Element 1 – Mechanics:
The mechanics are the overall play rules of your game. How high they can jump, if at all. Whether there is stamina on the player or objects. How much life they have. Where, and how, they will die. Re-spawning points. If they can interact with objects, and if so which ones. In essence how the world interacts with you, aswell as you with it.
Element 2 – Story:
The story is much the same as in a book or film, whereas it is a sequence of events that your character proceeds through interactively. The only difference is, in a game the story is an interactive experience.
You must have a clear beginning point and ending point. Each chapter in between linking in progression from and to each point. This can be done however you desire and does not really have to make sense on their own, as long as they follow in the overall process of the games logic.
As the story runs the games mechanics aid in it’s telling, giving an emersive experience and a whole new dynamic to the story telling process.
Element 3 – Aesthetics:
These are the design to the enviroment within the game. For instance if your game is est in medieval times a television would be out of place, breaking the believability of the game experience, a tapestry or parchment would be more suited in it’s place. The more you tailor your enviromental design in line with the game setting, the more real it will feel to those playing it. So keeping your aesthetics within the original design parameters of the game will give it a more “Real” feel.
Element 4 – Technology:
As mentioned in the previous element (aesthetics) technology is a key element to follow. A watch on a caveman, or a rocket in Rome, would both be bad examples of technological use in a historical timeframe. Continuity is key in believing where, and when, you are. Unless of course you are making a time distortion game, that is. Keep your historical framing in mind when using items. Use the dumbest version of the period as a rule, upgrading it to that periods cutting edge technology after researching the specific period.
My Blueprint Factory 