Machinations: Game Feedback Diagrams

Welcome to the Machinations page. Machinations is a conceptual framework and diagram tool that focusses on structural qualities of game mechanics. The tool you see below is an interactive tool to make and play Machinations diagrams. If you scroll further down, you can find links to the Machinations Wiki and few tutorials explaining the concepts, as well as links to many of the ready-made examples.

Machinations version 3 is now out. It is fairly compatible with version 2 files, version 2 files can be read, but need to be checked. Also some of the concepts have changed slightly. The version 1 is still available here.

Created by Joris Dormans (2009-2011)

Download

If you like to run the Machinations application localy, you can best download the following file and save it to a convenient location. (Right click and select 'Save link as...'):

Machinations.swf

You might need to create an executable projecter out of the flash file (.swf). You can do this by running the file in a stand-alone flashplayer, and then selecting file|create projecter from the menu.

Wiki

The Machinations Wiki

Tutorials

Tutorial 1: Feedback loops in games

Ready-Made Diagrams

Many examples can be found in the Library under the file tab (top right)... Have a look at those, too!