Game Lobbies

Meeting spaces for players before game instances begin.

Online games can either directly place players in ongoing game instances or provide an interface to let them chose (or create) these. Game Lobbies are the interfaces that handle the latter options and may allow players to interact with each other before gameplay begins.

Examples

Practically all online multiplayer games where players match up against each other make use of Game Lobbies. Examples includes Quake, Counter-Strike, and StarCraft series. Similarly, the Left 4 Dead series provides Game Lobbies so that players have the possibility of matching up and avoid using bots as replacements for players. Massively Multiplayer Online Games such as World of Warcraft and Everquest allow players find each other not only to engage in team-based conflicts but also to create groups that cooperative in trying to complete localized gameplay areas.

Using the pattern

Game Lobbies can be used to allow players in Multiplayer Games with Mediated Gameplay to decide what type of game they should play and whom they should play it with. A main design choice for Game Lobbies is their scope, and in many cases games need to support players moving between these scopes. On the highest level, Game Lobbies in Meta Servers can help players select Game Servers. Connecting to one of these can put players in the next scope, in which players of a Game Server can gather before gameplay begins. This can simply be to allow enough players to be able for the game to be able to start but can also allow friends or rivals to find each other if Friend Lists are available. In games that in reality are Meta Games consisting of Back-to-Back Game Sessions or several matches, e.g. Counter-Strike, the Game Lobbies also serve as a space for players to discuss the just experienced gameplay. This can also be used to let players suffering from Early Elimination or Player Elimination to occupy themselves until the current match has ended.

Game Lobbies can also be used during games to allow players to find each other so they can together enter Instances. This may encourage and support players unfamiliar with each other to create Pickup Groups.

Game Lobbies can make use of Gameplay Statistics, Handles, and Public Player Statistics to help players identify themselves and find appropriate players to play with. They nearly always provide Chat or other Communication Channels so that players can both socialize and negotiate when gameplay should begin. In games with Player Decided Rule Setup, for example concerning Difficulty Levels, the Communication Channels also allow players to discuss which options or variants should be used.

Interface Aspects

As a way of allowing players to meet outside ongoing gameplay, Game Lobbies is not only an Interface Pattern but also a Meta Pattern.

Consequences

Game Lobbies provides players with a Freedom of Choice whom they can play with. To a certain level they support Late Arriving Players in that players already connected to the Game Lobbies can discuss waiting for additional players compared to starting to play. In games which support Interruptibility, they can also help players be aware of when players have taken a pause in play as well as how the other players should to handle this situation.

Although Game Lobbies do not need to have Communication Channels between players, this is so common that Social Interaction nearly always is supported through the presence of this pattern.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Freedom of Choice, Social Interaction

Can Modulate

Back-to-Back Game Sessions, Difficulty Levels, Early Elimination, Game Servers, Instances, Interruptibility, Late Arriving Players, Meta Games, Meta Servers, Pickup Groups, Player Decided Rule Setup, Player Elimination

Multiplayer Games, Teams, or TvT in games that have Mediated Gameplay

Can Be Instantiated By

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Can Be Modulated By

Chat Channels, Communication Channels, Friend Lists, Gameplay Statistics, Handles, Public Player Statistics

Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

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History

New pattern created in this wiki.

References

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Acknowledgements

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