ABSTRACT
Great themes and deep meanings are often associated with literature or with great works of art. As game designers, we must confront the painful truth that many people view games, in all their forms, as meaningless diversions. The best themes are ones that resonate with players—themes that touch players deeply. The “fantasy of being a pirate” theme is powerful because it is a fantasy that everyone—kids, adults, men, and women—has had at one time or another. Truth-based themes can sometimes be hard to spot. Part of the power of these deep truths is that they are hidden. Often, a designer might not even consciously know they have chosen a particular theme or be able to express it verbally—they just have a certain feeling about how the experience should be. Different designers use theme in different ways as part of their design process.
