Casual Gameplay - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 09:26, 15 July 2016

2016-07-15T09:26:45Z

Staffan Björk at 07:52, 8 August 2015

2015-08-08T07:52:00Z

Staffan Björk at 07:30, 21 August 2012

2012-08-21T07:30:55Z

Staffan Björk at 10:58, 16 August 2012

2012-08-16T10:58:48Z

Staffan Björk at 16:58, 2 October 2011

2011-10-02T16:58:57Z

Staffan Björk at 09:09, 7 September 2011

2011-09-07T09:09:42Z

Staffan Björk at 09:57, 15 August 2011

2011-08-15T09:57:49Z

Staffan Björk at 16:10, 9 August 2011

2011-08-09T16:10:44Z

Staffan Björk at 16:31, 7 May 2011

2011-05-07T16:31:58Z

Staffan Björk at 08:05, 1 May 2011

2011-05-01T08:05:06Z

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 A first requirement is that players should be play sessions can be started or stopped without being too [[Tension]] or too much of a time or social commitment. This makes [[Single-Player Games]] well-suited to be be the carriers of [[Casual Gameplay]], although the use of [[Private Game Spaces]] show how games such as [[FarmVille]] or [[Mafia Wars]] can be [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. Other solutions include [[Limited Gameplay Time]], [[Negotiable Game Sessions]], [[Negotiable Play Sessions]], and [[Ubiquitous Gameplay]]. [[Time Limits]] are a double-edged sword in this case; it limits the time commitment but increases [[Tension]]. [[Game Pauses]] can of course also work for this, but this depends on the nature of the gameplay (e.g. level of [[Tension]]). Even if some games depict [[Conflicts]] (e.g. [[Mafia Wars]]), games aiming at [[Casual Gameplay]] more often consists of [[Construction]] or [[Puzzle Solving]] than [[Combat]] or [[Races]] in order to avoid stressful gameplay. Related, the [[Social Interaction]] they provide rarely allow [[Betrayal]] or put players in situations of [[Inherent Mistrust]] or [[Social Dilemmas]], instead using safe alternatives as for example [[Free Gift Inventories]].
-A second requirement is that a game with [[Casual Gameplay]] should be easy to take up, even from the start. This means providing [[Smooth Learning Curves]] and avoiding [[Challenging Gameplay]], which can be achieved through the help of [[Clues]] or [[Companions]] (either as [[Avatars]]/[[Characters]] or as [[Units]]) that explain new gameplay features as they appear. The possibility of [[Experimenting]] in games does not in itself make for [[Casual Gameplay]], but can modulate it and support it indirectly through supporting [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. [[Difficulty Levels]] and other [[Handicap Systems]] are a simple way of letting players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] between a certain form of [[Casual Gameplay]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], as can [[Point of Interest Indications]]. If the [[Casual Gameplay]] is to be enforced more, another option similar to [[Companions]] include using [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Supporting Goals]]. As another example, [[Game World Navigation]] can be made easy initially through the use of [[Landmarks]] and other support but these can latter be absent when players can be assumed to have mastered this activity in a game.
+A second requirement is that a game with [[Casual Gameplay]] should be easy to take up, even from the start. This means providing [[Smooth Learning Curves]] and avoiding [[Challenging Gameplay]], which can be achieved through the help of [[Clues]] or [[Companions]] (either as [[Avatars]]/[[Characters]] or as [[Units]]) that explain new gameplay features as they appear. The possibility of [[Experimenting]] in games does not in itself make for [[Casual Gameplay]], but can modulate it and support it indirectly through supporting [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. [[Difficulty Levels]] and other [[Handicap Systems]] are a simple way of letting players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] between a certain form of [[Casual Gameplay]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], as can [[Point of Interest Indicators]]. If the [[Casual Gameplay]] is to be enforced more, another option similar to [[Companions]] include using [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Supporting Goals]]. As another example, [[Game World Navigation]] can be made easy initially through the use of [[Landmarks]] and other support but these can latter be absent when players can be assumed to have mastered this activity in a game.
 Although [[Casual Gameplay]] needs to avoid [[Challenging Gameplay]] it does not need to avoid [[Complex Gameplay]], since this can be introduced gradually from [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. This shows one way [[Casual Gameplay]] can be combined with [[Gameplay Mastery]] - for example knowing the most efficient ways of gaining resources given a particular style of play in [[FarmVille]] - but it can also be through being able to perform relatively simple tasks many many times in a row (as in for example [[Bejeweled]] or [[Icy Tower]]). The latter can be seen as an a form of [[Player Time Investments]] and [[Grinding]], as can the way [[Puzzle Solving]] or [[Construction]] is instantiated to support [[Casual Gameplay]].
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 [[Negotiable Play Sessions]],
 [[Player Time Investments]],
-[[Point of Interest Indications]],
+[[Point of Interest Indicators]],
 [[Private Game Spaces]], [[Puzzle Solving]],
 [[Smooth Learning Curves]],

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 A second requirement is that a game with [[Casual Gameplay]] should be easy to take up, even from the start. This means providing [[Smooth Learning Curves]] and avoiding [[Challenging Gameplay]], which can be achieved through the help of [[Clues]] or [[Companions]] (either as [[Avatars]]/[[Characters]] or as [[Units]]) that explain new gameplay features as they appear. The possibility of [[Experimenting]] in games does not in itself make for [[Casual Gameplay]], but can modulate it and support it indirectly through supporting [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. [[Difficulty Levels]] and other [[Handicap Systems]] are a simple way of letting players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] between a certain form of [[Casual Gameplay]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], as can [[Point of Interest Indications]]. If the [[Casual Gameplay]] is to be enforced more, another option similar to [[Companions]] include using [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Supporting Goals]]. As another example, [[Game World Navigation]] can be made easy initially through the use of [[Landmarks]] and other support but these can latter be absent when players can be assumed to have mastered this activity in a game.
-Although [[Casual Gameplay]] needs to avoid [[Challenging Gameplay]] it does not need to avoid [[Complex Gameplay]], since this can be introduced gradually from [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. This shows one way [[Casual Gameplay]] can be combined with [[Game Mastery]] - for example knowing the most efficient ways of gaining resources given a particular style of play in [[FarmVille]] - but it can also be through being able to perform relatively simple tasks many many times in a row (as in for example [[Bejeweled]] or [[Icy Tower]]). The latter can be seen as an a form of [[Player Time Investments]] and [[Grinding]], as can the way [[Puzzle Solving]] or [[Construction]] is instantiated to support [[Casual Gameplay]].
+Although [[Casual Gameplay]] needs to avoid [[Challenging Gameplay]] it does not need to avoid [[Complex Gameplay]], since this can be introduced gradually from [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. This shows one way [[Casual Gameplay]] can be combined with [[Gameplay Mastery]] - for example knowing the most efficient ways of gaining resources given a particular style of play in [[FarmVille]] - but it can also be through being able to perform relatively simple tasks many many times in a row (as in for example [[Bejeweled]] or [[Icy Tower]]). The latter can be seen as an a form of [[Player Time Investments]] and [[Grinding]], as can the way [[Puzzle Solving]] or [[Construction]] is instantiated to support [[Casual Gameplay]].
 [[Levels]] can be suitable for providing [[Casual Gameplay]] since they can both provide support for play sessions limited in time and be constructed to not be too difficult. For games using [[Player-Location Proximity]], [[Self-Reported Positioning]] lets players claim be in positions they are not and thereby free them to only move as much as they wish rather than what the physical distances actually demand.

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 Although [[Casual Gameplay]] needs to avoid [[Challenging Gameplay]] it does not need to avoid [[Complex Gameplay]], since this can be introduced gradually from [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. This shows one way [[Casual Gameplay]] can be combined with [[Game Mastery]] - for example knowing the most efficient ways of gaining resources given a particular style of play in [[FarmVille]] - but it can also be through being able to perform relatively simple tasks many many times in a row (as in for example [[Bejeweled]] or [[Icy Tower]]). The latter can be seen as an a form of [[Player Time Investments]] and [[Grinding]], as can the way [[Puzzle Solving]] or [[Construction]] is instantiated to support [[Casual Gameplay]].
-[[Levels]] can be suitable for providing [[Casual Gameplay]] since they can both provide support for play sessions limited in time and be constructed to not be too difficult.
+[[Levels]] can be suitable for providing [[Casual Gameplay]] since they can both provide support for play sessions limited in time and be constructed to not be too difficult. For games using [[Player-Location Proximity]], [[Self-Reported Positioning]] lets players claim be in positions they are not and thereby free them to only move as much as they wish rather than what the physical distances actually demand.
 === Diegetic Aspects ===
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 [[Non-Player Characters]] together with [[Supporting Goals]]
 === Can Be Modulated By ===

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 The instantiation of [[Casual Gameplay]] depends on the combination of many independent design choices.
-A first requirement is that players should be play sessions can be started or stopped without being too [[Tension]] or too much of a time or social commitment. This makes [[Single-Player Games]] well-suited to be be the carriers of [[Casual Gameplay]], although the use of [[Private Game Spaces]] show how games such as [[FarmVille]] or [[Mafia Wars]] can be [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. Other solutions include
+A first requirement is that players should be play sessions can be started or stopped without being too [[Tension]] or too much of a time or social commitment. This makes [[Single-Player Games]] well-suited to be be the carriers of [[Casual Gameplay]], although the use of [[Private Game Spaces]] show how games such as [[FarmVille]] or [[Mafia Wars]] can be [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. Other solutions include [[Limited Gameplay Time]], [[Negotiable Game Sessions]], [[Negotiable Play Sessions]], and [[Ubiquitous Gameplay]]. [[Time Limits]] are a double-edged sword in this case; it limits the time commitment but increases [[Tension]]. [[Game Pauses]] can of course also work for this, but this depends on the nature of the gameplay (e.g. level of [[Tension]]). Even if some games depict [[Conflicts]] (e.g. [[Mafia Wars]]), games aiming at [[Casual Gameplay]] more often consists of [[Construction]] or [[Puzzle Solving]] than [[Combat]] or [[Races]] in order to avoid stressful gameplay. Related, the [[Social Interaction]] they provide rarely allow [[Betrayal]] or put players in situations of [[Inherent Mistrust]] or [[Social Dilemmas]], instead using safe alternatives as for example [[Free Gift Inventories]].
 [[Limited Gameplay Time]], [[Negotiable Play Sessions]], and [[Ubiquitous Gameplay]]. [[Time Limits]] are a double-edged sword in this case; it limits the time commitment but increases [[Tension]]. [[Game Pauses]] can of course also work for this, but this depends on the nature of the gameplay (e.g. level of [[Tension]]). Even if some games depict [[Conflicts]] (e.g. [[Mafia Wars]]), games aiming at [[Casual Gameplay]] more often consists of [[Construction]] or [[Puzzle Solving]] than [[Combat]] or [[Races]] in order to avoid stressful gameplay. Related, the [[Social Interaction]] they provide rarely allow [[Betrayal]] or put players in situations of [[Inherent Mistrust]] or [[Social Dilemmas]], instead using safe alternatives as for example [[Free Gift Inventories]].
 A second requirement is that a game with [[Casual Gameplay]] should be easy to take up, even from the start. This means providing [[Smooth Learning Curves]] and avoiding [[Challenging Gameplay]], which can be achieved through the help of [[Clues]] or [[Companions]] (either as [[Avatars]]/[[Characters]] or as [[Units]]) that explain new gameplay features as they appear. The possibility of [[Experimenting]] in games does not in itself make for [[Casual Gameplay]], but can modulate it and support it indirectly through supporting [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. [[Difficulty Levels]] and other [[Handicap Systems]] are a simple way of letting players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] between a certain form of [[Casual Gameplay]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], as can [[Point of Interest Indications]]. If the [[Casual Gameplay]] is to be enforced more, another option similar to [[Companions]] include using [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Supporting Goals]]. As another example, [[Game World Navigation]] can be made easy initially through the use of [[Landmarks]] and other support but these can latter be absent when players can be assumed to have mastered this activity in a game.
@@ Line 46: / Line 45: @@
 [[Grinding]],
 [[Handicap Systems]],
-[[Levels]], [[Limited Gameplay Time]], [[Negotiable Play Sessions]], [[Player Time Investments]],
+[[Levels]], [[Limited Gameplay Time]],
 [[Point of Interest Indications]],
 [[Private Game Spaces]], [[Puzzle Solving]],

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 The instantiation of [[Casual Gameplay]] depends on the combination of many independent design choices.
-A first requirement is that players should be play sessions can be started or stopped without being too [[Tension]] or too much of a time or social commitment. This makes [[Single-Player Games]] well-suited to be be the carriers of [[Casual Gameplay]], although the use of [[Private Game Spaces]] show how games such as [[FarmVille]] or [[Mafia Wars]] can be [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. Other solutions include [[Limited Gameplay Time]] and [[Negotiable Play Sessions]]. [[Time Limits]] are a double-edged sword in this case; it limits the time commitment but increases [[Tension]]. [[Game Pauses]] can of course also work for this, but this depends on the nature of the gameplay (e.g. level of [[Tension]]). Even if some games depict [[Conflicts]] (e.g. [[Mafia Wars]]), games aiming at [[Casual Gameplay]] more often consists of [[Construction]] or [[Puzzle Solving]] than [[Combat]] or [[Races]] in order to avoid stressful gameplay. Related, the [[Social Interaction]] they provide rarely allow [[Betrayal]] or put players in situations of [[Inherent Mistrust]] or [[Social Dilemmas]], instead using safe alternatives as for example [[Free Gift Inventories]].
+A first requirement is that players should be play sessions can be started or stopped without being too [[Tension]] or too much of a time or social commitment. This makes [[Single-Player Games]] well-suited to be be the carriers of [[Casual Gameplay]], although the use of [[Private Game Spaces]] show how games such as [[FarmVille]] or [[Mafia Wars]] can be [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. Other solutions include
 A second requirement is that a game with [[Casual Gameplay]] should be easy to take up, even from the start. This means providing [[Smooth Learning Curves]] and avoiding [[Challenging Gameplay]], which can be achieved through the help of [[Clues]] or [[Companions]] (either as [[Avatars]]/[[Characters]] or as [[Units]]) that explain new gameplay features as they appear. The possibility of [[Experimenting]] in games does not in itself make for [[Casual Gameplay]], but can modulate it and support it indirectly through supporting [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. [[Difficulty Levels]] and other [[Handicap Systems]] are a simple way of letting players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] between a certain form of [[Casual Gameplay]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], as can [[Point of Interest Indications]]. If the [[Casual Gameplay]] is to be enforced more, another option similar to [[Companions]] include using [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Supporting Goals]]. As another example, [[Game World Navigation]] can be made easy initially through the use of [[Landmarks]] and other support but these can latter be absent when players can be assumed to have mastered this activity in a game.
@@ Line 47: / Line 48: @@
 [[Levels]], [[Limited Gameplay Time]], [[Negotiable Play Sessions]], [[Player Time Investments]],
 [[Point of Interest Indications]],
-[[Private Game Spaces]], [[Puzzle Solving]], [[Smooth Learning Curves]]
+[[Private Game Spaces]], [[Puzzle Solving]],
 [[Non-Player Characters]] together with [[Supporting Goals]]

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 A first requirement is that players should be play sessions can be started or stopped without being too [[Tension]] or too much of a time or social commitment. This makes [[Single-Player Games]] well-suited to be be the carriers of [[Casual Gameplay]], although the use of [[Private Game Spaces]] show how games such as [[FarmVille]] or [[Mafia Wars]] can be [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. Other solutions include [[Limited Gameplay Time]] and [[Negotiable Play Sessions]]. [[Time Limits]] are a double-edged sword in this case; it limits the time commitment but increases [[Tension]]. [[Game Pauses]] can of course also work for this, but this depends on the nature of the gameplay (e.g. level of [[Tension]]). Even if some games depict [[Conflicts]] (e.g. [[Mafia Wars]]), games aiming at [[Casual Gameplay]] more often consists of [[Construction]] or [[Puzzle Solving]] than [[Combat]] or [[Races]] in order to avoid stressful gameplay. Related, the [[Social Interaction]] they provide rarely allow [[Betrayal]] or put players in situations of [[Inherent Mistrust]] or [[Social Dilemmas]], instead using safe alternatives as for example [[Free Gift Inventories]].
-A second requirement is that a game with [[Casual Gameplay]] should be easy to take up, even from the start. This means providing [[Smooth Learning Curves]] and avoiding [[Challenging Gameplay]], which can be achieved through the help of [[Companions]] (either as [[Avatars]]/[[Characters]] or as [[Units]]) as that explain new gameplay as it is introduced. [[Difficulty Levels]] and other [[Handicap Systems]] are a simple way of letting players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] between a certain form of [[Casual Gameplay]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]]. If the [[Casual Gameplay]] is to be enforced more, another option similar to [[Companions]] include using [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Supporting Goals]].
+A second requirement is that a game with [[Casual Gameplay]] should be easy to take up, even from the start. This means providing [[Smooth Learning Curves]] and avoiding [[Challenging Gameplay]], which can be achieved through the help of [[Clues]] or [[Companions]] (either as [[Avatars]]/[[Characters]] or as [[Units]]) that explain new gameplay features as they appear. [[Difficulty Levels]] and other [[Handicap Systems]] are a simple way of letting players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] between a certain form of [[Casual Gameplay]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]]. If the [[Casual Gameplay]] is to be enforced more, another option similar to [[Companions]] include using [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Supporting Goals]].
 Although [[Casual Gameplay]] needs to avoid [[Challenging Gameplay]] it does not need to avoid [[Complex Gameplay]], since this can be introduced gradually from [[Smooth Learning Curves]]. This shows one way [[Casual Gameplay]] can be combined with [[Game Mastery]] - for example knowing the most efficient ways of gaining resources given a particular style of play in [[FarmVille]] - but it can also be through being able to perform relatively simple tasks many many times in a row (as in for example [[Bejeweled]] or [[Icy Tower]]). The latter can be seen as an a form of [[Player Time Investments]] and [[Grinding]], as can the way [[Puzzle Solving]] or [[Construction]] is instantiated to support [[Casual Gameplay]].
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
 [[Companions]], [[Construction]], [[Difficulty Levels]], [[Game Pauses]], [[Grinding]],
 [[Handicap Systems]],