Downtime - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 13:23, 27 August 2015

2015-08-27T13:23:41Z

Staffan Björk at 13:10, 24 August 2015

2015-08-24T13:10:16Z

Staffan Björk at 15:07, 2 August 2015

2015-08-02T15:07:42Z

Staffan Björk at 19:42, 30 July 2015

2015-07-30T19:42:28Z

Staffan Björk at 15:03, 18 July 2015

2015-07-18T15:03:11Z

Staffan Björk at 15:02, 18 July 2015

2015-07-18T15:02:40Z

Staffan Björk at 08:47, 17 July 2015

2015-07-17T08:47:59Z

Staffan Björk at 22:43, 12 July 2015

2015-07-12T22:43:29Z

Staffan Björk at 22:42, 12 July 2015

2015-07-12T22:42:31Z

Staffan Björk: /* Examples */

2015-07-12T22:40:42Z

‎Examples

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 == Consequences ==
-[[Downtime]] makes players into temporary [[Spectators]] and is an extreme form of a [[Lull Periods|Lull Period]]. It can be used as a form of [[Damage]] which players can suffer, and can be effects of [[Critical Hits]] besides whatever [[Health]] reductions are applied. Players experiencing [[Downtime]] are less inclined to experience some other patterns related to experiences. These include [[Engrossment]], [[Freedom of Choice]], and [[Tension]] although the last pattern can be caused by [[Downtime]] if the player can anticipate bad things about to happen.
+[[Downtime]] makes players into temporary [[Spectators]] by removing their [[Player Agency]] and is an extreme form of a [[Lull Periods|Lull Period]]. It can be used as a form of [[Damage]] which players can suffer, and can be effects of [[Critical Hits]] besides whatever [[Health]] reductions are applied. Players experiencing [[Downtime]] are less inclined to experience some other patterns related to experiences. These include [[Engrossment]], [[Freedom of Choice]], and [[Tension]] although the last pattern can be caused by [[Downtime]] if the player can anticipate bad things about to happen.
 However, players will probably try to fill their [[Downtime]] with activities. In games with [[Roleplaying]], this can be [[Gossip]] between the [[Player Characters]]. [[Anticipation]] and [[Tension]] may not be activities but players can often experience it during [[Downtime]] since they can in many cases observe how gameplay progresses during their [[Downtime]]. More actively, they can engage in [[Stimulated Planning]] (even in cases where the [[Downtime]] is caused by other players engaging in [[Stimulated Planning]]!) and have larger chances of predicting future game events, i.e. [[Downtime]] can make [[Predictable Consequences]] more likely.
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 [[Late Arriving Players]],
 [[Limited Planning Ability]],
 [[Real-Time Games]],
 [[Tension]],

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 == Consequences ==
-[[Downtime]] makes players into temporary [[Spectators]] and is an extreme form of a [[Lull Periods|Lull Period]]. It can be used as a form of [[Damage]] which players can suffer. Players experiencing [[Downtime]] are less inclined to experience some other patterns related to experiences. These include [[Engrossment]], [[Freedom of Choice]], and [[Tension]] although the last pattern can be caused by [[Downtime]] if the player can anticipate bad things about to happen.
+[[Downtime]] makes players into temporary [[Spectators]] and is an extreme form of a [[Lull Periods|Lull Period]]. It can be used as a form of [[Damage]] which players can suffer, and can be effects of [[Critical Hits]] besides whatever [[Health]] reductions are applied. Players experiencing [[Downtime]] are less inclined to experience some other patterns related to experiences. These include [[Engrossment]], [[Freedom of Choice]], and [[Tension]] although the last pattern can be caused by [[Downtime]] if the player can anticipate bad things about to happen.
 However, players will probably try to fill their [[Downtime]] with activities. In games with [[Roleplaying]], this can be [[Gossip]] between the [[Player Characters]]. [[Anticipation]] and [[Tension]] may not be activities but players can often experience it during [[Downtime]] since they can in many cases observe how gameplay progresses during their [[Downtime]]. More actively, they can engage in [[Stimulated Planning]] (even in cases where the [[Downtime]] is caused by other players engaging in [[Stimulated Planning]]!) and have larger chances of predicting future game events, i.e. [[Downtime]] can make [[Predictable Consequences]] more likely.
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 ==== with [[Ammunition]] ====
 [[Tactical Planning]]
 ==== with [[Roleplaying]] ====

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 == Consequences ==
-[[Downtime]] makes players into temporary [[Spectators]] and this can be used as a form of [[Damage]] which players can suffer. Players experiencing [[Downtime]] are less inclined to experience some other patterns related to experiences. These include [[Engrossment]], [[Freedom of Choice]], and [[Tension]] although the last pattern can be caused by [[Downtime]] if the player can anticipate bad things about to happen.
+[[Downtime]] makes players into temporary [[Spectators]] and is an extreme form of a [[Lull Periods|Lull Period]]. It can be used as a form of [[Damage]] which players can suffer. Players experiencing [[Downtime]] are less inclined to experience some other patterns related to experiences. These include [[Engrossment]], [[Freedom of Choice]], and [[Tension]] although the last pattern can be caused by [[Downtime]] if the player can anticipate bad things about to happen.
 However, players will probably try to fill their [[Downtime]] with activities. In games with [[Roleplaying]], this can be [[Gossip]] between the [[Player Characters]]. [[Anticipation]] and [[Tension]] may not be activities but players can often experience it during [[Downtime]] since they can in many cases observe how gameplay progresses during their [[Downtime]]. More actively, they can engage in [[Stimulated Planning]] (even in cases where the [[Downtime]] is caused by other players engaging in [[Stimulated Planning]]!) and have larger chances of predicting future game events, i.e. [[Downtime]] can make [[Predictable Consequences]] more likely.
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 [[Damage]],
 [[Individual Penalties]],
 [[Penalties]],
 [[Spectators]],

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 [[Save-Load Cycles]], [[Synchronous Gameplay]], [[Tiered Participation]], and [[Ultra-Powerful Events]] are all examples of the first type of patterns, as are the effects of some [[Weapons]]. [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] and [[Meta Games]] together with [[Unsynchronized Game Sessions]] also do this but only when players need to wait for other players to finish their play sessions before their own can start. [[Spawning]] typically have some [[Downtime]] associated with it, if only to let players get their bearings (during which they typically cannot be attacked). [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] and [[Game Masters]] doesn't in themselves cause [[Downtime]] but can enforce it easily in games. When all actions relate to movement, [[Movement Limitations]] can cause [[Downtime]] as can cases where the location players find themselves in while under [[Movement Limitations]] don't allow any (interesting) actions. Generally, lack of [[Resources]] can cause [[Downtime]] simply because the [[Resources]] are needed to perform actions.
-Examples of the second category include [[Camping]], [[Game Pauses]], and [[Social Roles]]. [[Ability Losses]], [[Cooldown]], and [[Development Time]] can cause [[Downtime]] when they remove the possibility to do any actions or when multiple cases of them overlap so no actions remain to be made. [[Multiplayer Games]] can cause [[Downtime]] is when players can be removed from play due to [[Permadeath]] or [[Player Elimination]], where they are presented with [[Summary Updates]], or simply when having to wait for their turn in [[Turn-Based Games]] or games with [[Turn Taking]]. [[Stimulated Planning]] can cause other players to have [[Downtime]] waiting for the one planning to finish as can [[Analysis Paralysis]] together with [[Turn Taking]] or [[Turn-Based Games]]. Players can cause their own [[Downtime]] by activating [[No-Ops]], especially as [[Extended Actions]], while the designed support for [[No-Ops]] in general make it easy to enforce [[Downtime]] on players as well.
+Examples of the second category include [[Camping]], [[Game Pauses]], and [[Social Roles]]. [[Ability Losses]], [[Cooldown]], and [[Development Time]] can cause [[Downtime]] when they remove the possibility to do any actions or when multiple cases of them overlap so no actions remain to be made. [[Multiplayer Games]] can cause [[Downtime]] is when players can be removed from play due to [[Permadeath]] or [[Player Elimination]], where they are presented with [[Summary Updates]], or simply when having to wait for their turn in [[Turn-Based Games]] or games with [[Turn Taking]]. [[Stimulated Planning]] can cause other players to have [[Downtime]] waiting for the one planning to finish as can [[Analysis Paralysis]] together with [[Turn Taking]] or [[Turn-Based Games]]. Players can cause their own [[Downtime]] by activating [[No-Ops]], especially as [[Extended Actions]], while the designed support for [[No-Ops]] in general make it easy to enforce [[Downtime]] on players as well. [[Reserves]] is a special case since it depends on whether players themselves can choose to be removed from gameplay or if others, e.g. [[Coaches]] do so. This mean that [[Reserves]] can belong to either category.
 There are many ways for players to avoid having [[Downtime]]. [[Real-Time Games]] make players have to act or at least perceive gameplay at the time and [[Time Limits]] forces players to at least plan actions since after the limit is met they cannot anymore. Some patterns avoid [[Downtime]] among players by hindering other players from blocking gameplay for too long. [[Late Arriving Players]] removes the need for some players to have [[Downtime]] before gameplay actually begins due to other players to being present. [[Limited Planning Ability]] is one way to achieve this but use of [[Negotiation]] makes other players active in one player's turn. While [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can easily enforce [[Downtime]] they can also be used, especially in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]], to switch between players so that some balance between how much time each players gets can be achieved.
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 [[No-Ops]],
 [[Rescue]],
 [[Resources]],
 [[Save-Load Cycles]],

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 There are many ways for players to avoid having [[Downtime]]. [[Real-Time Games]] make players have to act or at least perceive gameplay at the time and [[Time Limits]] forces players to at least plan actions since after the limit is met they cannot anymore. Some patterns avoid [[Downtime]] among players by hindering other players from blocking gameplay for too long. [[Late Arriving Players]] removes the need for some players to have [[Downtime]] before gameplay actually begins due to other players to being present. [[Limited Planning Ability]] is one way to achieve this but use of [[Negotiation]] makes other players active in one player's turn. While [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can easily enforce [[Downtime]] they can also be used, especially in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]], to switch between players so that some balance between how much time each players gets can be achieved.
-As a middle ground, some pattern can regulate how much [[Downtime]] players have. The precise design of [[Limited Resources]] naturally affect how much [[Resources]] can cause [[Downtime]] while the length of ticks can put a ceiling for how much [[Downtime]] on can have in [[Tick-Based Games]]. The [[Downtime]] that occurs while loading parts of games in [[:Category:Computer Games|Computer Games]] can be made more interesting through [[Loading Hints]].
+As a middle ground, some pattern can regulate how much [[Downtime]] players have. The precise design of [[Limited Resources]] naturally affect how much [[Resources]] can cause [[Downtime]] while the length of ticks can put a ceiling for how much [[Downtime]] on can have in [[Tick-Based Games]] (as well as cause the [[Downtime]] to begin with). The [[Downtime]] that occurs while loading parts of games in [[:Category:Computer Games|Computer Games]] can be made more interesting through [[Loading Hints]].
 == Consequences ==

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 [[Stimulated Planning]],
 [[Synchronous Gameplay]],
 [[Tiered Participation]],
 [[Ultra-Powerful Events]],

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 [[Category:Patterns]]
 [[Category:Dynamic Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs revision]]
 [[Category:Needs examples]]
 [[Category:Needs references]]
 [[Category:To be Published]]
 ''Waiting time players have to experience during game sessions.''

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 [[Category:To be Published]]
 [[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]
-''The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.''
+''Waiting time players have to experience during game sessions.''
-This pattern is a still a stub.
+[[Downtime]] occurs in games when players perceive themselves as playing, or wanting to play, but they cannot perform actions. This inability may be due to technological reasons, having to wait for other players, or enforced waiting periods due to game effects.
 === Examples ===

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 === Examples ===
-Having to wait for the other player to make his or her move in [[Chess]] or [[Go]] is an example of [[Downtime]]. So is waiting for a game like [[Counter-Strike]] or [[Oblivion]] to load.
+Having to wait for the other player to make his or her move in [[Chess]] or [[Go]] is an example of [[Downtime]]. So is waiting for a game like [[Counter-Strike]] or [[Oblivion]] to load. [[Counter-Strike]] also have small amounts of [[Downtime]] during gameplay when reloading weapons and longer when waiting for new rounds to start after one's avatar has died.
 == Using the pattern ==