Sources

Initial Ideas

First Outline

Behind the Lock and Key - Understanding the Contextual Impact of Common Design Within Gated Exploration Video Games

Abstract

Introduction

• Shared design in primary subjects – Metroid, Resident Evil, Dark Souls
• Their categorisation into genres
• Limitations of this (Millard – Ori limited by conformity to tropes)
• Success of breaking genres (Ori 2, Hollow Knight (interview), Outer Wilds)

Defining Gated Exploration

• A core design feature, not a genre
• Gates
• Lock and key