MDA (or Mechanics, Design, Aesthetics) is a set of rules that theorise how designers and consumers should approach games. For designers, a primary focus on mechanics in their video games is key to success; if a certain game mechanic is not working properly, then the design and aesthetic of the game overall would be diminished for the consumer. Despite this however, it can be observed that consumers involve themselves in the process except in reverse; through the use of marketing from publishers, the first thing that consumers will see is the aesthetics of the game before experiencing the design and mechanics of it. Of course, this makes sense; people who are not involved in the process of creating a video game whose first sight of it will be usually through the lens of media. It is only when they invest in a game that they will be able to experience the design and mechanics.
This presents a situation where polar opposites occur by design of the MDA framework, and that aesthetic is an important junction that designers must consider to draw consumers in.
This presents a situation where polar opposites occur by design of the MDA framework, and that aesthetic is an important junction that designers must consider to draw consumers in.