Difficulty Levels - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 09:17, 21 September 2016

2016-09-21T09:17:53Z

Staffan Björk at 08:10, 21 September 2016

2016-09-21T08:10:40Z

Staffan Björk at 09:56, 25 July 2016

2016-07-25T09:56:01Z

Staffan Björk at 13:54, 19 November 2015

2015-11-19T13:54:36Z

Staffan Björk at 13:41, 19 November 2015

2015-11-19T13:41:15Z

Staffan Björk at 07:58, 8 August 2015

2015-08-08T07:58:30Z

Staffan Björk: /* Can Modulate */

2015-08-04T16:02:08Z

‎Can Modulate

Staffan Björk at 18:58, 3 August 2015

2015-08-03T18:58:43Z

Staffan Björk at 21:01, 5 July 2015

2015-07-05T21:01:15Z

Staffan Björk at 19:42, 9 September 2014

2014-09-09T19:42:49Z

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Designing [[Difficulty Levels]] consists of deciding on different types of modifications to the gameplay that should be used to describe different levels of difficulty. The options naturally depend on what values are handled by the game system, but generally [[Decreased Abilities]] or [[Improved Abilities]] form the basis for creating a difficulty level. For [[Multiplayer Games]] a general choice also exists regarding if all players need to have the same difficulty setting or not - if they do not have to have this then [[Difficulty Levels]] provide a [[Handicap Systems|Handicap System]] (as they do in any [[Single-Player Games|Single-Player Game]]). [[Difficulty Levels]] can also be created by having game features as [[Optional Rules]]. For example, systems that offer [[Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment]] or [[Player/System Action Composites]] to players as options let players choose to make the games easier by using them. In contrast, the possibility of switching if [[Friendly Fire]] is on and off in games with [[Teams]] can make games harder or easier depending what is the norm.
-Examples of more specific modifications include to change how much [[Health]] players have, introduce general multipliers to [[Damage]] taken or given, make [[Ammunition]] or [[Tools]] that restore [[Health]] more or less common, change the numbers of [[Enemies]] encountered and how often [[Respawning]] occurs, as well as modifying the skill of [[AI Players]] and [[Algorithmic Agents]] controlling [[Enemies]]. In games with [[Teams]], limiting the possibilities for [[Coordination]] is a way to make gameplay more difficulty. The ''Realism Mode'' in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] is an example of this, but also shows that [[Difficulty Levels]] do not have to be simply choices along one scale. In this case the use of [[Geospatial Game Widgets]] are severely districted and thereby makes [[Coordination]] more difficult. Board games requiring no dexterity and with [[Perfect Information]] provide a very specific form of difficulty setting - that of not using any [[Tokens]] and thereby requiring some or all player to continuously having to engage in [[Memorizing]] the game state. [[Chess]] played in this way is called [[Blindfold Chess]]. The use of [[Permadeath]] in games can be the basis for additional [[Difficulty Levels]]; [[Diablo II]] and the ''hardcore'' version of [[BatMUD]] are examples of this. For games that allow [[Saving]], such as [[Diablo II]] but also the [[X-COM series]], this also requires enforcing the use of only one save slot per game instance to avoid [[Save-Load Cycles]] (and especially [[Save Scumming]]) since this breaks the intended [[Difficulty Levels|Difficulty Level]]. It should however be noted that [[Difficulty Levels]] may be re-modified when [[Save Scumming]] has been detected to encourage players to try and beat challenges through gameplay rather than [[Save-Load Cycles]] through modifying the gameplay challenges in other ways than the previous [[Difficulty Levels]] did.
+Examples of more specific modifications include to change how much [[Health]] players have, introduce general multipliers to [[Damage]] taken or given, make [[Ammunition]] or [[Tools]] that restore [[Health]] more or less common, change the numbers of [[Enemies]] encountered and how often [[Spawning]] occurs, as well as modifying the skill of [[AI Players]] and [[Algorithmic Agents]] controlling [[Enemies]]. In games with [[Teams]], limiting the possibilities for [[Coordination]] is a way to make gameplay more difficulty. The ''Realism Mode'' in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] is an example of this, but also shows that [[Difficulty Levels]] do not have to be simply choices along one scale. In this case the use of [[Geospatial Game Widgets]] are severely districted and thereby makes [[Coordination]] more difficult. Board games requiring no dexterity and with [[Perfect Information]] provide a very specific form of difficulty setting - that of not using any [[Tokens]] and thereby requiring some or all player to continuously having to engage in [[Memorizing]] the game state. [[Chess]] played in this way is called [[Blindfold Chess]]. The use of [[Permadeath]] in games can be the basis for additional [[Difficulty Levels]]; [[Diablo II]] and the ''hardcore'' version of [[BatMUD]] are examples of this. For games that allow [[Saving]], such as [[Diablo II]] but also the [[X-COM series]], this also requires enforcing the use of only one save slot per game instance to avoid [[Save-Load Cycles]] (and especially [[Save Scumming]]) since this breaks the intended [[Difficulty Levels|Difficulty Level]]. It should however be noted that [[Difficulty Levels]] may be re-modified when [[Save Scumming]] has been detected to encourage players to try and beat challenges through gameplay rather than [[Save-Load Cycles]] through modifying the gameplay challenges in other ways than the previous [[Difficulty Levels]] did.
 The use of [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] for [[Abstract Player Constructs]] such as countries are often based upon the setting of the games - not all countries in the [[Hearts of Iron series]] have equal possibilities to handle the turmoil of the Second World War and, as the name suggests, not all countries in the [[Europa Universalis series]] were posed to be able and expand their influence between the 15th and 19th century AD.
@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 [[Game Lobbies]],
 [[Health]],
 [[Sanctioned Cheating]],
 [[Secondary Interface Screens]],
 [[Saving]],
 [[Tools]]

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Designing [[Difficulty Levels]] consists of deciding on different types of modifications to the gameplay that should be used to describe different levels of difficulty. The options naturally depend on what values are handled by the game system, but generally [[Decreased Abilities]] or [[Improved Abilities]] form the basis for creating a difficulty level. For [[Multiplayer Games]] a general choice also exists regarding if all players need to have the same difficulty setting or not - if they do not have to have this then [[Difficulty Levels]] provide a [[Handicap Systems|Handicap System]] (as they do in any [[Single-Player Games|Single-Player Game]]). [[Difficulty Levels]] can also be created by having game features as [[Optional Rules]]. For example, systems that offer [[Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment]] or [[Player/System Action Composites]] to players as options let players choose to make the games easier by using them. In contrast, the possibility of switching if [[Friendly Fire]] is on and off in games with [[Teams]] can make games harder or easier depending what is the norm.
-Examples of more specific modifications include to change how much [[Health]] players have, introduce general multipliers to [[Damage]] taken or given, make [[Ammunition]] or [[Tools]] that restore [[Health]] more or less common, change the numbers of [[Enemies]] encountered and how often [[Respawning]] occurs, as well as modifying the skill of [[AI Players]] and [[Algorithmic Agents]] controlling [[Enemies]]. In games with [[Teams]], limiting the possibilities for [[Coordination]] is a way to make gameplay more difficulty. The ''Realism Mode'' in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] is an example of this, but also shows that [[Difficulty Levels]] do not have to be simply choices along one scale. In this case the use of [[Geospatial Game Widgets]] are severely districted and thereby makes [[Coordination]] more difficult. Board games requiring no dexterity and with [[Perfect Information]] provide a very specific form of difficulty setting - that of not using any [[Tokens]] and thereby requiring some or all player to continuously having to engage in [[Memorizing]] the game state. [[Chess]] played in this way is called [[Blindfold Chess]]. The use of [[Permadeath]] in games can be the basis for additional [[Difficulty Levels]]; [[Diablo II]] and the ''hardcore'' version of [[BatMUD]] are examples of this. For games that allow [[Saving]], such as [[Diablo II]] but also the [[X-COM series]], this also requires enforcing the use of only one save slot per game instance to avoid [[Save-Load Cycles]] (and especially [[Save Scumming]]) since this breaks the intended [[Difficulty Levels|Difficulty Level]]. It should however be noted that [[Difficulty Levels]] may be re-modified when [[Save Scumming]] has been detected to encourage players to try and beat challenges through gameplay rather than [[Save-load Cycles]] through modifying the gameplay challenges in other ways than the previous [[Difficulty Levels]] did.
+Examples of more specific modifications include to change how much [[Health]] players have, introduce general multipliers to [[Damage]] taken or given, make [[Ammunition]] or [[Tools]] that restore [[Health]] more or less common, change the numbers of [[Enemies]] encountered and how often [[Respawning]] occurs, as well as modifying the skill of [[AI Players]] and [[Algorithmic Agents]] controlling [[Enemies]]. In games with [[Teams]], limiting the possibilities for [[Coordination]] is a way to make gameplay more difficulty. The ''Realism Mode'' in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] is an example of this, but also shows that [[Difficulty Levels]] do not have to be simply choices along one scale. In this case the use of [[Geospatial Game Widgets]] are severely districted and thereby makes [[Coordination]] more difficult. Board games requiring no dexterity and with [[Perfect Information]] provide a very specific form of difficulty setting - that of not using any [[Tokens]] and thereby requiring some or all player to continuously having to engage in [[Memorizing]] the game state. [[Chess]] played in this way is called [[Blindfold Chess]]. The use of [[Permadeath]] in games can be the basis for additional [[Difficulty Levels]]; [[Diablo II]] and the ''hardcore'' version of [[BatMUD]] are examples of this. For games that allow [[Saving]], such as [[Diablo II]] but also the [[X-COM series]], this also requires enforcing the use of only one save slot per game instance to avoid [[Save-Load Cycles]] (and especially [[Save Scumming]]) since this breaks the intended [[Difficulty Levels|Difficulty Level]]. It should however be noted that [[Difficulty Levels]] may be re-modified when [[Save Scumming]] has been detected to encourage players to try and beat challenges through gameplay rather than [[Save-Load Cycles]] through modifying the gameplay challenges in other ways than the previous [[Difficulty Levels]] did.
 The use of [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] for [[Abstract Player Constructs]] such as countries are often based upon the setting of the games - not all countries in the [[Hearts of Iron series]] have equal possibilities to handle the turmoil of the Second World War and, as the name suggests, not all countries in the [[Europa Universalis series]] were posed to be able and expand their influence between the 15th and 19th century AD.

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 [[Damage]],
 [[Enemies]],
 [[Health]],
 [[Respawning]],
 [[Sanctioned Cheating]],
 [[Saving]],
 [[Tools]]
@@ Line 74: / Line 76: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
 [[Decreased Abilities]],
-[[Game Lobbies]],
+[[Improved Abilities]]
-[[Improved Abilities]],
-[[Secondary Interface Screens]]
 [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] together with [[Characters]] or [[Abstract Player Constructs]]

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Designing [[Difficulty Levels]] consists of deciding on different types of modifications to the gameplay that should be used to describe different levels of difficulty. The options naturally depend on what values are handled by the game system, but generally [[Decreased Abilities]] or [[Improved Abilities]] form the basis for creating a difficulty level. For [[Multiplayer Games]] a general choice also exists regarding if all players need to have the same difficulty setting or not - if they do not have to have this then [[Difficulty Levels]] provide a [[Handicap Systems|Handicap System]] (as they do in any [[Single-Player Games|Single-Player Game]]). [[Difficulty Levels]] can also be created by having game features as [[Optional Rules]]. For example, systems that offer [[Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment]] or [[Player/System Action Composites]] to players as options let players choose to make the games easier by using them. In contrast, the possibility of switching if [[Friendly Fire]] is on and off in games with [[Teams]] can make games harder or easier depending what is the norm.
-Examples of more specific modifications include to change how much [[Health]] players have, introduce general multipliers to [[Damage]] taken or given, make [[Ammunition]] or [[Tools]] that restore [[Health]] more or less common, change the numbers of [[Enemies]] encountered and how often [[Respawning]] occurs, as well as modifying the skill of [[AI Players]] and [[Algorithmic Agents]] controlling [[Enemies]]. In games with [[Teams]], limiting the possibilities for [[Coordination]] is a way to make gameplay more difficulty. The ''Realism Mode'' in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] is an example of this, but also shows that [[Difficulty Levels]] do not have to be simply choices along one scale. In this case the use of [[Geospatial Game Widgets]] are severely districted and thereby makes [[Coordination]] more difficult. Board games requiring no dexterity and with [[Perfect Information]] provide a very specific form of difficulty setting - that of not using any [[Tokens]] and thereby requiring some or all player to continuously having to engage in [[Memorizing]] the game state. [[Chess]] played in this way is called [[Blindfold Chess]]. The use of [[Permadeath]] in games can be the basis for additional [[Difficulty Levels]]; [[Diablo II]] and the ''hardcore'' version of [[BatMUD]] are examples of this. For games that allow [[Saving]], such as [[Diablo II]] but also the [[X-COM series]], this also requires enforcing the use of only one save slot per game instance to avoid [[Save-Load Cycles]] (and especially [[Save Scumming]]) since this breaks the intended [[Difficulty Levels|Difficulty Level]].
+Examples of more specific modifications include to change how much [[Health]] players have, introduce general multipliers to [[Damage]] taken or given, make [[Ammunition]] or [[Tools]] that restore [[Health]] more or less common, change the numbers of [[Enemies]] encountered and how often [[Respawning]] occurs, as well as modifying the skill of [[AI Players]] and [[Algorithmic Agents]] controlling [[Enemies]]. In games with [[Teams]], limiting the possibilities for [[Coordination]] is a way to make gameplay more difficulty. The ''Realism Mode'' in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] is an example of this, but also shows that [[Difficulty Levels]] do not have to be simply choices along one scale. In this case the use of [[Geospatial Game Widgets]] are severely districted and thereby makes [[Coordination]] more difficult. Board games requiring no dexterity and with [[Perfect Information]] provide a very specific form of difficulty setting - that of not using any [[Tokens]] and thereby requiring some or all player to continuously having to engage in [[Memorizing]] the game state. [[Chess]] played in this way is called [[Blindfold Chess]]. The use of [[Permadeath]] in games can be the basis for additional [[Difficulty Levels]]; [[Diablo II]] and the ''hardcore'' version of [[BatMUD]] are examples of this. For games that allow [[Saving]], such as [[Diablo II]] but also the [[X-COM series]], this also requires enforcing the use of only one save slot per game instance to avoid [[Save-Load Cycles]] (and especially [[Save Scumming]]) since this breaks the intended [[Difficulty Levels|Difficulty Level]]. It should however be noted that [[Difficulty Levels]] may be re-modified when [[Save Scumming]] has been detected to encourage players to try and beat challenges through gameplay rather than [[Save-load Cycles]] through modifying the gameplay challenges in other ways than the previous [[Difficulty Levels]] did.
 The use of [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] for [[Abstract Player Constructs]] such as countries are often based upon the setting of the games - not all countries in the [[Hearts of Iron series]] have equal possibilities to handle the turmoil of the Second World War and, as the name suggests, not all countries in the [[Europa Universalis series]] were posed to be able and expand their influence between the 15th and 19th century AD.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Designing [[Difficulty Levels]] consists of deciding on different types of modifications to the gameplay that should be used to describe different levels of difficulty. The options naturally depend on what values are handled by the game system, but generally [[Decreased Abilities]] or [[Improved Abilities]] form the basis for creating a difficulty level. For [[Multiplayer Games]] a general choice also exists regarding if all players need to have the same difficulty setting or not - if they do not have to have this then [[Difficulty Levels]] provide a [[Handicap Systems|Handicap System]] (as they do in any [[Single-Player Games|Single-Player Game]]). [[Difficulty Levels]] can also be created by having game features as [[Optional Rules]]. For example, systems that offer [[Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment]] or [[Player/System Action Composites]] to players as options let players choose to make the games easier by using them. In contrast, the possibility of switching if [[Friendly Fire]] is on and off in games with [[Teams]] can make games harder or easier depending what is the norm.
-Examples of more specific modifications include to change how much [[Health]] players have, introduce general multipliers to [[Damage]] taken or given, make [[Ammunition]] or [[Tools]] that restore [[Health]] more or less common, change the numbers of [[Enemies]] encountered and how often [[Respawning]] occurs, as well as modifying the skill of [[AI Players]] and [[Algorithmic Agents]] controlling [[Enemies]]. In games with [[Teams]], limiting the possibilities for [[Coordination]] is a way to make gameplay more difficulty. The ''Realism Mode'' in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] is an example of this, but also shows that [[Difficulty Levels]] do not have to be simply choices along one scale. In this case the use of [[Geospatial Game Widgets]] are severely districted and thereby makes [[Coordination]] more difficult. Board games requiring no dexterity and with [[Perfect Information]] provide a very specific form of difficulty setting - that of not using any [[Tokens]] and thereby requiring some or all player to continuously having to engage in [[Memorizing]] the game state. [[Chess]] played in this way is called [[Blindfold Chess]]. The use of [[Permadeath]] in games can be the basis for additional [[Difficulty Levels]]; [[Diablo II]] and the ''hardcore'' version of [[BatMUD]] are examples of this. For games that allow [[Saving]], such as [[Diablo II]] but also the [[X-COM series]], this also requires enforcing the use of only one save slot per game instance to avoid [[Save-Load Cycles]].
+Examples of more specific modifications include to change how much [[Health]] players have, introduce general multipliers to [[Damage]] taken or given, make [[Ammunition]] or [[Tools]] that restore [[Health]] more or less common, change the numbers of [[Enemies]] encountered and how often [[Respawning]] occurs, as well as modifying the skill of [[AI Players]] and [[Algorithmic Agents]] controlling [[Enemies]]. In games with [[Teams]], limiting the possibilities for [[Coordination]] is a way to make gameplay more difficulty. The ''Realism Mode'' in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] is an example of this, but also shows that [[Difficulty Levels]] do not have to be simply choices along one scale. In this case the use of [[Geospatial Game Widgets]] are severely districted and thereby makes [[Coordination]] more difficult. Board games requiring no dexterity and with [[Perfect Information]] provide a very specific form of difficulty setting - that of not using any [[Tokens]] and thereby requiring some or all player to continuously having to engage in [[Memorizing]] the game state. [[Chess]] played in this way is called [[Blindfold Chess]]. The use of [[Permadeath]] in games can be the basis for additional [[Difficulty Levels]]; [[Diablo II]] and the ''hardcore'' version of [[BatMUD]] are examples of this. For games that allow [[Saving]], such as [[Diablo II]] but also the [[X-COM series]], this also requires enforcing the use of only one save slot per game instance to avoid [[Save-Load Cycles]] (and especially [[Save Scumming]]) since this breaks the intended [[Difficulty Levels|Difficulty Level]].
 The use of [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] for [[Abstract Player Constructs]] such as countries are often based upon the setting of the games - not all countries in the [[Hearts of Iron series]] have equal possibilities to handle the turmoil of the Second World War and, as the name suggests, not all countries in the [[Europa Universalis series]] were posed to be able and expand their influence between the 15th and 19th century AD.
@@ Line 92: / Line 92: @@
 === Potentially Conflicting With ===
 [[Gameplay Mastery]],
 [[Save-Load Cycles]]

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 == Consequences ==
-[[Difficulty Levels]] are a form of [[Handicap Systems|Handicap System]], and since players can choose to deviate from the standard they also represent a form of [[Optional Rules]]. They give players a [[Freedom of Choice]] to have either [[Casual Gameplay|Casual]] or [[Challenging Gameplay]], as well as set the level of [[Framed Freedom]] they wish to have if some freedom exists to begin with. When players use [[Difficulty Levels]] to gradual increase the levels as they get better, this use of the pattern allows for [[Smooth Learning Curves]] that can be used to develop [[Game Mastery]]. However, this is under the responsibility of players that this occurs - [[Difficulty Levels]] can as easily work against [[Game Mastery]] if players are tempted to play on easy levels to complete or dominate the game.
+[[Difficulty Levels]] are a form of [[Handicap Systems|Handicap System]], and since players can choose to deviate from the standard they also represent a form of [[Optional Rules]]. They give players a [[Freedom of Choice]] to have either [[Casual Gameplay|Casual]] or [[Challenging Gameplay]], as well as set the level of [[Framed Freedom]] they wish to have if some freedom exists to begin with. When players use [[Difficulty Levels]] to gradual increase the levels as they get better, this use of the pattern allows for [[Smooth Learning Curves]] that can be used to develop [[Gameplay Mastery]]. However, this is under the responsibility of players that this occurs - [[Difficulty Levels]] can as easily work against [[Gameplay Mastery]] if players are tempted to play on easy levels to complete or dominate the game.
 [[Negotiable Game Sessions]] can be supported through [[Difficulty Levels]] since they can both change the amount of challenges that need to be overcome as well as making it less likely than one fails and has to redo parts of a game.
@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 [[Freedom of Choice]],
 [[Further Player Improvement Potential]],
-[[Game Mastery]],
+[[Gameplay Mastery]],
 [[Handicap Systems]],
 [[Negotiable Game Sessions]],
@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 === Potentially Conflicting With ===
-[[Game Mastery]],
+[[Gameplay Mastery]],
 [[Save-Load Cycles]]

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 [[Tools]]
-[[Coordination]] in games with [[Teams]]
+==== with [[Teams]] ====
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 As mentioned above, [[Difficulty Levels]] can be combined with [[Goal Achievements]] to create [[Handicap Achievements]].
-[[Difficulty Levels]] provide a weak form of [[Social Adaptability]] in games since players have a basic level of influence in what the game will require from them.
+[[Difficulty Levels]] provide a weak form of [[Social Adaptability]] in games since players have a basic level of influence in what the game will require from them. It also provide a weak form of [[Further Player Improvement Potential]] since players that have completed a game on a certain level can try to do so again on a higher level. This is a weak form since the highest difficulty level does show a clear limit on how much players can improve their gameplay skills.
 == Relations ==
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 [[Casual Gameplay]],
 [[Freedom of Choice]],
 [[Game Mastery]],
 [[Handicap Systems]],