--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s a truism in the game industry that a…" description: "\"“It’s a truism in the game industry that a well-designed game should be playable immediately, with no instruction whatsoever.”\" — Jane McGonigal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/jane-mcgonigal-6871_game-design_it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that_2624283.png" --- # It’s a truism in the game industry that a well-designed… ![“It’s a truism in the game industry that a well-designed game should be playable immediately, with no instruction whatsoever.” quote by Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/jane-mcgonigal-6871_game-design_it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that_2624283.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/jane-mcgonigal-6871_game-design_it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that_2624283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/jane-mcgonigal-6871_game-design_it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that_2624283.png) > ““It’s a truism in the game industry that a well-designed game should be playable immediately, with no instruction whatsoever.”” [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good games should be instantly playable without instructions, emphasizing intuitive design. **In simple terms:** Games must be approachable from the start, needing no tutorial. Key Takeaway Design for immediate accessibility and fun. Themes game design usability player experience Mood practical encouraging Type design educational When to use this quote - mobile apps - board games - educational software Key Concepts intuitive controls no tutorial instant play Questions to Reflect On - When is instruction beneficial? - How to balance simplicity with depth? A Different Perspective Complex games may need guidance for depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Designed Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designed-game-2136610/) [Game Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-industry-316365/) [Game-design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-design-70049/) [Immediately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immediately/) [Immediately Instruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immediately-instruction-2136611/) [Playable Immediately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playable-immediately-2136609/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) ## Related quotes > [“A well-designed game is a guided missile to the motivational heart of the human psyche.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-werbach/a-well-designed-game-is-a-guided-missile-to-the-motivational-heart-of/) [Kevin Werbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-werbach/) > [“There is only One Man Playing your Game, You!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/there-is-only-one-man-playing-your-game-you/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [“The Game gives you a Purpose. The Real Game is, to Find a Purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/the-game-gives-you-a-purpose-the-real-game-is-to-find-a-purpose/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [“I think it's fair to say most video games let players experience only eight emotions: anger, panic, dread, surprise, wonder, satisfaction, joy and disappointment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-rogers/i-think-it-s-fair-to-say-most-video-games-let-players-experience-only/) [Scott Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-rogers/) > [“Gamers can feel when developers are passionate about their games. They can smell it like a dog smells fear. Don't be afraid to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-rogers/gamers-can-feel-when-developers-are-passionate-about-their-games-they/) [Scott Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-rogers/) > [I have an unfortunate history with Ethan Ralph. Like many women in the game industry, I've been doxed by him multiple times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/i-have-an-unfortunate-history-with-ethan-ralph-like-many-women-in-the/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [Our 1 million members across the country will be watching closely to see if the video game industry hides behind a First Amendment veil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-sellecca/our-1-million-members-across-the-country-will-be-watching-closely-to/) [Connie Sellecca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-sellecca/) > [Most members of Gamergate, the alt-right movement best known for harassing women in the game industry, operate under a veil of anonymity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/most-members-of-gamergate-the-alt-right-movement-best-known-for/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [The video game industry traditionally has been a very male-dominated field. You know, with the advent of the iPhone, the number of women gamers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/the-video-game-industry-traditionally-has-been-a-very-male-dominated/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [The video game industry is constantly evolving. The sheer creativity matched with cutting-edge technologies gives me the comfort that innovation is alive and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-video-game-industry-is-constantly-evolving-the-sheer-creativity/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Gamergate has grown into a hate group that threatens the stability of the $60 billion a year game industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/gamergate-has-grown-into-a-hate-group-that-threatens-the-stability-of/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [With my company, Giant Spacekat, I was very angry about the lack of games that portrayed women positively in the video game industry, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/with-my-company-giant-spacekat-i-was-very-angry-about-the-lack-of/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [We are at a point in the video game industry that the industry is hollowed out. It is out of touch with the zeitgeist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-lasky/we-are-at-a-point-in-the-video-game-industry-that-the-industry-is/) [Mitch Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-lasky/) > [The truth is, the game industry is a really incredibly difficult place for women to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/the-truth-is-the-game-industry-is-a-really-incredibly-difficult-place/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [We feel the game industry is changing in some major ways. 'Fortnite' is a harbinger of things to come. It's a massive number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/we-feel-the-game-industry-is-changing-in-some-major-ways-fortnite-is/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) ## More by Jane McGonigal > [Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/although-i-m-perceived-as-very-optimistic-and-upbeat-it-comes-out-of/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Urgent optimism is the desire to act immediately to tackle an obstacle, combined with the belief that we have a reasonable hope of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/urgent-optimism-is-the-desire-to-act-immediately-to-tackle-an/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Over time, even the tiniest meaningful actions add up, each one bringing you closer to a life that is truer to your dreams and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/over-time-even-the-tiniest-meaningful-actions-add-up-each-one/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [We've been playing games since humanity had civilization - there is something primal about our desire and our ability to play games. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-ve-been-playing-games-since-humanity-had-civilization-there-is/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Traditionally, we have needed instructions in order to play a game. But now we’re often invited to learn as we go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/traditionally-we-have-needed-instructions-in-order-to-play-a-game-but/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“No object, no event, no outcome or life circumstance can deliver real happiness to us. We have to make our own happiness—by working hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/no-object-no-event-no-outcome-or-life-circumstance-can-deliver-real/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Gamers always believe that an epic win is possible and that it's always worth trying, and trying now. Gamers don't sit around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/gamers-always-believe-that-an-epic-win-is-possible-and-that-it-s/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Cory Doctorow is a fast and furious storyteller who gets all the details of alternate reality gaming right, while offering a startling, new vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/cory-doctorow-is-a-fast-and-furious-storyteller-who-gets-all-the/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Gamers who have grown up being intensely engaged by well-designed virtual environments are hungry for better forms of engagement in their real lives. They’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/gamers-who-have-grown-up-being-intensely-engaged-by-well-designed/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Games are work. There are economies popping up in games now because people value them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/games-are-work-there-are-economies-popping-up-in-games-now-because/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [We are moving towards a new form of collective intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-are-moving-towards-a-new-form-of-collective-intelligence/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [I ran through most of college and ran through most of grad school. When I was writing my dissertation for my Ph.D., it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/i-ran-through-most-of-college-and-ran-through-most-of-grad-school/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Every game designer should make one explicitly world-changing game. Lawyers do pro bono work, why can't we?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/every-game-designer-should-make-one-explicitly-world-changing-game/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [There are people who are very dismissive of games and gamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/there-are-people-who-are-very-dismissive-of-games-and-gamers/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/a-game-is-an-opportunity-to-focus-our-energy-with-relentless-optimism/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) [Explore all 97 Jane McGonigal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## More Game-design quotes > [“I think it's fair to say most video games let players experience only eight emotions: anger, panic, dread, surprise, wonder, satisfaction, joy and disappointment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-rogers/i-think-it-s-fair-to-say-most-video-games-let-players-experience-only/) [Scott Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-rogers/) > [“The Game gives you a Purpose. The Real Game is, to Find a Purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/the-game-gives-you-a-purpose-the-real-game-is-to-find-a-purpose/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [“There is only One Man Playing your Game, You!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/there-is-only-one-man-playing-your-game-you/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [“Gamers can feel when developers are passionate about their games. They can smell it like a dog smells fear. Don't be afraid to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-rogers/gamers-can-feel-when-developers-are-passionate-about-their-games-they/) [Scott Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-rogers/) [Browse all 5 Game-design quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-design-70049/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s a truism in the game industry that a well-designed game should be playable immediately, with no instruction whatsoever.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane McGonigal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that-a-well-designed-game-should/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Game-design" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that-a-well-designed-game-should/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/jane-mcgonigal-6871_game-design_it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that_2624283.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/jane-mcgonigal-6871_game-design_it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that_2624283.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/jane-mcgonigal-6871_game-design_it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that_2624283.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It’s a truism in the game industry that a well-designed game should be playable immediately, with no…” — Jane McGonigal", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jane McGonigal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It’s a truism in the game...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that-a-well-designed-game-should/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/it-s-a-truism-in-the-game-industry-that-a-well-designed-game-should/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```