Code-Oriented Thinking

Why game designers need to think like programmers — even if they don’t write a single line

What Is Code-Oriented Thinking?

Code-Oriented Thinking is the ability to frame game mechanics in terms of logic, structure, and data — even if you don’t implement them. Code-oriented thinking is not about writing code.

It’s about thinking in systems, logic, constraints, and flow — the same way a good programmer does.

It means:

structuring your designs like code,
predicting edge cases and exceptions,
minimizing ambiguity for implementation,
and collaborating as if you knew how it works under the hood.

Why It Matters in Game Design

Without Code Thinking	With Code Thinking
“This feature is cool”	“This feature has defined states and data”
“Let’s add a buff that scales somehow”	“Let’s define buff as [type: multiplier, stat: damage]”
“Just make it feel good”	“Which systems drive that feeling?”
“We’ll balance it later”	“Let’s expose parameters for tuning now”

📍Code-oriented thinking isn’t rigid. It’s what lets you be clear without over-specifying. Treating mechanics as isolated ideas. Code-thinking forces you to connect mechanics — inputs, modifiers, dependencies, outputs.

How to Think Like a Programmer (Without Becoming One)

1️⃣ Break Features Into States

Every mechanic has a lifecycle. Start tracking it.

Mechanic	States
Enemy patrol	Idle → Walking → Alerted → Attacking
Crafting system	Input → Progress → Output → Cooldown
Dialogue choice	Locked → Visible → Selected → Resolved

📍If your feature can’t be drawn as a state diagram, it’s not ready for implementation.

2️⃣ Define Data Structures

Ask: What does this feature “know” and “store”?

System	Data Fields
Character stats	Health, Armor, Speed, Perks
Upgrade system	Cost, Dependencies, Effects, Unlock conditions
Ability	Cooldown, Range, AP cost, Tags, Animation ID

📍 Designers who think in terms of data + logic create systems that are reusable, editable, and testable.

3️⃣ Use Logic Trees, Not Paragraphs

Instead of:

“The AI will sometimes choose to hide behind cover, especially if they’re low on health or scared of the player.”

Write:

IF [Health < 40%] AND [Cover Available]
→ Action = Seek Cover
ELSE IF [Morale < 20%]
→ Action = Flee

Even if simplified, this structure tells a coder what to build — and tells you what to balance.

📍When you write a feature — think: “How would I implement this as a prefab or JSON object?”

Practical Habits for Code-Oriented Designers

Habit	Why It Helps	Example
Draw logic flows	Reveals edge cases and missing states	Behavior tree for enemy logic
Use tables instead of prose	Keeps tuning, iteration, and clarity fast	Status effect config: name, tag, value
Think in tags	Promotes reuse and decoupling	“flammable”, “mechanical”, “flying”
Ask “what causes this?”	Builds causal chains, not surface features	Why does fatigue regenerate faster?
Version your ideas	Supports testing and rollback	“Stamina v1” vs “Stamina v2” configs

Final Thought: Code Is a Language — Use It to Think

You don’t need to write scripts.

But you do need to communicate with people who do.

Code-oriented thinking makes you:

faster at iteration,
easier to collaborate with,
and less likely to design something that “can’t be done.”

📍If your idea breaks when someone asks “how would this work?” — maybe it never worked at all.