View source for Possibility of Anonymity

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''That players have the possibility to not reveal their identities while playing a game.''

Games are often a way to have social activities with others. This does not however always mean that players wish to let other players know much about themselves, e.g. because they are worried about their performance or wish to avoid developing any kind of social relation. To do this, games may give players a [[Possibility of Anonymity]].

=== Examples ===
Players of online games such as the [[Battlefield series]] or the [[Left 4 Dead series]] can choose what names they want to be identified by, and by not chatting or using voice communications they can keep other players from knowing who they are. The characters created by players of computer-mediated roleplaying games such [[Kingdoms]], [[Ultima Online]], and [[World of Warcraft]] can protect identities in the same fashion, but the effort of maintaining the same alter ego for prolonged period of times usually means that long-time players show their normal selves.

== Using the pattern ==
The trivial solution to providing players with a [[Possibility of Anonymity]] is to make [[Single-Player Games]]. In other cases, the players need to have their contact with each other mediated through [[Avatars]], [[Handles]], or [[Player Characters]] and this requires [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]]. Quite obviously, this makes the pattern difficult to combine with [[Unmediated Social Interaction]]. Even when this is avoided, games with mediated [[Social Interaction]] may require players to engage in [[Roleplaying]] to appear to be somebody they are not if they wish to be anonymous.

Since [[Public Player Statistics]] can provide information about players spanning beyond game instances this may ruin players [[Possibility of Anonymity]].

=== Interface Aspects ===
Supporting a [[Possibility of Anonymity]] often requires interfaces that can mediate their interactions, and this in turn requires [[Dedicated Game Facilitators].

== Consequences ==
The option of being oneself or hiding who one is while playing is a [[Freedom of Choice]].

As mentioned before, games with [[Social Interaction]] may force players to [[Roleplaying|Roleplay]] to make use of a [[Possibility of Anonymity]].

== Relations ==
=== Can Instantiate ===
[[Freedom of Choice]]

==== with [[Social Interaction]] ====
[[Roleplaying]]

=== Can Modulate ===
-

=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
[[Single-Player Games]]

[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] together with [[Handles]], [[Avatars]], or [[Player Characters]]

=== Can Be Modulated By ===
-

=== Possible Closure Effects ===
-

=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
[[Public Player Statistics]], 
[[Unmediated Social Interaction]]

== History ==
New pattern created in this wiki.

== References ==
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== Acknowledgements ==
Johan Peitz