I want to use League of Legends as the example to discuss the 8 types of aesthetics/fun because it’s a perfect encapsulation of how an enduring game can change its primary appeal to a player over time.
In terms of game mechanics, the fundamental identity of League of Legends has remained unchanged in the 17 years it has been around. Two teams of five players pick champions (characters with different stats and abilities), buy items that give different advantages, and fight against each other on the map with the ultimate objective of “capturing” the enemy base (indicated by destroying the enemy nexus). Periodically, game patches are released to alter the small mechanics (champions, items, or map), but never the overall system.
When I initially picked up the game 13 years ago, the main type of fun I felt was discovery. There was such a vast pool of champions, items, abilities, and interactions to learn; every game taught me something new, which was immensely satisfying.
After playing the game for a while, the main type of fun shifted to that of challenge and competition. The mechanic that best exemplifies this is the ranked leaderboard and skill-based matchmaking. In ranked matches, I was able to use the knowledge that I had gained during my discovery phase to test my mettle against other players. The matchmaking system pitted you against players of similar skill level, which made matches fair and challenging. In this period, the challenge made me feel like I was constantly improving at the game.
Fast forward to today, I no longer have the time to play with competition as my main mode of fun. However, I still go back to casual modes of the game for the sake of fellowship, socializing with friends who grew up playing this game with me. I also still enjoy watching the e-sport and discussing how the regular updates affect the game.
