Theme, Design, and Choices: Rocket League
In big blue letters, “This is Rocket League! Welcome to the high-powered hybrid of arcade-style soccer and vehicular mayhem!” are the words the site for Rocket League uses to describe the colourful and action-packed images to introduce new visitors. Using this description as the baseline, the theme of the game can be described as high-speed cars clashing and chasing through a field to score on the opposing goal.
It is evident the design of Rocket League is focused on this theme of mayhem, speed, and vehicle sports. All features of the game point towards this this core idea. The design of Rocket League ties together its features under one design umbrella. To deliver on mayhem and speed, the game offers the control of fast cars which can maneuver not only horizontally, but also vertically. The feature to jump and flip through the air enables players to make split second decisions on how they want to move through the mayhem to reach the ball. This jumping along side the boost mechanics and pickups on the field introduce even more speed, need for control, and a competitive atmosphere. The ability to clash and destroy opponent cars further instills this idea. However, Rocket League does not just deliver this theme through the design of its mechanics. The influence of the theme is visible in the design of the aesthetics as well. Numerous coloured objects, massive explosions, outlandish cosmetic items, bright rocket trails, and loud distinctive sounds all communicate that this game will have the players on the edge of their seats and swaying with the chaos of each match.
This theme and design leads players to make choices. The objective is to score, but the how is what the game focuses on. As the player is presented with the unconventional controls, they begin to make choices as they decide on how they need to accomplish their goal. This focus on the how perfectly supports the Anatomy of a Choice through encouraging the player to make micro and macro choices.
Rocket League boasts a highly dynamic system with constant movement. This system can result in the ball sailing towards the players side of the field, high in the air and close to the wall. The opposing cars can be boosting towards the players team or where the ball will be landing. The dynamic system ensures something is always happening before the player makes a choice.
The player has many options displayed in front of them. The colour and speed of the enemies can convey to the player that they may boost towards the enemy to stop their advance physically. The curved coloured edges of the map tell the player they may ride the wall to get closer to the ball. Even the placement of boost pickups and team members can encourage the player to strategize and move to stop the advance of the ball. Even the high ceiling and placement of the ball in the air alongside the focus of the camera lets the player know the bounds of the map are high, and therefore reachable through jumping and boosting.
Once the player is presented with the possibility of choice, they begin decision making. As an example, they may decide that since the enemy is on the ground, there is an opening and may plan a route straight to the ball. Through their micro choices and actions to jump, point, and boost, the player experiences Meaningful Play. The result of their strategy has discernable feedback as the ball may bounce away with a satisfying sound and move towards the opponents’ side. Their macro choice to take the aerial opening may be rewarded with the opportunity for a team member to score and therefore effect the long-term integrated outcome. Rocket League then successfully communicates the results of player actions through the resulting movement, created opportunities and scoring system to create a loop of choice making and results.
Therefore, through the game’s Anatomy of Choice and design, Rocket League presents its space of possibility. While making decisions of movement, players see an expanded space with the possibility of moving vertically within a vehicle. However, this space is restricted simply with what types of movement they have. When players see outcomes of their decisions to jump, boost, or move normally as a car, they begin to look for the most optimum strategies and dynamics presented by the games design to limit this space of possibility. Thus, with its masterful theme driven design, the looping Anatomy of Choice, and controlled Space of Possibility, Rocket League manages to deliver on Meaningful Play and its promise of mayhem and fun.
