Drain Quote by Ernest Adams
““Drains A drain is a mechanic that determines the consumption of resources—that is, a rule specifying how resources permanently drop out of the game (not to be confused with a converter, which we’ll look at next). In a shooter game, the player firing his weapon drains ammunition—that’s what makes ammunition, a resource, disappear. Being””
About This Quote
Source Book: Fundamentals of Game Design, Ernest Adams, 2002
A drain is a game mechanic that permanently removes resources, like ammo when firing a weapon, distinguishing it from converters that transform resources.
In simple terms: Drains permanently reduce resources in games.
Key Takeaway
Design resource loss deliberately.
Themes
game design
resource management
mechanics
Mood
analytical
strategic
Type
educational
technical
When to use this quote
- shooters
- strategy games
- resource planning
Key Concepts
systems
balance
player agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How does resource loss affect player tension?
- When should a drain be introduced?
A Different Perspective
Drains can frustrate players if not balanced with rewarding mechanics.
![“[On William Lyon Phelps's Happiness:] It is second only to a rubber duck as the ideal bathtub companion. It may be held in the hand without causing muscular fatigue ... and it may be read through before the water has cooled. And if it slips down the drain pipe, all right, it slips down the drain…” quote by Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8fc/dorothy-parker-700_bathtubs_on-william-lyon-phelps-s-happiness-it-is_1940558.jpg)
