Massively Single-Player Online Games - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 08:25, 8 August 2015

2015-08-08T08:25:15Z

Staffan Björk at 11:18, 13 July 2015

2015-07-13T11:18:28Z

Staffan Björk at 20:57, 17 July 2014

2014-07-17T20:57:11Z

Staffan Björk at 18:12, 14 July 2014

2014-07-14T18:12:09Z

Staffan Björk at 06:54, 27 June 2014

2014-06-27T06:54:29Z

Staffan Björk at 07:16, 8 October 2012

2012-10-08T07:16:13Z

Staffan Björk: /* Can Be Instantiated By */

2011-06-05T09:46:52Z

‎Can Be Instantiated By

Staffan Björk at 09:46, 5 June 2011

2011-06-05T09:46:40Z

Staffan Björk at 20:38, 4 June 2011

2011-06-04T20:38:32Z

Staffan Björk at 20:40, 30 March 2011

2011-03-30T20:40:10Z

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 Being online games, [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] need to make use of [[Game Servers]], but unlike other online games it is not necessarily so that they need [[Meta Servers]]. Looking at gameplay, [[Global High Score Lists]] is a simple way of creating [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] through the [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] [[Competitions]] of having the highest [[Scores]] they support. The use of [[Speedruns]] and [[Ghosts]] are more specific ways of doing this that lets other players' performances be visible within [[Game Worlds]] (see [[Demon's Soul]] for examples of this use of [[Ghosts]]). [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with [[Private Game Spaces]] and little interaction between players is another way of providing [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since each player can treat their game space as a game of their own. [[Friend Lists]] can be used in [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] to more or less require help for other players to progress (e.g. requiring the help of a certain amount of friends to unlock [[Levels]]) and this promotes players to send out [[Invites]].
-The effect players can have on each other can be seen as a form of [[Social Interaction]], but to do this players need to have several play sessions in the same game instances and for this reason [[Encouraged Return Visits]] are common in [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. [[Visits]] is one way to add more [[Social Interaction]] which doesn't need players to be playing at the same time but does require that the games have [[Persistent Game Worlds]] (as is the case if they are supposed to be [[Tick-Based Games]]). The concept of [[Neighbors]] can be included to let players control by themselves which other players can do [[Visits]]. [[Free Gift Inventories]] have similar possibilities as [[Visits]] and can be regulated by [[Neighbors]] as well, but do not require [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. Both are ways to allow [[Altruistic Actions]] in these types of games, and these might be examples of [[Non-Player Help]] if anybody can perform the actions regardless of if they are playing the games themselves or not. If instead the games require people to be players to perform the actions, [[Invites]] allow players to try and recruit new people to help them. However, if having [[Challenging Gameplay]] or [[Conflict]] is wanted, [[Visits]] can be used to provide [[Enemies]] (as for example done in [[Demon's Soul]]).
+The effect players can have on each other can be seen as a form of [[Social Interaction]], but to do this players need to have several play sessions in the same game instances and for this reason [[Encouraged Return Visits]] are common in [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. [[Visits]] is one way to add more [[Social Interaction]] which doesn't need players to be playing at the same time but does require that the games have [[Persistent Game Worlds]] (as is the case if they are supposed to be [[Tick-Based Games]]). The concept of [[Neighbors]] can be included to let players control by themselves which other players can do [[Visits]]. [[Free Gift Inventories]] have similar possibilities as [[Visits]] and can be regulated by [[Neighbors]] as well, but do not require [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. Both are ways to allow [[Altruistic Actions]] in these types of games, and these might be examples of [[Non-Player Help]] if anybody can perform the actions regardless of if they are playing the games themselves or not. If instead the games require people to be players to perform the actions, [[Invites]] allow players to try and recruit new people to help them. However, if having [[Challenging Gameplay]] or [[Conflicts]] is wanted, [[Visits]] can be used to provide [[Enemies]] (as for example done in [[Demon's Soul]]).
 It is relatively trivial to include the pattern of [[Late Arriving Players]] in [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] given the little and still existent interaction between players. Further, since players are not directly competing with each others there is no problem with [[Player Balance]] if [[Purchasable Game Advantages]] is added.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-Being online games, [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] need to make use of [[Game Servers]], but unlike other online games it is not necessarily so that they need [[Meta Servers]]. Looking at gameplay, [[Global High Score Lists]] is a simple way of creating [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] through the [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] [[Competitions]] of having the highest [[Scores]] they support. The use of [[Speedruns]] and [[Ghosts]] are more specific ways of doing this that lets other players' performances be visible within [[Game Worlds]] (see [[Demon's Soul]] for examples of this use of [[Ghosts]]). [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with [[Private Game Spaces]] and little interaction between players is another way of providing [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since each player can treat their game space as a game of their own.
+Being online games, [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] need to make use of [[Game Servers]], but unlike other online games it is not necessarily so that they need [[Meta Servers]]. Looking at gameplay, [[Global High Score Lists]] is a simple way of creating [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] through the [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] [[Competitions]] of having the highest [[Scores]] they support. The use of [[Speedruns]] and [[Ghosts]] are more specific ways of doing this that lets other players' performances be visible within [[Game Worlds]] (see [[Demon's Soul]] for examples of this use of [[Ghosts]]). [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with [[Private Game Spaces]] and little interaction between players is another way of providing [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since each player can treat their game space as a game of their own. [[Friend Lists]] can be used in [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] to more or less require help for other players to progress (e.g. requiring the help of a certain amount of friends to unlock [[Levels]]) and this promotes players to send out [[Invites]].
 The effect players can have on each other can be seen as a form of [[Social Interaction]], but to do this players need to have several play sessions in the same game instances and for this reason [[Encouraged Return Visits]] are common in [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. [[Visits]] is one way to add more [[Social Interaction]] which doesn't need players to be playing at the same time but does require that the games have [[Persistent Game Worlds]] (as is the case if they are supposed to be [[Tick-Based Games]]). The concept of [[Neighbors]] can be included to let players control by themselves which other players can do [[Visits]]. [[Free Gift Inventories]] have similar possibilities as [[Visits]] and can be regulated by [[Neighbors]] as well, but do not require [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. Both are ways to allow [[Altruistic Actions]] in these types of games, and these might be examples of [[Non-Player Help]] if anybody can perform the actions regardless of if they are playing the games themselves or not. If instead the games require people to be players to perform the actions, [[Invites]] allow players to try and recruit new people to help them. However, if having [[Challenging Gameplay]] or [[Conflict]] is wanted, [[Visits]] can be used to provide [[Enemies]] (as for example done in [[Demon's Soul]]).
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 === Can Be Modulated By ===
-[[Altruistic Actions]], [[Encouraged Return Visits]], [[Free Gift Inventories]], [[Invites]], [[Late Arriving Players]],
+[[Altruistic Actions]],
 [[Neighbors]],
-[[Non-Player Help]], [[Persistent Game Worlds]], [[Purchasable Game Advantages]], [[Tick-Based Games]], [[Visits]]
+[[Non-Player Help]],
 === Possible Closure Effects ===

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-Being online games, [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] need to make use of [[Game Servers]], but unlike other online games it is not necessarily so that they need [[Meta Servers]]. Looking at gameplay, [[Global High Score Lists]] is a simple way of creating [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] through the [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] [[Competitions]] of having the highest [[Scores]] they support. The use of [[Speed Runs]] and [[Ghosts]] are more specific ways of doing this that lets other players' performances be visible within [[Game Worlds]] (see [[Demon's Soul]] for examples of this use of [[Ghosts]]). [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with [[Private Game Spaces]] and little interaction between players is another way of providing [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since each player can treat their game space as a game of their own.
+Being online games, [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] need to make use of [[Game Servers]], but unlike other online games it is not necessarily so that they need [[Meta Servers]]. Looking at gameplay, [[Global High Score Lists]] is a simple way of creating [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] through the [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] [[Competitions]] of having the highest [[Scores]] they support. The use of [[Speedruns]] and [[Ghosts]] are more specific ways of doing this that lets other players' performances be visible within [[Game Worlds]] (see [[Demon's Soul]] for examples of this use of [[Ghosts]]). [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with [[Private Game Spaces]] and little interaction between players is another way of providing [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since each player can treat their game space as a game of their own.
 The effect players can have on each other can be seen as a form of [[Social Interaction]], but to do this players need to have several play sessions in the same game instances and for this reason [[Encouraged Return Visits]] are common in [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. [[Visits]] is one way to add more [[Social Interaction]] which doesn't need players to be playing at the same time but does require that the games have [[Persistent Game Worlds]] (as is the case if they are supposed to be [[Tick-Based Games]]). The concept of [[Neighbors]] can be included to let players control by themselves which other players can do [[Visits]]. [[Free Gift Inventories]] have similar possibilities as [[Visits]] and can be regulated by [[Neighbors]] as well, but do not require [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. Both are ways to allow [[Altruistic Actions]] in these types of games, and these might be examples of [[Non-Player Help]] if anybody can perform the actions regardless of if they are playing the games themselves or not. If instead the games require people to be players to perform the actions, [[Invites]] allow players to try and recruit new people to help them. However, if having [[Challenging Gameplay]] or [[Conflict]] is wanted, [[Visits]] can be used to provide [[Enemies]] (as for example done in [[Demon's Soul]]).
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
 [[Game Servers]],
-[[Ghosts]], [[Global High Score Lists]], [[Speed Runs]], [[Trans-Game Information]]
+[[Ghosts]], [[Global High Score Lists]], [[Speedruns]], [[Trans-Game Information]]
 [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] together with [[Private Game Spaces]]

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] are a way of modifying [[Single-Player Games]] through [[Trans-Game Information]], and they always instantiate [[Meta Games]] since part of its defining characteristics is that one game instance affects another and thereby create a level of interaction about the game itself. Since they do make use of [[Game Servers]], they provide [[Mediated Gameplay]].
-Although not [[Multiplayer Games]] per se, [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] offers some aspects of them which can allow [[Social Interaction]] without risking to destroy [[Casual Gameplay]]. Similarly, they mainly share extra-game functionality with [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games]].
+Although not [[Multiplayer Games]] per se, [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] offers some aspects of them which can allow [[Social Interaction]] without risking to destroy [[Casual Gameplay]]. They do this without requiring players to know or interact much about each other, making it possible for players to have [[Actor Detachment]] to other players. Similarly, they mainly share extra-game functionality with [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games]].
 == Relations ==
 === Can Instantiate ===
 [[Meta Games]],
 [[Mediated Gameplay]],

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Global High Score Lists]] is a simple way of creating [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] through the [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] [[Competitions]] of having the highest [[Scores]] they support. The use of [[Speed Runs]] and [[Ghosts]] are more specific ways of doing this that lets other players' performances be visible within [[Game Worlds]] (see [[Demon's Soul]] for examples of this use of [[Ghosts]]). [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with [[Private Game Spaces]] and little interaction between players is another way of providing [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since each player can treat their game space as a game of their own.
+Being online games, [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] need to make use of [[Game Servers]], but unlike other online games it is not necessarily so that they need [[Meta Servers]]. Looking at gameplay, [[Global High Score Lists]] is a simple way of creating [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] through the [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] [[Competitions]] of having the highest [[Scores]] they support. The use of [[Speed Runs]] and [[Ghosts]] are more specific ways of doing this that lets other players' performances be visible within [[Game Worlds]] (see [[Demon's Soul]] for examples of this use of [[Ghosts]]). [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with [[Private Game Spaces]] and little interaction between players is another way of providing [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since each player can treat their game space as a game of their own.
 The effect players can have on each other can be seen as a form of [[Social Interaction]], but to do this players need to have several play sessions in the same game instances and for this reason [[Encouraged Return Visits]] are common in [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. [[Visits]] is one way to add more [[Social Interaction]] which doesn't need players to be playing at the same time but does require that the games have [[Persistent Game Worlds]] (as is the case if they are supposed to be [[Tick-Based Games]]). The concept of [[Neighbors]] can be included to let players control by themselves which other players can do [[Visits]]. [[Free Gift Inventories]] have similar possibilities as [[Visits]] and can be regulated by [[Neighbors]] as well, but do not require [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. Both are ways to allow [[Altruistic Actions]] in these types of games, and these might be examples of [[Non-Player Help]] if anybody can perform the actions regardless of if they are playing the games themselves or not. If instead the games require people to be players to perform the actions, [[Invites]] allow players to try and recruit new people to help them. However, if having [[Challenging Gameplay]] or [[Conflict]] is wanted, [[Visits]] can be used to provide [[Enemies]] (as for example done in [[Demon's Soul]]).
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 == Consequences ==
-[[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] are a way of modifying [[Single-Player Games]] through [[Trans-Game Information]], and they always instantiate [[Meta Games]] since part of its defining characteristics is that one game instance affects another and thereby create a level of interaction about the game itself.
+[[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] are a way of modifying [[Single-Player Games]] through [[Trans-Game Information]], and they always instantiate [[Meta Games]] since part of its defining characteristics is that one game instance affects another and thereby create a level of interaction about the game itself. Since they do make use of [[Game Servers]], they provide [[Mediated Gameplay]].
 Although not [[Multiplayer Games]] per se, [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] offers some aspects of them which can allow [[Social Interaction]] without risking to destroy [[Casual Gameplay]]. Similarly, they mainly share extra-game functionality with [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games]].
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 == Relations ==
 === Can Instantiate ===
-[[Meta Games]], [[Social Interaction]]
+[[Meta Games]],
 === Can Modulate ===
@@ Line 38: / Line 40: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
 [[Ghosts]], [[Global High Score Lists]], [[Speed Runs]], [[Trans-Game Information]]

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
-[[Ghosts]], [[Global High Score Lists]], [[High Score Lists]], [[Speed Runs]], [[Trans-Game Information]]
+[[Ghosts]], [[Global High Score Lists]], [[Speed Runs]], [[Trans-Game Information]]
 [[Asynchronous Games]] together with [[Private Game Spaces]]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 === Examples ===
-The high score lists of the arcade games [[Pac-Man]] and [[Space Invaders]] can be seen as the first forms of [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since the previous players' scores help set goals for future players. [[Crobots]] and [[NetHack]] are less obvious examples of [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] that precede online gaming. The code and messages created by players of the games are stored locally on the computers they are played on and can only affect the game instances that follow on that computer, or on computer that have been installed with all the files from those game installations.
+[[Crobots]] and [[NetHack]] are less obvious examples of [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] that precede online gaming. The code and messages created by players of the games are stored locally on the computers they are played on and can only affect the game instances that follow on that computer, or on computer that have been installed with all the files from those game installations.
 Players of [[Spore]] can create their own species, vehicles and buildings as part of following a species development from single cell life-form to interstellar society. The other life-forms encountered during the gameplay are a mix of those created by the game developers and those created by other players are downloaded from online sources.
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[High Score Lists]] is a simple way of creating [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] through the [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] [[Competitions]] of having the highest [[Scores]] they support, but does so even stronger through [[Global High Score Lists]]. The use of [[Speed Runs]] and [[Ghosts]] are more specific ways of doing this that lets other players' performances be visible within [[Game Worlds]] (see [[Demon's Soul]] for examples of this use of [[Ghosts]]). [[Asynchronous Games]] with [[Private Game Spaces]] and little interaction between players is another way of providing [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since each player can treat their game space as a game of their own.
+[[Global High Score Lists]] is a simple way of creating [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] through the [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] [[Competitions]] of having the highest [[Scores]] they support. The use of [[Speed Runs]] and [[Ghosts]] are more specific ways of doing this that lets other players' performances be visible within [[Game Worlds]] (see [[Demon's Soul]] for examples of this use of [[Ghosts]]). [[Asynchronous Games]] with [[Private Game Spaces]] and little interaction between players is another way of providing [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] since each player can treat their game space as a game of their own.
 The effect players can have on each other can be seen as a form of [[Social Interaction]], but to do this players need to have several play sessions in the same game instances and for this reason [[Encouraged Return Visits]] are common in [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. [[Visits]] is one way to add more [[Social Interaction]] which doesn't need players to be playing at the same time but does require that the games have [[Persistent Game Worlds]] (as is the case if they are supposed to be [[Tick-Based Games]]). The concept of [[Neighbors]] can be included to let players control by themselves which other players can do [[Visits]]. [[Free Gift Inventories]] have similar possibilities as [[Visits]] and can be regulated by [[Neighbors]] as well, but do not require [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. Both are ways to allow [[Altruistic Actions]] in these types of games, and these might be examples of [[Non-Player Help]] if anybody can perform the actions regardless of if they are playing the games themselves or not. If instead the games require people to be players to perform the actions, [[Invites]] allow players to try and recruit new people to help them. However, if having [[Challenging Gameplay]] or [[Conflict]] is wanted, [[Visits]] can be used to provide [[Enemies]] (as for example done in [[Demon's Soul]]).

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:40, 30 March 2011
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	[[4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness]] uses the fact that others are playing the game also as input to game instances. This by making players lose if any other player begins to play during their own game instance. [[Icy Tower]] can be seen as a weak example of [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. In it the avatars of other players are placed in the game world to show the highest platform they reached.		[[4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness]] uses the fact that others are playing the game also as input to game instances. This by making players lose if any other player begins to play during their own game instance. [[Icy Tower]] can be seen as a weak example of [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]]. In it the avatars of other players are placed in the game world to show the highest platform they reached.
		+
		+	Given that players of [[FarmVille]] and [[Zombie Lane]] can visit other players areas in these games but they are very limited in what they can do there, and the actions performed there might not functionally be the same for those visited, these games can be seen as interconnecting many different players individual game instances.

	== Using the pattern ==		== Using the pattern ==