View source for Detective Structures

[[Category:Patterns]]
[[Category:Needs revision]]
[[Category:Needs examples]]
[[Category:Needs references]]
[[Category:Information Patterns]]
[[Category:Character Patterns]]
''Information available to a player is limited to the information available to one single character.''

The player experiences the game event aligned with a single character. This means that all surprises and revelations occur at the same time for the players and their characters although they may make different conclusions.

=== Examples ===
The [[Detective Structure]] is a typical pattern used in many First-Person Shooters, e.g. [[Half-Life Series]] and [[Deus Ex Series]]. This come pretty natural for the genre since it is defined by how one perceives the game world from the view of one character.

However, games using third-person views can also make use of the pattern, with the [[Silent Hill Series]] as one example. Although this may allow players to perceive things their characters do not (or vice versa) due to looking in different directions, this only concerns what happens in the very proximity of the characters and does not have to affect narrative structures.

== Using the pattern ==
Creating a game with a [[Detective Structure]] at a minimum requires the design of an [[Avatars|Avatar]] for each player, and then limiting each  players' availability of information to their [[Avatars]]. When doing so the range of possibilities to present information is limited compared to other games given that a [[Detective Structure]] can mainly provide information through the [[Game Worlds|Game World]]. [[Diegetically Outstanding Features]] such as [[Clues]] and [[Traces]] is one alternative to do so, while [[NPCs]] with potentially accompanying [[Character Dialogues]] provides another one. 

The information provided through the [[Game Worlds|Game World]] can be complimented with those related to the players' [[Characters]]. This includes diegetic interpretations of events by the [[Characters]], including [[Game Prophecies]], but can also be internal cognitive processes such dream, hallucinations, and [[Character Memories]]. 

Although a [[Detective Structure]] does not by itself create [[Surprises]], the wish to provide players with [[Surprises]] is one of the main reason to make use of the structure.

=== Diegetic Aspects ===
Although limiting information of players to that of specific [[Characters]] may seem to imply that the information presented should be that perceivable by those [[Characters]], this does not need to be the case. For instance, when a player makes his or her [[Characters|Character]] look at a certain object in the [[Game Worlds|Game World]] additional [[Non-Diegetic Elements]] may be shown (e.g. floating [[Handles]]) which the [[Characters|Character]] cannot detect. Thus, the presence of a [[Detective Structure]] in a game does not need to imply [[Diegetic Consistency]].

=== Interface Aspects ===
[[Detective Structure]] can use [[First-Person Views]] or [[Third-Person Views]].

=== Narrative Aspects ===
The use of [[Detective Structure]] makes it easier to control how players receive information, and which order they receive it in. Through this, the [[Detective Structure]] can be used to ensure that [[Narrative Structures]] are presented in the intended order.

== Consequences ==
A [[Detective Structure]] provides [[Imperfect Information]] since it limits the player’s information to a certain point-of-view at any given point in time; the player does not need to have unlimited access to what the character knows, feels, and perceives. This provides an [[Uncertainty of Information]] at the beginning of gameplay which can be maintained through updating [[Game Worlds]] through [[Unobserved Game Events]]. Although initially incompatible with [[Perfect Information]] (unless a player's [[Avatars|Avatar]] can perceive the whole [[Game Worlds|Game World]], which makes the pattern irrelevant), if these additional patterns are not used the [[Imperfect Information]] will gradually turn into [[Perfect Information]]] as players can merge the different set of information into one complete view. Similarly, a [[Detective Structure]] is initially incompatible with a [[Melodramatic Structure]] but unlike [[Perfect Information]] this can be maintained throughout the gameplay.

Through providing [[Imperfect Information]] and the possibilities of [[Surprises]], a [[Detective Structure]] can cause [[Tension]]. This is especially true when players' have been given [[Clues]] that certain events may occur. It is also likely that players will adopt [[Gain Information]] goals, either related to [[Narrative Structures]] or simply related to [[Exploration]] of [[Game Worlds]] (that may be possible to solve simply by [[Movement]]).

== Relations ==
=== Can Instantiate ===
[[Exploration]], [[Gain Information]], [[Imperfect Information]], [[Surprises]], [[Tension]], [[Uncertainty of Information]] 

=== Can Modulate ===
[[Game Worlds]], [[Narrative Structures]] 

=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
[[Avatars]], [[Characters]], [[First-Person Views]], [[Third-Person Views]]

=== Can Be Modulated By ===
[[Character Dialogues]], [[Character Memories]], [[Clues]], [[Game Prophecies]], [[Diegetically Outstanding Features]], [[Non-Diegetic Elements]], [[NPCs]], [[Traces]]

=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
[[Melodramatic Structure]], [[Perfect Information]]

== History ==
An updated version of the pattern ''Detective Structure'', first introduced in Lankoski 2010<ref name="Lankoski2010"/>.

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="Lankoski2010">Lankoski (2010). Character-Driven Game Design - A Design Approach and Its Foundations in Character Engagement. PhD thesis at Aalto University. Publication Series of the School of Art and Design A 101.</ref>
</references>