Optional Goals - Revision history

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2018-03-17T23:11:13Z

‎Using the pattern

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2018-03-17T23:09:59Z

‎Using the pattern

Staffan Björk at 23:06, 17 March 2018

2018-03-17T23:06:37Z

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2018-01-25T15:31:10Z

‎Relations

Staffan Björk at 14:41, 12 January 2018

2018-01-12T14:41:32Z

Staffan Björk at 14:37, 12 January 2018

2018-01-12T14:37:04Z

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2018-01-12T14:25:54Z

‎Using the pattern

Staffan Björk at 14:21, 12 January 2018

2018-01-12T14:21:44Z

Staffan Björk at 14:16, 12 January 2018

2018-01-12T14:16:41Z

Staffan Björk at 13:58, 12 January 2018

2018-01-12T13:58:36Z

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 == Using the pattern ==
-One of the primary design choices when considering [[Optional Goals]] is if the game should keep track of these or if they should just be suggested to players as goals they can set for themselves without confirmations of success or failure from the game. Games can of course have both so it is a decision that needs to be taken for each [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]]. Another design choice - which is independent of the previous choice - is it the [[Optional Goals]] should be part of the games themselves or as parts of [[Meta Games]]; the latter is in a sense unavoidable since players can decide to make [[Meta Games]] through adding some [[Optional Goals]] to a game to create another game for themselves, but designers can also encourage players to experience the pursuit of [[Optional Goals]] as more or less parts of the game itself.
+[[Optional Goals]] are typically include in games to provide players with a [[Freedom of Choice]] although another reason can be that combining the option of taking on a goal with [[Penalties]] for failing that goal makes the goal into a [[Committed Goals|Committed Goal]].
-Combining the option of taking on a goal with [[Penalties]] for failing that goal makes the goal into a [[Committed Goals|Committed Goal]].
+One of the primary design choices when considering [[Optional Goals]] is if the game should keep track of these or if they should just be suggested to players as goals they can set for themselves without confirmations of success or failure from the game. Games can of course have both so it is a decision that needs to be taken for each [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]]. Another design choice - which is independent of the previous choice - is it the [[Optional Goals]] should be part of the games themselves or as parts of [[Meta Games]]; the latter is in a sense unavoidable since players can decide to make [[Meta Games]] through adding some [[Optional Goals]] to a game to create another game for themselves, but designers can also encourage players to experience the pursuit of [[Optional Goals]] as more or less parts of the game itself.
 Typical examples of [[Optional Goals]] include [[Sidequests]], [[Companion Quests]], and finding [[Secret Areas]] or [[Easter Eggs]]. [[Environmental Storytelling]] may be part of these or provide indication of that they exist, but [[Environmental Storytelling]] can also be [[Optional Goals]] in themselves through providing mysteries of what has happened in the [[Game Worlds|Game World]]. Other common examples include [[Rewards]] with [[Time Limits]] for how long they can be collected or optional [[Minigames]]; these design patterns are not inherently [[Optional Goals]] but simply once that can easily be the basis for [[Optional Goals]]. [[Endgame Quests]] is also type of [[Optional Goals]] since they be definition is something players can do after they have finished what is considered either the main gameplay or the mandatory preparation phases one need to go through. Any game where players have a choice of showing [[Loyalty]] to an agreement, another player, or an [[NPCs|NPC]] provides an [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]].

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
 One of the primary design choices when considering [[Optional Goals]] is if the game should keep track of these or if they should just be suggested to players as goals they can set for themselves without confirmations of success or failure from the game. Games can of course have both so it is a decision that needs to be taken for each [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]]. Another design choice - which is independent of the previous choice - is it the [[Optional Goals]] should be part of the games themselves or as parts of [[Meta Games]]; the latter is in a sense unavoidable since players can decide to make [[Meta Games]] through adding some [[Optional Goals]] to a game to create another game for themselves, but designers can also encourage players to experience the pursuit of [[Optional Goals]] as more or less parts of the game itself.
 Typical examples of [[Optional Goals]] include [[Sidequests]], [[Companion Quests]], and finding [[Secret Areas]] or [[Easter Eggs]]. [[Environmental Storytelling]] may be part of these or provide indication of that they exist, but [[Environmental Storytelling]] can also be [[Optional Goals]] in themselves through providing mysteries of what has happened in the [[Game Worlds|Game World]]. Other common examples include [[Rewards]] with [[Time Limits]] for how long they can be collected or optional [[Minigames]]; these design patterns are not inherently [[Optional Goals]] but simply once that can easily be the basis for [[Optional Goals]]. [[Endgame Quests]] is also type of [[Optional Goals]] since they be definition is something players can do after they have finished what is considered either the main gameplay or the mandatory preparation phases one need to go through. Any game where players have a choice of showing [[Loyalty]] to an agreement, another player, or an [[NPCs|NPC]] provides an [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]].

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 ==== with [[Ephemeral Goals]] ====
 [[Freedom of Choice]]
 === Can Modulate ===

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 [[Freedom of Choice]],
 [[Goal Achievements]],
 [[Handicap Achievements]],
 [[Replayability]],
@@ Line 70: / Line 69: @@
 === Can Modulate ===
 [[Ephemeral Goals]],
-[[Factions]]
+[[Factions]],
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===

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 [[Category:Goal Patterns]]
 [[Category:Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs revision]]
 [[Category:Needs references]]
 [[Category:To be Published]]
-[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]
+''Goals that players do not need to complete to win or finish a game.''
-''Goals that players do not need to complete in order to win or finish a game.''
-Most games provides goals for players to work towards as a way of suggesting or informing about what intentions players should have. While many games have goals that make players win or goals that are required to fulfill in order to have a possibility to win, games often have goals that are optional in that players don't need to complete them. Reaching these [[Optional Goals]] may help players in reaching goals that let them win a game but can also simply exist to provide players with suggestions for activities that they may find interesting.
+Most games provide goals for players to work towards as a way of suggesting or informing about what intentions players should have. While many games have goals that make players win or goals that are required to fulfil in order to have a possibility to win, games often have goals that are optional in that players don't need to complete them. Reaching these [[Optional Goals]] may help players in reaching goals that let them win a game but can also simply exist to provide players with suggestions for activities that they may find interesting.
 === Examples ===
@@ Line 32: / Line 28: @@
 Any game which have goals consisting of players needing to complete [[Sets]] of [[Game Items]] but not requiring all possible [[Game Items]] can provide [[Optional Goals]], e.g. the Power Stars in [[Super Mario 64]]. This since the collection of the remaining [[Game Items]] can be done but is not necessary. Cases where the use of [[Sets]] and [[Game Items]] combinations do not result in [[Optional Goals]] is when games remove the ''surplus'' [[Game Items]] or automatically remove players possibility from performing the collecting actions, e.g. by ending a [[Levels|Level]].
-Looking at goals that are not defined within the framework of the actual game system, [[Achievements]] are one way of creating [[Optional Goals]] in that they are goals that players in many cases can choose to do more or less independently of the game goals of a game. This is particularly the case for [[Handicap Achievements]] as when setting their sight on these players have opted to do things in a more difficult way than necessary. Most [[Player-Defined Goals]] are this also as they most often are voluntarily to create and not part of the formal system of the game rules. Through this they are are optional, and encouraging players to make their own [[Player-Defined Goals]] is by extension a way of encouraging players to take on [[Optional Goals]]. Another way of creating [[Optional Goals]] outside the game system itself is through providing an [[Ironman Mode]], as for example the [[Europa Universalis series]] and the newer instances of the [[X-COM series]] provide. [[Speedruns]] is another type of [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]] that works outside the game system itself; designers can encourage this through keeping track of how much time players have used but players can take upon themselves to do this for many games even if the designers have not supported it.
+Looking at goals that are not defined within the framework of the actual game system, [[Achievements]] are one way of creating [[Optional Goals]] in that they are goals that players in many cases can choose to do more or less independently of the game goals of a game. This is particularly the case for [[Handicap Achievements]] as when setting their sight on these players have opted to do things in a more difficult way than necessary. Most [[Player-Defined Goals]] are this also as they most often are voluntarily to create and not part of the formal system of the game rules. Through this they are optional, and encouraging players to make their own [[Player-Defined Goals]] is by extension a way of encouraging players to take on [[Optional Goals]]. Another way of creating [[Optional Goals]] outside the game system itself is through providing an [[Ironman Mode]], as for example the [[Europa Universalis series]] and the newer instances of the [[X-COM series]] provide. [[Speedruns]] is another type of [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]] that works outside the game system itself; designers can encourage this through keeping track of how much time players have used but players can take upon themselves to do this for many games even if the designers have not supported it.
 For some [[Optional Goals]] it is self-evident that they exist simply because they are created by providing certain actions, e.g. [[Trading]] or collecting a subset of a [[Set]] of [[Game Items]]. In other case game designers need to consider how players should become aware of the [[Optional Goals]]. [[Environmental Storytelling]] and [[Level Summaries]] are two away discussed briefly below, but a general way is through [[Information Passing]] - often through [[NPCs]] (which may be as simple that they are [[Self-Service Kiosks]]).
-[[Optional Goals]] can be used to modify [[Ephemeral Goals]] so they do not have to be completed.
+[[Optional Goals]] can be used to modify [[Ephemeral Goals]] so these do not have to be completed.
 === Interface Aspects ===
@@ Line 50: / Line 46: @@
 otherwise sparsely filled [[Goal Hierarchies]], and provide [[Challenging Gameplay]] not only from what they contain but from requiring players to choose what goals to pursue. More generally, they can provide players with a [[Freedom of Choice]] and offer [[Replayability]] between game instances since players may wish to try and complete more or all goals. The former can also be created through a combination of [[Optional Goals|Optional]] and [[Ephemeral Goals]] in which case players do not need to plan for them but may have to interrupt other plans when they emerge.
-While [[Achievements]] and [[Handicap Achievements]] can create [[Optional Goals]], [[Optional Goals]] that are created as part of the goal structures of a game can easily be made into [[Achievements]] and [[Handicap Achievements]] and the patterns can instantiate each other. [[Optional Goals]] can also be made into [[Goal Achievements]], which provide an extra [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] encouragement for players to attempt those [[Optional Goals]]. Another types of [[Achievements]], [[Grind Achievements]], can easily be constructed from [[Optional Goals]] related to acquiring [[Collections]].
+While [[Achievements]] and [[Handicap Achievements]] can create [[Optional Goals]], [[Optional Goals]] that are created as part of the goal structures of a game can easily be made into [[Achievements]] and [[Handicap Achievements]] and the patterns can instantiate each other. [[Optional Goals]] can also be made into [[Goal Achievements]], which provide an extra [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] encouragement for players to attempt those [[Optional Goals]]. Another type of [[Achievements]], [[Grind Achievements]], can easily be constructed from [[Optional Goals]] related to acquiring [[Collections]].
 Knowledge of what [[Optional Goals]] exist naturally affect players possibility to plan what they wish to do in a game. This means that games where players can know specifics about the [[Optional Goals]] may constitute [[Strategic Knowledge]] which in itself affects how players will relate to the [[Optional Goals]].

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 Any game which have goals consisting of players needing to complete [[Sets]] of [[Game Items]] but not requiring all possible [[Game Items]] can provide [[Optional Goals]], e.g. the Power Stars in [[Super Mario 64]]. This since the collection of the remaining [[Game Items]] can be done but is not necessary. Cases where the use of [[Sets]] and [[Game Items]] combinations do not result in [[Optional Goals]] is when games remove the ''surplus'' [[Game Items]] or automatically remove players possibility from performing the collecting actions, e.g. by ending a [[Levels|Level]].
 Looking at goals that are not defined within the framework of the actual game system, [[Achievements]] are one way of creating [[Optional Goals]] in that they are goals that players in many cases can choose to do more or less independently of the game goals of a game. This is particularly the case for [[Handicap Achievements]] as when setting their sight on these players have opted to do things in a more difficult way than necessary. Most [[Player-Defined Goals]] are this also as they most often are voluntarily to create and not part of the formal system of the game rules. Through this they are are optional, and encouraging players to make their own [[Player-Defined Goals]] is by extension a way of encouraging players to take on [[Optional Goals]]. Another way of creating [[Optional Goals]] outside the game system itself is through providing an [[Ironman Mode]], as for example the [[Europa Universalis series]] and the newer instances of the [[X-COM series]] provide. [[Speedruns]] is another type of [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]] that works outside the game system itself; designers can encourage this through keeping track of how much time players have used but players can take upon themselves to do this for many games even if the designers have not supported it.
-[[Optional Goals]] can be used to modify [[Ephemeral Goals]] so they do not have to be completed. They can also be used to provide more details to [[Factions]] by letting players have a multitude of goals that show the wishes, needs, and intentions that faction members have.
+For some [[Optional Goals]] it is self-evident that they exist simply because they are created by providing certain actions, e.g. [[Trading]] or collecting a subset of a [[Set]] of [[Game Items]]. In other case game designers need to consider how players should become aware of the [[Optional Goals]]. [[Environmental Storytelling]] and [[Level Summaries]] are two away discussed briefly below, but a general way is through [[Information Passing]] - often through [[NPCs]] (which may be as simple that they are [[Self-Service Kiosks]]).
-=== Can Be Modulated By ===
+[[Optional Goals]] can be used to modify [[Ephemeral Goals]] so they do not have to be completed.
-[[Strategic Knowledge]],
 === Interface Aspects ===
@@ Line 49: / Line 42: @@
 === Narration Aspects ===
-As mentioned above, [[Environmental Storytelling]] can be used both to support [[Optional Goals]] or be [[Optional Goals]] in themselves. Games with an [[Open Destiny]] for [[Characters]] or [[Abstract Player Constructs]] (such as countries or civilizations) provide [[Optional Goals]] in achieving one of the more specific destinies possible.
+As mentioned above, [[Environmental Storytelling]] can be used both to support [[Optional Goals]] or be [[Optional Goals]] in themselves. Games with an [[Open Destiny]] for [[Characters]] or [[Abstract Player Constructs]] (such as countries or civilizations) provide [[Optional Goals]] in achieving one of the more specific destinies possible. Similarly, [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]] offers players [[Optional Goals]] in the form of avoiding actions socially frowned upon or being able to handle the responses to performing such actions.
 == Consequences ==
@@ Line 56: / Line 51: @@
 While [[Achievements]] and [[Handicap Achievements]] can create [[Optional Goals]], [[Optional Goals]] that are created as part of the goal structures of a game can easily be made into [[Achievements]] and [[Handicap Achievements]] and the patterns can instantiate each other. [[Optional Goals]] can also be made into [[Goal Achievements]], which provide an extra [[Meta Games|Meta Game]] encouragement for players to attempt those [[Optional Goals]]. Another types of [[Achievements]], [[Grind Achievements]], can easily be constructed from [[Optional Goals]] related to acquiring [[Collections]].
 == Relations ==

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 One of the primary design choices when considering [[Optional Goals]] is if the game should keep track of these or if they should just be suggested to players as goals they can set for themselves without confirmations of success or failure from the game. Games can of course have both so it is a decision that needs to be taken for each [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]]. Another design choice - which is independent of the previous choice - is it the [[Optional Goals]] should be part of the games themselves or as parts of [[Meta Games]]; the latter is in a sense unavoidable since players can decide to make [[Meta Games]] through adding some [[Optional Goals]] to a game to create another game for themselves, but designers can also encourage players to experience the pursuit of [[Optional Goals]] as more or less parts of the game itself.
-Typical examples of [[Optional Goals]] include [[Sidequests]], [[Companion Quests]], and finding [[Secret Areas]] or [[Easter Eggs]]. [[Environmental Storytelling]] may be part of these or provide indication of that they exist, but [[Environmental Storytelling]] can also be [[Optional Goals]] in themselves through providing mysteries of what has happened in the [[Game Worlds|Game World]]. Other common examples include [[Rewards]] with [[Time Limits]] for how long they can be collected or optional [[Minigames]]; these design patterns are not inherently [[Optional Goals]] but simply once that can easily be the basis for [[Optional Goals]]. [[Endgame Quests]] is also type of [[Optional Goals]] since they be definition is something players can do after they have finished what is considered either the main gameplay or the mandatory preparation phases one need to go through.
+Typical examples of [[Optional Goals]] include [[Sidequests]], [[Companion Quests]], and finding [[Secret Areas]] or [[Easter Eggs]]. [[Environmental Storytelling]] may be part of these or provide indication of that they exist, but [[Environmental Storytelling]] can also be [[Optional Goals]] in themselves through providing mysteries of what has happened in the [[Game Worlds|Game World]]. Other common examples include [[Rewards]] with [[Time Limits]] for how long they can be collected or optional [[Minigames]]; these design patterns are not inherently [[Optional Goals]] but simply once that can easily be the basis for [[Optional Goals]]. [[Endgame Quests]] is also type of [[Optional Goals]] since they be definition is something players can do after they have finished what is considered either the main gameplay or the mandatory preparation phases one need to go through. Any game where players have a choice of showing [[Loyalty]] to an agreement, another player, or an [[NPCs|NPC]] provides an [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]].
-Any activity in games that nearly always provides [[Optional Goals]] is [[Trading]]. This is since [[Trading]] very rarely is a required action (although it may be very difficult to win a game without doing it, as for example is the case with [[Advanced Civilization]]).
+An activity in games that nearly always provides [[Optional Goals]] is [[Trading]]. This is since [[Trading]] very rarely is a required action (although it may be very difficult to win a game without doing it, as for example is the case with [[Advanced Civilization]]).
 Any goals in a game can be made to provide [[Optional Goals]] through adding [[Optional Objectives]] to them - that is, providing additional requirements to players that are not needed to complete a particular goal but can let players complete the goal in a more limited way. Such [[Optional Objectives]] can even provide [[Optional Goals]] to [[Optional Goals]].
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 [[Information Passing]],
 [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]],
@@ Line 51: / Line 49: @@
 === Narration Aspects ===
-As mentioned above, [[Environmental Storytelling]] can be used both to support [[Optional Goals]] or be [[Optional Goals]] in themselves.
+As mentioned above, [[Environmental Storytelling]] can be used both to support [[Optional Goals]] or be [[Optional Goals]] in themselves. Games with an [[Open Destiny]] for [[Characters]] or [[Abstract Player Constructs]] (such as countries or civilizations) provide [[Optional Goals]] in achieving one of the more specific destinies possible.
 == Consequences ==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-One of the primary design choices when considering [[Optional Goals]] is if the game should keep track of these or if they should just be suggested to players as goals they can set for themselves without confirmations of success or failure from the game. Games can of course have both so it is a decision that needs to be taken for each [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]].
+One of the primary design choices when considering [[Optional Goals]] is if the game should keep track of these or if they should just be suggested to players as goals they can set for themselves without confirmations of success or failure from the game. Games can of course have both so it is a decision that needs to be taken for each [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]]. Another design choice - which is independent of the previous choice - is it the [[Optional Goals]] should be part of the games themselves or as parts of [[Meta Games]]; the latter is in a sense unavoidable since players can decide to make [[Meta Games]] through adding some [[Optional Goals]] to a game to create another game for themselves, but designers can also encourage players to experience the pursuit of [[Optional Goals]] as more or less parts of the game itself.
-[[Endgame Quests]] is another type of [[Optional Goals]] since they be definition is something players can do after they have finished what is considered either the main gameplay or the mandatory preparation phases one need to go through.
+[[Minigames]],
 Looking at goals that are not defined within the framework of the actual game system, [[Achievements]] are one way of creating [[Optional Goals]] in that they are goals that players in many cases can choose to do more or less independently of the game goals of a game. This is particularly the case for [[Handicap Achievements]] as when setting their sight on these players have opted to do things in a more difficult way than necessary. Most [[Player-Defined Goals]] are this also as they most often are voluntarily to create and not part of the formal system of the game rules. Through this they are are optional, and encouraging players to make their own [[Player-Defined Goals]] is by extension a way of encouraging players to take on [[Optional Goals]].
@@ Line 41: / Line 48: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
 [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]],
 [[Game Items]] together with [[Sets]]
@@ Line 65: / Line 62: @@
 === Interface Aspects ===
 In games with [[Levels]], the presence of [[Optional Goals]] tracked by the game can be indicated by [[Level Summaries]]. This allows players to become aware of them, letting them know that similar goals may appear in future [[Levels]] as well as encouraging [[Replayability]] if not all of these goals were completed.
 == Consequences ==
@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 [[Iron Man]],
 [[Loyalty]],
 [[Minigames]],
 [[Open Destiny]],