.
Our subject
We will be looking at Super Mario 3D World's
kishōtenketsu
Koichi Hayashida's approach to level design is inspired by "kishōtenketsu," a narrative structure used in four-line Chinese poems and four-panel Japanese comics.
They provide an introduction, development, twist & conclusion.
This structure lends itself nicely to the isolation principle because we can:
Introduce our mechanics in a safe environment and let players learn how it works by themselves.
Develop our mechanics by presenting them in a new light.
Combine our mechanic with a previously existing one to create interesting challenges.
Payoff our mechanics by allowing players to show off their ability while overcoming a great challenge.
Let's look at how Mario's world 5-6 “Cakewalk flip” uses this principle to introduce, develop, Combine & payoff “The Flipping Platforms”.
Introduction
In this level, we are introduced to these platforms that flip from red to blue when you jump. The mechanic is shown by itself in a controlled environment so that the player is not punished while learning.
Development
It is then developed through more challenging examples.
The floor is removed, creating a real sense of danger, and then your agility is tested when you are asked to climb a wall.
combination
Once the player has learned how the mechanic works we can introduce the second one in tandem to create a new challenge.
Here Mario must deal with the flipping panel while dodging the AOE attack from the bumper enemy.
Payoff
Finally, the pupil has become the master!!!
After learning the mechanic's ins and outs, it's time for the final test, a flagpole.
This allows the player to demonstrate what they have learned and be rewarded at the same time.
In closing
The Isolation principle is great to cut down on gameplay intrusive tutorials.
It cannot be applied to every game (Civilization, for example, has statistical mechanics that may need to rely on standard teaching techniques, such as text boxes.)
Don't underestimate a gamer's intuition.