Learning to create experiences that are meaningful to users is the most important skill needed by developers of interactive applications. It is the meaning of the interaction that drives players to invest time and energy in playing your application. We want to invoke feelings of happiness, anger, pride, relief, caring, astonishment, surprise, elation, or satisfaction in our users. To do this, we need to provide immediate and long-term feedback to difficult choices and actions taken by the user.

Let's look at a few clarifying examples that might take place in a role-playing game (RPG). Imagine that you are a wizard wondering through a forest-covered mountain when you come upon a cave. Peeking into the cave, you see in the dim light a sleeping dragon surrounded by treasure. The following are some possible interactions that could take place. We will discuss each, and determine if it created meaningful play.

Scenario 1: