Irreversible Events - Revision history

Staffan Björk: /* Consequences */

2015-11-24T08:25:31Z

‎Consequences

Staffan Björk at 08:23, 24 November 2015

2015-11-24T08:23:48Z

Staffan Björk: /* Consequences */

2015-01-02T13:25:40Z

‎Consequences

Staffan Björk at 13:24, 2 January 2015

2015-01-02T13:24:00Z

Staffan Björk at 15:08, 15 September 2014

2014-09-15T15:08:08Z

Staffan Björk at 11:57, 29 July 2014

2014-07-29T11:57:52Z

Staffan Björk at 10:47, 13 December 2012

2012-12-13T10:47:42Z

Staffan Björk: /* Consequences */

2011-09-03T09:34:18Z

‎Consequences

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2011-09-03T09:32:33Z

‎Relations

Staffan Björk at 07:49, 2 September 2011

2011-09-02T07:49:17Z

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 == Consequences ==
-Having [[Irreversible Events]] in games opens up for having [[Exceptional Events]] since events that can be reversed are unlikely to seem exceptional since they can occur time and time again. Further, every [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]] that a player understand to be irreversible is a closure. Although this can indicate progress or failure clearly and provide clear [[Value of Effort]] for successful actions, the presence of the pattern may negatively affect [[Experimenting]] since there is no [[Reversibility]], and make [[Puzzle Solving]] more difficult. Rather, the presence of [[Irreversible Events]] promote [[Stimulated Planning]] and may cause [[Analysis Paralysis]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] that are also [[Turn-Based Games]]. When linked to player actions, these aspects of the pattern can cause [[Tension]] in players; both from knowing that their actions may not be able to be reversed and from others wishing one to make the actions quickly. Since many possible player actions are in the form of [[Abilities]], the use of [[Irreversible Events]] on player actions is likely to modify [[Abilities]].
+Having [[Irreversible Events]] in games opens up for having [[Exceptional Events]] since events that can be reversed are unlikely to seem exceptional since they can occur time and time again. Further, every [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]] that a player understand to be irreversible is a closure. This can indicate progress or failure clearly and provide clear [[Value of Effort]] for successful actions; for example, cases where [[Construction]] actions are [[Irreversible Events]], these can provide an increased [[Value of Effort]] to the [[Construction]] since players do not need to worry about them being destroyed. However, the presence of the pattern may negatively affect [[Experimenting]] since there is no [[Reversibility]], and make [[Puzzle Solving]] more difficult. Rather, the presence of [[Irreversible Events]] promote [[Stimulated Planning]] and may cause [[Analysis Paralysis]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] that are also [[Turn-Based Games]]. When linked to player actions, these aspects of the pattern can cause [[Tension]] in players; both from knowing that their actions may not be able to be reversed and from others wishing one to make the actions quickly. Since many possible player actions are in the form of [[Abilities]], the use of [[Irreversible Events]] on player actions is likely to modify [[Abilities]].
 Although [[One-Way Travel]] is a form of [[Irreversible Events]], the pattern can also appear due to [[Obstacles]] being introduced as [[Irreversible Events]]. [[Irreversible Events]] that affect [[Game Worlds]], e.g. changes in [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] that cannot be undone, give rise to [[Persistent Game World Changes]].
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 The synthesis of having a [[Freedom of Choice]] between several [[Irreversible Events]] is one way to create [[Internal Conflicts]].
-For cases where a [[Construction]] is an [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]], this can provide an increased [[Value of Effort]] to the [[Construction]] since players do not need to worry about them being destroyed.
 Quite naturally, [[Irreversible Events]] are incompatible with [[Free Game Element Manipulation]] although this may break game rules. Given that [[Game Masters]] decide what the rules are, these may whenever they wish reverse events while simultaneously change the rules (they may of course enforce the effect of events as they wish also).

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 == Consequences ==
-Having [[Irreversible Events]] in games opens up for having [[Exceptional Events]] since events that can be reversed are unlikely to seem exceptional since they can occur time and time again. Further, every [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]] that a player understand to be irreversible is a closure. Although this can indicate progress or failure clearly, the presence of the pattern may negatively affect [[Experimenting]] since there is no [[Reversibility]], and make [[Puzzle Solving]] more difficult. Rather, the presence of [[Irreversible Events]] promote [[Stimulated Planning]] and may cause [[Analysis Paralysis]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] that are also [[Turn-Based Games]]. When linked to player actions, these aspects of the pattern can cause [[Tension]] in players; both from knowing that their actions may not be able to be reversed and from others wishing one to make the actions quickly. Since many possible player actions are in the form of [[Abilities]], the use of [[Irreversible Events]] on player actions is likely to modify [[Abilities]].
+Having [[Irreversible Events]] in games opens up for having [[Exceptional Events]] since events that can be reversed are unlikely to seem exceptional since they can occur time and time again. Further, every [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]] that a player understand to be irreversible is a closure. Although this can indicate progress or failure clearly and provide clear [[Value of Effort]] for successful actions, the presence of the pattern may negatively affect [[Experimenting]] since there is no [[Reversibility]], and make [[Puzzle Solving]] more difficult. Rather, the presence of [[Irreversible Events]] promote [[Stimulated Planning]] and may cause [[Analysis Paralysis]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] that are also [[Turn-Based Games]]. When linked to player actions, these aspects of the pattern can cause [[Tension]] in players; both from knowing that their actions may not be able to be reversed and from others wishing one to make the actions quickly. Since many possible player actions are in the form of [[Abilities]], the use of [[Irreversible Events]] on player actions is likely to modify [[Abilities]].
 Although [[One-Way Travel]] is a form of [[Irreversible Events]], the pattern can also appear due to [[Obstacles]] being introduced as [[Irreversible Events]]. [[Irreversible Events]] that affect [[Game Worlds]], e.g. changes in [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] that cannot be undone, give rise to [[Persistent Game World Changes]].
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 [[Shrinking Game Worlds]],
 [[Stimulated Planning]],
-[[Tension]]
+[[Tension]],
 ==== with [[Construction]] ====

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 == Consequences ==
-Every [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]] that a player understand to be irreversible is a closure. Although this can indicate progress or failure clearly, the presence of the pattern may negatively affect [[Experimenting]] since there is no [[Reversibility]], and make [[Puzzle Solving]] more difficult. Rather, the presence of [[Irreversible Events]] promote [[Stimulated Planning]] and may cause [[Analysis Paralysis]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] that are also [[Turn-Based Games]]. When linked to player actions, these aspects of the pattern can cause [[Tension]] in players; both from knowing that their actions may not be able to be reversed and from others wishing one to make the actions quickly. Since many possible player actions are in the form of [[Abilities]], the use of [[Irreversible Events]] on player actions is likely to modify [[Abilities]].
+Having [[Irreversible Events]] in games opens up for having [[Exceptional Events]] since events that can be reversed are unlikely to seem exceptional since they can occur time and time again. Further, every [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]] that a player understand to be irreversible is a closure. Although this can indicate progress or failure clearly, the presence of the pattern may negatively affect [[Experimenting]] since there is no [[Reversibility]], and make [[Puzzle Solving]] more difficult. Rather, the presence of [[Irreversible Events]] promote [[Stimulated Planning]] and may cause [[Analysis Paralysis]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] that are also [[Turn-Based Games]]. When linked to player actions, these aspects of the pattern can cause [[Tension]] in players; both from knowing that their actions may not be able to be reversed and from others wishing one to make the actions quickly. Since many possible player actions are in the form of [[Abilities]], the use of [[Irreversible Events]] on player actions is likely to modify [[Abilities]].
 Although [[One-Way Travel]] is a form of [[Irreversible Events]], the pattern can also appear due to [[Obstacles]] being introduced as [[Irreversible Events]]. [[Irreversible Events]] that affect [[Game Worlds]], e.g. changes in [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] that cannot be undone, give rise to [[Persistent Game World Changes]].

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 == Using the pattern ==
-To really enforce that events are irreversible in games they need to have [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]], including [[Game Masters]] (but the latter may also make this assumption invalid). Other games may have them in the rules but these may not be followed.
+Typical reasons for considering having [[Irreversible Events]] in games is to increase [[Tension]], make [[Reversibility]] impossible, and make it possible for [[Exceptional Events]] to occur during gameplay. To really enforce that events are irreversible in games they need to have [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]], including [[Game Masters]] (but the latter may also make this assumption invalid). Other games may have them in the rules but these may not be followed.
 Even though [[Real-Time Games]] make it impossible to undo actions (without resorting to [[Save-Load Cycles]] or [[Game Time Manipulation]]) this does not automatically create [[Irreversible Events]] since later action may cancel the effect of earlier ones. Making events into [[Irreversible Events]] can be done by making sure that all other events in the whole game design do not affect a specific part of the game state (other events may affect that part of the game state as long as all affect it in the same way or direction). Other ways of making [[Irreversible Events]] are to make actions use [[Non-Renewable Resources]] (in which case the action rather that the consequences of the action may be [[Irreversible Events]]) or create events that give players information. Designed [[Surprises]] are thus a form of [[Irreversible Events]], and since they are a form of [[Trans-Game Information]], they are even [[Irreversible Events]] across game sessions.
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 == Relations ==
 === Can Instantiate ===
-[[Closure Points]], [[Enemies]], [[Internal Conflicts]], [[Predetermined Story Structures]],
+[[Closure Points]], [[Enemies]],
 [[Persistent Game World Changes]],
 [[Shrinking Game Worlds]],

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 == Consequences ==
-Every [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]] that a player understand to be irreversible is a closure. Although this can indicate progress or failure clearly, the presence of the pattern may negatively affect [[Experimenting]] since there is no [[Reversibility]], and make [[Puzzle Solving]] more difficult. Rather, the presence of [[Irreversible Events]] promote [[Stimulated Planning]] and may cause [[Analysis Paralysis]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] that are also [[Turn-Based Games]]. When linked to player actions, these aspects of the pattern can cause [[Tension]] in players; both from knowing that their actions may not be able to be reversed and from others wishing one to make the actions quickly.
+Every [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]] that a player understand to be irreversible is a closure. Although this can indicate progress or failure clearly, the presence of the pattern may negatively affect [[Experimenting]] since there is no [[Reversibility]], and make [[Puzzle Solving]] more difficult. Rather, the presence of [[Irreversible Events]] promote [[Stimulated Planning]] and may cause [[Analysis Paralysis]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] that are also [[Turn-Based Games]]. When linked to player actions, these aspects of the pattern can cause [[Tension]] in players; both from knowing that their actions may not be able to be reversed and from others wishing one to make the actions quickly. Since many possible player actions are in the form of [[Abilities]], the use of [[Irreversible Events]] on player actions is likely to modify [[Abilities]].
 Although [[One-Way Travel]] is a form of [[Irreversible Events]], the pattern can also appear due to [[Obstacles]] being introduced as [[Irreversible Events]]. [[Irreversible Events]] that affect [[Game Worlds]], e.g. changes in [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] that cannot be undone, give rise to [[Persistent Game World Changes]].
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 === Can Modulate ===
 [[Alarms]],
 [[Area Control]],

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 [[Irreversible Events]] can be instantiated in many different forms. [[Alarms]], [[Controllers]], and [[Switches]] are game elements that can be used to enforce [[Irreversible Events]], in the first case by not being able to be activated more than once or having effect that remain even when they are activated again, and in the second case by not being able to be deactivated once activated (or vice versa). The [[Area Control]] gained by placing settlements in [[Settlers of Catan]] are [[Irreversible Events]] since they cannot be lost later in the game. A typical example of a class of [[Irreversible Events]] is [[Leaps of Faith]], which forces players to dedicate themselves to a certain movement in the game. [[One-Way Travel]] is another type of movement that easily can be an [[Irreversible Events|Irreversible Event]] if one cannot come back to the old space - the most common example of this is probably being moved to one [[Levels|Level]] after completing another with no possibility of returning. The pattern [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] makes use of [[Irreversible Events]] to ensure that [[Game Worlds]] become smaller as gameplay progresses. Making the [[Transfer of Control]] of [[Resources]] into [[Irreversible Events]] is part of creating [[Non-Renewable Resources]]; choices regarding [[Character Development]] or [[Upgrades]] are examples of this (the latter is one way to modulate [[Sockets]]).
-Using [[Irreversible Events]] in conjunction with [[Loyalty]] or the creation of [[Enemies]] is a way of creating parts of [[Narration Structures]]. Revealing oneself as a [[Traitors|Traitor]] or committing a noticeable [[Betrayal]] are both examples of [[Irreversible Events]] since they make players change their allegiances (and even if they later change back this will very likely permanently lowered their reliability). These latter types of events, which reveal aspects of what kind of [[Characters|Character]] a player is portraying, can be explicitly designed as [[Character Defining Actions]] and by performing them they become [[Irreversible Events]]. In this way, [[Irreversible Events]] can modulate how a [[Characters|Character's]] [[Open Destiny]] evolves during gameplay.
+Using [[Irreversible Events]] in conjunction with [[Loyalty]] or the creation of [[Enemies]] is a way of creating parts of [[Predetermined Story Structures]]. Revealing oneself as a [[Traitors|Traitor]] or committing a noticeable [[Betrayal]] are both examples of [[Irreversible Events]] since they make players change their allegiances (and even if they later change back this will very likely permanently lowered their reliability). These latter types of events, which reveal aspects of what kind of [[Characters|Character]] a player is portraying, can be explicitly designed as [[Character Defining Actions]] and by performing them they become [[Irreversible Events]]. In this way, [[Irreversible Events]] can modulate how a [[Characters|Character's]] [[Open Destiny]] evolves during gameplay.
 [[Irreversible Events]] can be created to be the consequences of actions but the actions themselves do not have to be irreversible - their effect may be since partly or completely prevented if they are [[Interruptible Actions]]. Likewise, actions that cause [[Ultra-Powerful Events]] do not have to be [[Irreversible Events]] since other [[Ultra-Powerful Events]] may counter the event after it is completed.
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 Although [[One-Way Travel]] is a form of [[Irreversible Events]], the pattern can also appear due to [[Obstacles]] being introduced as [[Irreversible Events]]. [[Irreversible Events]] that affect [[Game Worlds]], e.g. changes in [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] that cannot be undone, give rise to [[Persistent Game World Changes]].
-[[Irreversible Events]] are required to progress [[Narration Structures]] and can be used to provide a condensed history of gameplay in a game session without losing any events that affected the final outcome. Leaving a [[Levels|Level]] and not being able to come back to it is an example of how a [[Narration Structure]] can be maintained by [[Irreversible Events]]. An example of how [[Irreversible Events]] can advance the [[Narration Structure]] in [[Real-Time Games]] without relying on [[Levels]] is to move the places where [[Spawning]] occurs.
+[[Irreversible Events]] are required to meaningfully progress [[Predetermined Story Structures]] and can be used to provide a condensed history of gameplay in a game session without losing any events that affected the final outcome. Leaving a [[Levels|Level]] and not being able to come back to it is an example of how [[Predetermined Story Structures]] can be maintained by [[Irreversible Events]]. An example of how [[Irreversible Events]] can advance the [[Predetermined Story Structures]] in [[Real-Time Games]] without relying on [[Levels]] is to move the places where [[Spawning]] occurs (examples of this can be found in the [[Team Fortress series]] of games).
 The synthesis of having a [[Freedom of Choice]] between several [[Irreversible Events]] is one way to create [[Internal Conflicts]].
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 == Relations ==
 === Can Instantiate ===
-[[Closure Points]], [[Enemies]], [[Internal Conflicts]], [[Narration Structures]],
+[[Closure Points]], [[Enemies]], [[Internal Conflicts]], [[Predetermined Story Structures]],
 [[Persistent Game World Changes]],
 [[Shrinking Game Worlds]],