Game Items - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 07:26, 9 August 2022

2022-08-09T07:26:47Z

Staffan Björk at 08:18, 3 August 2022

2022-08-03T08:18:50Z

Staffan Björk at 07:31, 3 August 2022

2022-08-03T07:31:22Z

Staffan Björk at 14:44, 7 February 2017

2017-02-07T14:44:40Z

Staffan Björk at 13:42, 21 July 2016

2016-07-21T13:42:44Z

Staffan Björk at 09:40, 2 August 2015

2015-08-02T09:40:34Z

Staffan Björk at 08:21, 2 September 2014

2014-09-02T08:21:00Z

Staffan Björk at 11:09, 30 July 2014

2014-07-30T11:09:04Z

Staffan Björk at 08:31, 28 August 2012

2012-08-28T08:31:00Z

Staffan Björk at 14:45, 15 June 2012

2012-06-15T14:45:36Z

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 As mentioned above, [[Game Items]] are [[Resources]]. When they exist as objects in [[Game Boards]], [[Game Worlds]], or [[Levels]], their positions are [[Resource Locations]] and [[Spawn Points]] if they are replenished through [[Spawning]]. While the presence of [[Game Items]] can help create a [[Thematic Consistency]] they are also modulated by this in how they can be presented.
-When [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]] is regulated the existence of them open up for [[Transfer of Control]] and [[Collecting]] actions to achieve [[Gain Ownership]] goals. This may also open up for [[Competitions]] and [[Races]] if the location of the [[Game Items]] are known to the players. However, it may or may not be possible to drop or trade [[Game Items]] after it has been taken. If [[Game Items]] are dropped when [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] carrying them are killed or destroyed, or if [[Gain Ownership]] over other players [[Game Items]] are supported in the game design, the presence of [[Game Items]] promotes [[Competition]] even after they have been acquired. Being able to drop [[Game Items]] gives players the [[Freedom of Choice]] to construct their own [[Traces]]. If players do not have synchronized play or game sessions, the change of ownership of [[Game Items]] in principle becomes [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]]. [[Deliver]] goals can be created by designating places where [[Game Items]] are to be moved to (this can automatically trigger the success or require players to intentionally drop the [[Game Item|Game Items]] there).
+When [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]] is regulated the existence of them open up for [[Transfer of Control]] and [[Collecting]] actions to achieve [[Gain Ownership]] and [[Collections|Collection]] goals. This may also open up for [[Competitions]] and [[Races]] if the location of the [[Game Items]] are known to the players. However, it may or may not be possible to drop or trade [[Game Items]] after it has been taken. If [[Game Items]] are dropped when [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] carrying them are killed or destroyed, or if [[Gain Ownership]] over other players [[Game Items]] are supported in the game design, the presence of [[Game Items]] promotes [[Competition]] even after they have been acquired. Being able to drop [[Game Items]] gives players the [[Freedom of Choice]] to construct their own [[Traces]]. If players do not have synchronized play or game sessions, the change of ownership of [[Game Items]] in principle becomes [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]]. [[Deliver]] goals can be created by designating places where [[Game Items]] are to be moved to (this can automatically trigger the success or require players to intentionally drop the [[Game Item|Game Items]] there).
 Several types of [[Game Items]], especially [[Armor]], [[Tools]], and [[Weapons]] but also [[Equipment]], offers a form of [[Character Development]] for games with [[Characters]] (and for [[Tools]] and [[Weapons]] the presence of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]]). [[Tension]] can easily arise in such games, or games where individual [[Game Items]] are in other ways valuable, if they can be lost in some way (e.g. through [[Stealing]]).
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 [[Clickability]],
 [[Collecting]],
 [[Converters]],
 [[Cosmetic Game Items]],

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 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Game Items]] are a type of [[Resources]] which differentiates itself from other [[Resources]] by each individual unit having its own identity and presence. General categories of [[Game Items]] include [[Armor]] for protecting against [[Damage]], [[Tools]] for providing [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]], and [[Weapons]] for modifying [[Combat]]. These are all [[Equipment]] but [[Game Items]] providing passive benefits are other examples of [[Equipment]]. While these all provide or modify some gameplay functionality, [[Cosmetic Game Items]] and [[MacGuffins]] are examples of [[Game Items]] that can serve purposes in games without directly affecting gameplay - all other type of [[Game Items]] can also be modulated by being [[Cosmetic Game Items]] as well. [[Power-Ups]] provide gameplay functionality but are instead only weakly present as [[Game Items]] since coming in contact with them removes them from [[Game Worlds]].
+[[Game Items]] are a type of [[Resources]] which differentiates itself from other [[Resources]] by each individual unit having its own identity and presence. General categories of [[Game Items]] include [[Armor]] for protecting against [[Damage]], [[Tools]] for providing [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]], and [[Weapons]] for modifying [[Combat]]. The presence of [[Weapons]] in a game (as [[Game Items]] or not) also opens up for [[Ammunition]] to be [[Game Items]]. These are all [[Equipment]] but [[Game Items]] providing passive benefits are other examples of [[Equipment]]. While these all provide or modify some gameplay functionality, [[Cosmetic Game Items]] and [[MacGuffins]] are examples of [[Game Items]] that can serve purposes in games without directly affecting gameplay - all other type of [[Game Items]] can also be modulated by being [[Cosmetic Game Items]] as well. [[Power-Ups]] provide gameplay functionality but are instead only weakly present as [[Game Items]] since coming in contact with them removes them from [[Game Worlds]].
 There are some general considerations of how [[Game Items]] should be modeled in a game. First, not all [[Agents]] in [[Game Worlds]] may be able to interact with specific [[Game Items]], giving those that can do so [[Privileged Abilities]] and changing the usefulness and value of the [[Game Items]]. They can have many various [[Attributes]] of which the most common are probably ''value'' (which makes all [[Game Items]] to a common type of [[Resources|Resource]]) and ''weight''. Another is if they should be [[Destructible Objects]] through [[Deterioration]]; this is most common for [[Armor]], [[Tools]], and [[Weapons]]. Not all [[Game Items]] have tangible presences in [[Game Worlds]] (this is common for [[Power-Ups]] for example); those that do are [[Diegetically Tangible Game Items]].
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 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
 [[Armor]],
 [[Cosmetic Game Items]],

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 As mentioned above, [[Game Items]] are [[Resources]]. When they exist as objects in [[Game Boards]], [[Game Worlds]], or [[Levels]], their positions are [[Resource Locations]] and [[Spawn Points]] if they are replenished through [[Spawning]]. While the presence of [[Game Items]] can help create a [[Thematic Consistency]] they are also modulated by this in how they can be presented.
-When [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]] is regulated the existence of them open up for [[Transfer of Control]] and [[Collecting]] actions to achieve [[Gain Ownership]] goals. This may also open up for [[Competitions]] and [[Races]] if the location of the [[Game Items]] are known to the players. However, it may or may not be possible to drop or trade [[Game Items]] after it has been taken. If [[Game Items]] are dropped when [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] carrying them are killed or destroyed, or if [[Gain Ownership]] over other players [[Game Items]] are supported in the game design, the presence of [[Game Items]] promotes [[Competition]] even after they have been acquired. Being able to drop [[Game Items]] gives players the [[Freedom of Choice]] to construct their own [[Traces]]. If players do not have synchronized play or game sessions, the change of ownership of [[Game Items]] in principle becomes [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]].
+When [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]] is regulated the existence of them open up for [[Transfer of Control]] and [[Collecting]] actions to achieve [[Gain Ownership]] goals. This may also open up for [[Competitions]] and [[Races]] if the location of the [[Game Items]] are known to the players. However, it may or may not be possible to drop or trade [[Game Items]] after it has been taken. If [[Game Items]] are dropped when [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] carrying them are killed or destroyed, or if [[Gain Ownership]] over other players [[Game Items]] are supported in the game design, the presence of [[Game Items]] promotes [[Competition]] even after they have been acquired. Being able to drop [[Game Items]] gives players the [[Freedom of Choice]] to construct their own [[Traces]]. If players do not have synchronized play or game sessions, the change of ownership of [[Game Items]] in principle becomes [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]]. [[Deliver]] goals can be created by designating places where [[Game Items]] are to be moved to (this can automatically trigger the success or require players to intentionally drop the [[Game Item|Game Items]] there).
 Several types of [[Game Items]], especially [[Armor]], [[Tools]], and [[Weapons]] but also [[Equipment]], offers a form of [[Character Development]] for games with [[Characters]] (and for [[Tools]] and [[Weapons]] the presence of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]]). [[Tension]] can easily arise in such games, or games where individual [[Game Items]] are in other ways valuable, if they can be lost in some way (e.g. through [[Stealing]]).
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 === Can Instantiate ===
 [[Competition]],
 [[Environmental Storytelling]],
 [[Freedom of Choice]],

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 One aspect of [[Game Items]] is how they should be acquired. While some [[Game Items]] can be [[Rewards]], e.g. after achieved [[Achievements]] or completing [[Quests]], [[Game Items]] can also be [[Pick-Ups]], i.e. existing as game elements in [[Game Boards]], [[Game Worlds]], and [[Levels]] before being acquired, possible through appearing as [[Loot]]. In this case, a vital design decision is in what locations the [[Game Items]] should appear, and if later new instances should appear there as well, and if so, if they do so through [[Converters]], [[Resource Generators]], or [[Spawning]]. [[Trading]] with other players, [[Non-Player Characters]], or at [[Self-Service Kiosks]], make it possible to make the acquisition of [[Game Items]] into [[Trade-Offs]] between these items and other [[Game Items]] or [[Resources]]. Another option is that the players can construct [[Game Items]] themselves through [[Crafting]], as for example done in [[Minecraft]] or [[Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress]]. A final option, related to [[Crafting]], is that the players create the items as [[Extra-Game Actions]]. These [[Player Created Game Elements]] are most commonly found in [[:Category:Live Action Roleplaying Games|LARPs]] but can also be found in text-based MUDs (e.g. [[Kingdoms]] and [[DragonMud]]) where players can create the [[Game Worlds]].
-[[Game Items]] can be used as goal objects in [[Gain Ownership]] goals, especially if there is only one instance of a [[Game Items|Game Item]] available and it is in a predetermined place. Once players can have [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]], other design options open up. [[Inventories]] allow for many [[Game Items]] to be carried and interacted with through [[Secondary Interface Screens]]. Having [[Equipment]] lets players choose which [[Game Items]] should be active or should provide [[New Abilities]] at any given point in time. [[Sets]] can be used to allow [[Combos]] to occur for having specific combinations of [[Game Items]] equipped.
+[[Game Items]] can be used as goal objects in [[Gain Ownership]] goals, especially if there is only one instance of a [[Game Items|Game Item]] available and it is in a predetermined place. Once players can have [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]], other design options open up. [[Inventories]] allow for many [[Game Items]] to be carried and interacted with through [[Secondary Interface Screens]]. Having [[Equipment]] lets players choose which [[Game Items]] should be active or should provide [[New Abilities]] at any given point in time. [[Sets]] can be used to allow [[Combos]] to occur for having specific combinations of [[Game Items]] equipped, and acquiring such [[Sets]] can be
 For [[Multiplayer Games]] one can consider if [[Game Items]] are to be [[Transferable Items]], and if so how this is controlled. [[Stealing]] is one option here, which adds [[Attention Demanding Gameplay]] to those game elements holding them as well as [[Tension]] and possibly [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]]. Otherwise, [[Ownership]] of [[Tools]] may simply be that no offensive [[Transfer of Control]] actions such as [[Stealing]] are possible but those holding [[Tools]] can either drop them or voluntary engage in [[Trading]]. Some games that wishes to regulate [[Transferable Items]], e.g. [[World of Warcraft]], make the picking up, using, or equipping of them activate an [[Enforced Ownership]] - note that this does not have to completely make transfers impossible, [[World of Warcraft]] for example lets "soulbound" [[Game Items]] be sold to [[Non-Player Characters]]/[[Self-Service Kiosks]].
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 [[Game Element Trading]],
 [[Purchasable Game Advantages]]
 ==== with [[Stealing]] ====

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 There are some general considerations of how [[Game Items]] should be modeled in a game. First, not all [[Agents]] in [[Game Worlds]] may be able to interact with specific [[Game Items]], giving those that can do so [[Privileged Abilities]] and changing the usefulness and value of the [[Game Items]]. They can have many various [[Attributes]] of which the most common are probably ''value'' (which makes all [[Game Items]] to a common type of [[Resources|Resource]]) and ''weight''. Another is if they should be [[Destructible Objects]] through [[Deterioration]]; this is most common for [[Armor]], [[Tools]], and [[Weapons]]. Not all [[Game Items]] have tangible presences in [[Game Worlds]] (this is common for [[Power-Ups]] for example); those that do are [[Diegetically Tangible Game Items]].
-One aspect of [[Game Items]] is how they should be acquired. While some [[Game Items]] can be [[Rewards]], e.g. after achieved [[Achievements]] or completing [[Quests]], [[Game Items]] can also be [[Pick-Ups]], i.e. existing as game elements in [[Game Worlds]] and [[Levels]] before being acquired, possible through appearing as [[Loot]]. In this case, a vital design decision is in what locations the [[Game Items]] should appear, and if later new instances should appear there as well, and if so, if they do so through [[Converters]], [[Resource Generators]], or [[Spawning]]. [[Trading]] with other players, [[Non-Player Characters]], or at [[Self-Service Kiosks]], make it possible to make the acquisition of [[Game Items]] into [[Trade-Offs]] between these items and other [[Game Items]] or [[Resources]]. Another option is that the players can construct [[Game Items]] themselves through [[Crafting]], as for example done in [[Minecraft]] or [[Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress]]. A final option, related to [[Crafting]], is that the players create the items as [[Extra-Game Actions]]. These [[Player Created Game Elements]] are most commonly found in [[:Category:Live Action Roleplaying Games|LARPs]] but can also be found in text-based MUDs (e.g. [[Kingdoms]] and [[DragonMud]]) where players can create the [[Game Worlds]].
+One aspect of [[Game Items]] is how they should be acquired. While some [[Game Items]] can be [[Rewards]], e.g. after achieved [[Achievements]] or completing [[Quests]], [[Game Items]] can also be [[Pick-Ups]], i.e. existing as game elements in [[Game Boards]], [[Game Worlds]], and [[Levels]] before being acquired, possible through appearing as [[Loot]]. In this case, a vital design decision is in what locations the [[Game Items]] should appear, and if later new instances should appear there as well, and if so, if they do so through [[Converters]], [[Resource Generators]], or [[Spawning]]. [[Trading]] with other players, [[Non-Player Characters]], or at [[Self-Service Kiosks]], make it possible to make the acquisition of [[Game Items]] into [[Trade-Offs]] between these items and other [[Game Items]] or [[Resources]]. Another option is that the players can construct [[Game Items]] themselves through [[Crafting]], as for example done in [[Minecraft]] or [[Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress]]. A final option, related to [[Crafting]], is that the players create the items as [[Extra-Game Actions]]. These [[Player Created Game Elements]] are most commonly found in [[:Category:Live Action Roleplaying Games|LARPs]] but can also be found in text-based MUDs (e.g. [[Kingdoms]] and [[DragonMud]]) where players can create the [[Game Worlds]].
 [[Game Items]] can be used as goal objects in [[Gain Ownership]] goals, especially if there is only one instance of a [[Game Items|Game Item]] available and it is in a predetermined place. Once players can have [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]], other design options open up. [[Inventories]] allow for many [[Game Items]] to be carried and interacted with through [[Secondary Interface Screens]]. Having [[Equipment]] lets players choose which [[Game Items]] should be active or should provide [[New Abilities]] at any given point in time. [[Sets]] can be used to allow [[Combos]] to occur for having specific combinations of [[Game Items]] equipped.
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 == Consequences ==
-As mentioned above, [[Game Items]] are [[Resources]]. When they exist as objects in [[Game Worlds]] or [[Levels]], their positions are [[Resource Locations]] and [[Spawn Points]] if they are replenished through [[Spawning]]. While the presence of [[Game Items]] can help create a [[Thematic Consistency]] they are also modulated by this in how they can be presented.
+As mentioned above, [[Game Items]] are [[Resources]]. When they exist as objects in [[Game Boards]], [[Game Worlds]], or [[Levels]], their positions are [[Resource Locations]] and [[Spawn Points]] if they are replenished through [[Spawning]]. While the presence of [[Game Items]] can help create a [[Thematic Consistency]] they are also modulated by this in how they can be presented.
 When [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]] is regulated the existence of them open up for [[Transfer of Control]] and [[Collecting]] actions to achieve [[Gain Ownership]] goals. This may also open up for [[Competitions]] and [[Races]] if the location of the [[Game Items]] are known to the players. However, it may or may not be possible to drop or trade [[Game Items]] after it has been taken. If [[Game Items]] are dropped when [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] carrying them are killed or destroyed, or if [[Gain Ownership]] over other players [[Game Items]] are supported in the game design, the presence of [[Game Items]] promotes [[Competition]] even after they have been acquired. Being able to drop [[Game Items]] gives players the [[Freedom of Choice]] to construct their own [[Traces]]. If players do not have synchronized play or game sessions, the change of ownership of [[Game Items]] in principle becomes [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]].
@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 === Can Modulate ===
 [[Achievements]],
 [[Game Worlds]],
 [[Levels]],

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 [[Game Items]] can be used as goal objects in [[Gain Ownership]] goals, especially if there is only one instance of a [[Game Items|Game Item]] available and it is in a predetermined place. Once players can have [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]], other design options open up. [[Inventories]] allow for many [[Game Items]] to be carried and interacted with through [[Secondary Interface Screens]]. Having [[Equipment]] lets players choose which [[Game Items]] should be active or should provide [[New Abilities]] at any given point in time. [[Sets]] can be used to allow [[Combos]] to occur for having specific combinations of [[Game Items]] equipped.
-For [[Multiplayer Games]] one can consider if [[Game Items]] are to be [[Transferable Items]], and if so how this is controlled. [[Stealing]] is one option here, which adds [[Attention Demanding]] to those game elements holding them as well as [[Tension]] and possibly [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]]. Otherwise, [[Ownership]] of [[Tools]] may simply be that no offensive [[Transfer of Control]] actions such as [[Stealing]] are possible but those holding [[Tools]] can either drop them or voluntary engage in [[Trading]]. Some games that wishes to regulate [[Transferable Items]], e.g. [[World of Warcraft]], make the picking up, using, or equipping of them activate an [[Enforced Ownership]] - note that this does not have to completely make transfers impossible, [[World of Warcraft]] for example lets "soulbound" [[Game Items]] be sold to [[Non-Player Characters]]/[[Self-Service Kiosks]].
+For [[Multiplayer Games]] one can consider if [[Game Items]] are to be [[Transferable Items]], and if so how this is controlled. [[Stealing]] is one option here, which adds [[Attention Demanding Gameplay]] to those game elements holding them as well as [[Tension]] and possibly [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]]. Otherwise, [[Ownership]] of [[Tools]] may simply be that no offensive [[Transfer of Control]] actions such as [[Stealing]] are possible but those holding [[Tools]] can either drop them or voluntary engage in [[Trading]]. Some games that wishes to regulate [[Transferable Items]], e.g. [[World of Warcraft]], make the picking up, using, or equipping of them activate an [[Enforced Ownership]] - note that this does not have to completely make transfers impossible, [[World of Warcraft]] for example lets "soulbound" [[Game Items]] be sold to [[Non-Player Characters]]/[[Self-Service Kiosks]].
 The creation of [[Game Items]] in games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] needs additional design consideration compared to other types of games since these may become focus of [[Game Element Trading]] and since designers can make them into [[Purchasable Game Advantages]].
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 ==== with [[Stealing]] ====
 [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]],
-[[Attention Demanding]],
+[[Attention Demanding Gameplay]],
 [[Tension]]

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 === Narrative Aspects ===
-Most types of [[Game Items]] can be used in [[Narration Structures]], but [[MacGuffins]] are ones specifically used for this. While they can be moved about, [[Game Items]] can provide [[Environmental Storytelling]] since they can contain recollections, notes, images, etc., that can help tell what happened in [[Game Worlds]] earlier.
+Most types of [[Game Items]] can be used both in [[Narration Structures]] generally and intentionally in [[Predetermined Story Structures]], but [[MacGuffins]] are ones specifically used for this. While they can be moved about, [[Game Items]] can provide [[Environmental Storytelling]] since they can contain recollections, notes, images, etc., that can help tell what happened in [[Game Worlds]] earlier.
 == Consequences ==
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 [[Gain Ownership]],
 [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]],
 [[Races]],
 [[Resource Locations]],

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 === Interface Aspects ===
-Players' willingness to interact repeatedly on a basic level with [[Game Items]] can be increased by providing [[Clickability]].
+Players' willingness to interact repeatedly on a basic level with [[Game Items]] can be increased by providing [[Clickability]]. A special case of [[Game Items]] are those who have significant physical presence and may not be representations of something but actually be the things themselves. Although these are "modified" by being physical objects, from a gameplay perspective this can be seen as modifying the [[Game Items]] through [[Artifact-Location Proximity|Artifact-Location]] or [[Player-Artifact Proximity]].
 === Narrative Aspects ===
@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 === Can Be Modulated By ===
 [[Ability Losses]],
 [[Attributes]],
 [[Clickability]],
@@ Line 113: / Line 114: @@
 [[Persistent Game Worlds]],
 [[Pick-Ups]],
 [[Privileged Abilities]],
 [[Resource Generators]],