Backtracking Levels - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 13:34, 21 July 2016

2016-07-21T13:34:09Z

Staffan Björk at 06:29, 3 August 2015

2015-08-03T06:29:47Z

Staffan Björk at 21:55, 9 February 2015

2015-02-09T21:55:51Z

Staffan Björk at 10:45, 12 September 2011

2011-09-12T10:45:42Z

Staffan Björk at 10:43, 12 September 2011

2011-09-12T10:43:47Z

Staffan Björk at 10:22, 12 September 2011

2011-09-12T10:22:06Z

Staffan Björk at 07:40, 9 September 2011

2011-09-09T07:40:53Z

Staffan Björk at 14:21, 2 January 2011

2011-01-02T14:21:35Z

Staffan Björk at 08:28, 6 December 2010

2010-12-06T08:28:53Z

Staffan Björk at 08:43, 19 November 2010

2010-11-19T08:43:50Z

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Backtracking Levels]] is basically a way of designing [[Transport Routes]] so players need to go through the entire [[Levels|Level]] and then go back. To make this [[Movement]] necessary, a [[Check Points]], [[Controller]] or something similar is needed so the game has a way of detecting that players have reach the furthermost point. Alternatively, going back through the level can be postponed by having [[Cutscenes]] or even other [[Levels]] interjected between them (as [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] does between the missions ''Assault on the Control Room'' and ''Two Betrayals'', which both take place on the same [[Levels|Level]]).
+[[Backtracking Levels]] is basically a way of designing [[Transport Routes]] so players need to go through the entire [[Levels|Level]] or [[Game Boards|Game Board]] and then go back. To make this [[Movement]] necessary, a [[Check Points]], [[Controller]] or something similar is needed so the game has a way of detecting that players have reach the furthermost point. Alternatively, going back through the level can be postponed by having [[Cutscenes]] or even other [[Levels]] interjected between them (as [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] does between the missions ''Assault on the Control Room'' and ''Two Betrayals'', which both take place on the same [[Levels|Level]]).
 == Consequences ==
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 === Can Modulate ===
 [[Levels]],
 [[Transport Routes]],

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Backtracking Levels]] is basically a way of designing [[Levels]] so players need to go through the entire [[Levels|Level]] and then go back. To make this [[Movement]] necessary, a [[Check Points]], [[Controller]] or something similar is needed so the game has a way of detecting that players have reach the furthermost point. Alternatively, going back through the level can be postponed by having [[Cutscenes]] or even other [[Levels]] interjected between them (as [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] does between the missions ''Assault on the Control Room'' and ''Two Betrayals'', which both take place on the same [[Levels|Level]]).
+[[Backtracking Levels]] is basically a way of designing [[Transport Routes]] so players need to go through the entire [[Levels|Level]] and then go back. To make this [[Movement]] necessary, a [[Check Points]], [[Controller]] or something similar is needed so the game has a way of detecting that players have reach the furthermost point. Alternatively, going back through the level can be postponed by having [[Cutscenes]] or even other [[Levels]] interjected between them (as [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] does between the missions ''Assault on the Control Room'' and ''Two Betrayals'', which both take place on the same [[Levels|Level]]).
 == Consequences ==
-[[Backtracking Levels]] is a way to make more use of [[Levels]] in games. By making players have in effect two [[Traverse]] goals instead of one it can be seen as a way of modifying [[Traverse]] goals. Depending on the specifics of environment that have to be traveled to, [[Backtracking Levels]] can provide [[Varied Gameplay]]. However, unless other [[Rewards]] are provided when reaching the furthest point the pattern may work against players' [[Value of Effort]].
+[[Backtracking Levels]] is a way to make more use of [[Transport Routes]] and thereby [[Levels]] in games. By making players have in effect two [[Traverse]] goals instead of one it can be seen as a way of modifying [[Traverse]] goals. Depending on the specifics of environment that have to be traveled to, [[Backtracking Levels]] can provide [[Varied Gameplay]]. However, unless other [[Rewards]] are provided when reaching the furthest point the pattern may work against players' [[Value of Effort]].
 Quite naturally, [[Quick Returns]] are not compatible with [[Backtracking Levels]].
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 === Can Modulate ===
-[[Levels]], [[Traverse]]
+[[Levels]],
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Category:Patterns]]
 [[Category:Level Design Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs work]]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 [[Category:Needs examples]]
-''Levels, or parts of levels, that need to be travel through first one way and then back again the same way again.''
+''Levels that need to be travel through first one way and then back again the same way again.''
-While most levels in games require players to move from their initial starting point to the end point of the level, there are some exception. [[Backtracking Levels]] are similar to ordinary levels, but when players have reach the end they need to go back to the beginning.
+While most levels in games require players to move from their initial starting point to the end point of the level, there are some exceptions. [[Backtracking Levels]] are similar to ordinary levels, but when players have reached the end, they need to go back to the beginning.
 ''Note:'' This pattern does not discuss the partial backtracking that can occur in [[Game World Exploration]] or [[Game World Navigation]], focusing only on levels where players need to go through them first in one direction and then go completely back.
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 The Hard Rain campaigns in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] requires the players to first go through several levels to retrieve gas tanks, and then go back the same way to be picked up by a boat that can take them to safety.
-At some points, [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] had players move through one level in one direction to after a couple of additional missions have the players move back through the already explored levels.
+At some points, [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] had players move through one level in one direction but after a couple of additional missions have the players move back through the already explored levels.
 == Using the pattern ==

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 [[Category:Needs references]]
 [[Category:Needs examples]]
 ''Levels, or parts of levels, that need to be travel through first one way and then back again the same way again.''
-This pattern is a still a stub.
+While most levels in games require players to move from their initial starting point to the end point of the level, there are some exception. [[Backtracking Levels]] are similar to ordinary levels, but when players have reach the end they need to go back to the beginning.
-=== Examples ===
+''Note:'' This pattern does not discuss the partial backtracking that can occur in [[Game World Exploration]] or [[Game World Navigation]], focusing only on levels where players need to go through them first in one direction and then go completely back.
 The Hard Rain campaigns in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] requires the players to first go through several levels to retrieve gas tanks, and then go back the same way to be picked up by a boat that can take them to safety.
 == Using the pattern ==
+[[Backtracking Levels]] is basically a way of designing [[Levels]] so players need to go through the entire [[Levels|Level]] and then go back. To make this [[Movement]] necessary, a [[Check Points]], [[Controller]] or something similar is needed so the game has a way of detecting that players have reach the furthermost point. Alternatively, going back through the level can be postponed by having [[Cutscenes]] or even other [[Levels]] interjected between them (as [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] does between the missions ''Assault on the Control Room'' and ''Two Betrayals'', which both take place on the same [[Levels|Level]]).
 [[Check Points]]
 == Consequences ==
-[[Backtracking Levels]] is a way to make more use of [[Levels]] in games. By making players have in effect two [[Traverse]] goals
+[[Backtracking Levels]] is a way to make more use of [[Levels]] in games. By making players have in effect two [[Traverse]] goals instead of one it can be seen as a way of modifying [[Traverse]] goals. Depending on the specifics of environment that have to be traveled to, [[Backtracking Levels]] can provide [[Varied Gameplay]]. However, unless other [[Rewards]] are provided when reaching the furthest point the pattern may work against players' [[Value of Effort]].
-−
-[[Value of Effort]]
-−
 [[Varied Gameplay]]
-−
 Quite naturally, [[Quick Returns]] are not compatible with [[Backtracking Levels]].
@@ Line 38: / Line 33: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
+[[Check Points]]
 === Can Be Modulated By ===
@@ Line 47: / Line 42: @@
 === Potentially Conflicting With ===
-[[Quick Returns]]
+[[Quick Returns]],
 == History ==
@@ Line 53: / Line 49: @@
 == References ==
-<references>
-<ref name="Bjork & Holopainen 2004">Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) Patterns in Game Design. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.</ref>
-</references>