Somewhat different than creating a reskin, when you alter the underlying metaphor your game is designed on you are dramatically changing the context of a given rules construct, opening up new Game Design Patterns and mechanical opportunities you might not otherwise use. The cliché example is taking the first person shooter construct and turning it into a photography game, opening up novel design space that would otherwise be out of place or introduce Ludonarrative Dissonance.


Practical Creativity by Raph Koster, GDC 2014