Merriam-Webster would like a word (Gaming)

by CyberKN , Oh no, Destiny 2 is bad, Wednesday, October 27, 2021, 13:09 (1211 days ago) @ Cody Miller

Right but we are talking about simulations here.

An emergent phenomenon is the result of an error of the simulation cascading into major effects. For instance, some thing outside the simulation is effecting it. But the game code is the final word and by definition the correct simulation. I guess when that cosmic ray hit that one speedrunner's console and Mario zoomed to the ceiling counts as emergent gameplay, but that's once in a lifetime.

Not to start a big debate, but I suppose the thing with term "emergent gameplay" is that it doesn't specify whether the gameplay appears emergent to the player, or the developer, or both.

As a player, I don't care, I just think it's a fun experience when I try something that the game doesn't explicitly spell out as an option, and it just works.