Persistent Game Worlds - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 10:37, 23 November 2015

2015-11-23T10:37:24Z

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2015-11-23T10:36:17Z

‎Relations

Staffan Björk at 07:58, 8 August 2015

2015-08-08T07:58:37Z

Staffan Björk at 15:26, 27 July 2015

2015-07-27T15:26:00Z

Staffan Björk: /* Can Modulate */

2015-07-18T15:07:18Z

‎Can Modulate

Staffan Björk at 08:31, 18 January 2015

2015-01-18T08:31:29Z

Staffan Björk at 11:05, 29 July 2014

2014-07-29T11:05:06Z

Staffan Björk at 06:44, 27 June 2014

2014-06-27T06:44:04Z

Staffan Björk at 08:13, 1 November 2012

2012-11-01T08:13:24Z

Staffan Björk at 07:12, 8 October 2012

2012-10-08T07:12:58Z

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 One typical requirement of [[Persistent Game Worlds]] is to keep track of [[Characters]] and [[Game Items]], but not all [[Game Items]] need to be persistent (e.g. [[Power-Ups]]). For [[Tick-Based Games]] this means updating them whether or not players interact with the game system between ticks. This may include activating [[Resource Generators]] and [[Spawn Points]] but this may also require other functions to avoid creating too many instances or to [[Encouraged Return Visits|Encourage Return Visits]] more frequently. The latter can for example be to have [[Budgeted Action Points]] that are [[Regenerating Resources]] which replenish over time. The handling of [[Resources|Resource]] flow needs to be handled for other purposes as well, including balancing the value of the various kinds of [[Resources]] against each other and ensuring that there are not too little of any type. This means considering overall how [[Producers]] and [[Consumers]] can interact in [[Producer-Consumer]] chains to create [[Emergent Gameplay]], and how specific issues such as [[Spawning]] and [[Crafting]] should be handled. One solution is to try and create [[Closed Economies]] (which was tried for [[Ultima Online]] but didn't find a stable equilibrium) or a [[Faucet/Drain]] model (e.g. [[World of Warcraft]] or [[FarmVille]]). In general, [[Persistent Game Worlds]] need to have all [[Resources]] as [[Renewable Resources|Renewable]] ones rather than [[Non-Renewable Resources|Non-Renewable]] ones.
-Existing independently of players' play sessions is rather pointless if players need to synchronize when they should all interact with the [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. For this reason, use of the pattern implies  supporting [[Late Arriving Players]] and [[Drop-In/Drop-Out]] gameplay. This also makes [[Persistent Game Worlds]] partly support [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with all the requirements and possibilities on gameplay actions that this can have. [[Private Game Spaces]] strengthens this since it limits the amount of interaction possible between the players. While the [[Freedom of Choice]] to play may lessen the feeling of having to play these games, [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] (up to making the worlds [[Player Constructed Worlds]]) can increase the wish to play them since the creations continue to exist after the players' play sessions end. Although games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] may easily have enough skill requirements to support [[Gameplay Mastery]] and can let players play long enough to develop it, this ability to train may make it difficult to provide [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] for these players without resolving to [[Red Queen Dilemmas]]. This can to some extent be countered by [[Grinding]] but risks making players lose a sense of [[Value of Effort]]. MUDs such as [[DragonMud]] and [[Kingdoms]] introduces [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] to these expert players to provide [[Varied Gameplay]] and thereby other types of possible closures. Other types of [[Varied Gameplay]] can be introduced by [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] through [[Expansions]] or [[Evolving Rule Sets]] for similar reasons.
+Existing independently of players' play sessions is rather pointless if players need to synchronize when they should all interact with the [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. For this reason, use of the pattern implies  supporting [[Late Arriving Players]] and [[Drop-In/Drop-Out]] gameplay. This also makes [[Persistent Game Worlds]] partly support [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with all the requirements and possibilities on gameplay actions that this can have. [[Private Game Spaces]] strengthens this since it limits the amount of interaction possible between the players. While the [[Freedom of Choice]] to play may lessen the feeling of having to play these games, [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] (up to making the worlds [[Player Constructed Worlds]]) can increase the wish to play them since the creations continue to exist after the players' play sessions end; that is, they can provide players with a [[Value of Effort]] sensation. Although games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] may easily have enough skill requirements to support [[Gameplay Mastery]] and can let players play long enough to develop it, this ability to train may make it difficult to provide [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] for these players without resolving to [[Red Queen Dilemmas]]. This can to some extent be countered by [[Grinding]] but risks making players lose a sense of [[Value of Effort]]. MUDs such as [[DragonMud]] and [[Kingdoms]] introduces [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] to these expert players to provide [[Varied Gameplay]] and thereby other types of possible closures. Other types of [[Varied Gameplay]] can be introduced by [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] through [[Expansions]] or [[Evolving Rule Sets]] for similar reasons.
 Nearly all [[Multiplayer Games]] have some possibility for [[Social Interaction]] but [[Persistent Game Worlds]] let these interaction develop over time. This allows for formalized structures such as [[Guilds]] to appear if supported, as well as informal ones such as [[Game-Based Social Statuses]] and [[Internal Rivalry]]. These various forms of [[Social Interaction]] may often be the main source why games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] have [[Encouraged Return Visits]] - this can be increased by design options such as [[Altruistic Actions]], [[Delayed Effects]], [[Development Time]], [[Events Timed to the Real World]], and [[Delayed Reciprocity]]. [[Encouraged Return Visits]] can also be constructed from [[Ephemeral Events]] but only if players are aware of them, e.g. through [[Extra-Game Broadcasting]] or by being seasonal.

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ==== with [[Character Development]] or [[Player-Planned Development]] ====
 [[Investments]], [[Value of Effort]]
 ==== with [[Construction]] or [[Creative Control]] ====

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 One typical requirement of [[Persistent Game Worlds]] is to keep track of [[Characters]] and [[Game Items]], but not all [[Game Items]] need to be persistent (e.g. [[Power-Ups]]). For [[Tick-Based Games]] this means updating them whether or not players interact with the game system between ticks. This may include activating [[Resource Generators]] and [[Spawn Points]] but this may also require other functions to avoid creating too many instances or to [[Encouraged Return Visits|Encourage Return Visits]] more frequently. The latter can for example be to have [[Budgeted Action Points]] that are [[Regenerating Resources]] which replenish over time. The handling of [[Resources|Resource]] flow needs to be handled for other purposes as well, including balancing the value of the various kinds of [[Resources]] against each other and ensuring that there are not too little of any type. This means considering overall how [[Producers]] and [[Consumers]] can interact in [[Producer-Consumer]] chains to create [[Emergent Gameplay]], and how specific issues such as [[Spawning]] and [[Crafting]] should be handled. One solution is to try and create [[Closed Economies]] (which was tried for [[Ultima Online]] but didn't find a stable equilibrium) or a [[Faucet/Drain]] model (e.g. [[World of Warcraft]] or [[FarmVille]]). In general, [[Persistent Game Worlds]] need to have all [[Resources]] as [[Renewable Resources|Renewable]] ones rather than [[Non-Renewable Resources|Non-Renewable]] ones.
-Existing independently of players' play sessions is rather pointless if players need to synchronize when they should all interact with the [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. For this reason, use of the pattern implies  supporting [[Late Arriving Players]] and [[Drop-In/Drop-Out]] gameplay. This also makes [[Persistent Game Worlds]] partly support [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with all the requirements and possibilities on gameplay actions that this can have. [[Private Game Spaces]] strengthens this since it limits the amount of interaction possible between the players. While the [[Freedom of Choice]] to play may lessen the feeling of having to play these games, [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] (up to making the worlds [[Player Constructed Worlds]]) can increase the wish to play them since the creations continue to exist after the players' play sessions end. Although games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] may easily have enough skill requirements to support [[Game Mastery]] and can let players play long enough to develop it, this ability to train may make it difficult to provide [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] for these players without resolving to [[Red Queen Dilemmas]]. This can to some extent be countered by [[Grinding]] but risks making players lose a sense of [[Value of Effort]]. MUDs such as [[DragonMud]] and [[Kingdoms]] introduces [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] to these expert players to provide [[Varied Gameplay]] and thereby other types of possible closures. Other types of [[Varied Gameplay]] can be introduced by [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] through [[Expansions]] or [[Evolving Rule Sets]] for similar reasons.
+Existing independently of players' play sessions is rather pointless if players need to synchronize when they should all interact with the [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. For this reason, use of the pattern implies  supporting [[Late Arriving Players]] and [[Drop-In/Drop-Out]] gameplay. This also makes [[Persistent Game Worlds]] partly support [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with all the requirements and possibilities on gameplay actions that this can have. [[Private Game Spaces]] strengthens this since it limits the amount of interaction possible between the players. While the [[Freedom of Choice]] to play may lessen the feeling of having to play these games, [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] (up to making the worlds [[Player Constructed Worlds]]) can increase the wish to play them since the creations continue to exist after the players' play sessions end. Although games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] may easily have enough skill requirements to support [[Gameplay Mastery]] and can let players play long enough to develop it, this ability to train may make it difficult to provide [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] for these players without resolving to [[Red Queen Dilemmas]]. This can to some extent be countered by [[Grinding]] but risks making players lose a sense of [[Value of Effort]]. MUDs such as [[DragonMud]] and [[Kingdoms]] introduces [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] to these expert players to provide [[Varied Gameplay]] and thereby other types of possible closures. Other types of [[Varied Gameplay]] can be introduced by [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] through [[Expansions]] or [[Evolving Rule Sets]] for similar reasons.
 Nearly all [[Multiplayer Games]] have some possibility for [[Social Interaction]] but [[Persistent Game Worlds]] let these interaction develop over time. This allows for formalized structures such as [[Guilds]] to appear if supported, as well as informal ones such as [[Game-Based Social Statuses]] and [[Internal Rivalry]]. These various forms of [[Social Interaction]] may often be the main source why games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] have [[Encouraged Return Visits]] - this can be increased by design options such as [[Altruistic Actions]], [[Delayed Effects]], [[Development Time]], [[Events Timed to the Real World]], and [[Delayed Reciprocity]]. [[Encouraged Return Visits]] can also be constructed from [[Ephemeral Events]] but only if players are aware of them, e.g. through [[Extra-Game Broadcasting]] or by being seasonal.

@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 === Potentially Conflicting With ===
 [[Interruptibility]],
 [[Non-Renewable Resources]],

@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 === Can Modulate ===
 [[Characters]], [[Character Development]], [[Factions]], [[Game Items]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games]], [[Multiplayer Games]], [[Player-Planned Development]], [[Roleplaying]], [[Resource Generators]], [[Spawn Points]], [[Tick-Based Games]]
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===

@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 === Can Be Modulated By ===
-[[Closed Economies]], [[Construction]], [[Consumers]], [[Crafting]], [[Creative Control]], [[Drop-In/Drop-Out]], [[Encouraged Return Visits]], [[Ephemeral Events]], [[Expansions]], [[Faucet/Drain]], [[Grinding]], [[Guilds]], [[Instances]], [[Never Ending Stories]], [[Late Arriving Players]], [[Persistent Game World Changes]], [[Player Constructed Worlds]],
+[[Closed Economies]], [[Construction]], [[Consumers]],
 [[Predetermined Story Structures]],
 [[Private Game Spaces]], [[Producers]], [[Producer-Consumer]], [[Purchasable Game Advantages]], [[Quests]],

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Persistent Game Worlds]] are basically [[Game Worlds]] that have [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] maintaining them so they are available when players wish to enter them. This is most easily done by computer programs but human [[Game Masters]] can also provide this service, although the accessibility may be more restricted and this adds [[Excise]] for them. The latter is the norm in tabletop [[Roleplaying]] games such as [[Call of Cthulhu]] and [[Hârnmaster]] although players often help with some of the task involved. [[Persistent Game Worlds]] make most sense for [[Multiplayer Games]], especially [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games|Massively Multiplayer ones]], but are also needed for [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] that are [[Tick-Based Games|Tick-Based]] or support [[Visits]].
+[[Persistent Game Worlds]] are basically [[Game Worlds]] that have [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] maintaining them so they are available when players wish to enter them. This is most easily done by computer [[Game Servers]] but human [[Game Masters]] can also provide this service, although the accessibility may be more restricted and this adds [[Excise]] for them. The latter is the norm in tabletop [[Roleplaying]] games such as [[Call of Cthulhu]] and [[Hârnmaster]] although players often help with some of the task involved. [[Persistent Game Worlds]] make most sense for [[Multiplayer Games]], especially [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games|Massively Multiplayer ones]], but are also needed for [[Massively Single-Player Online Games]] that are [[Tick-Based Games|Tick-Based]] or support [[Visits]].
 One typical requirement of [[Persistent Game Worlds]] is to keep track of [[Characters]] and [[Game Items]], but not all [[Game Items]] need to be persistent (e.g. [[Power-Ups]]). For [[Tick-Based Games]] this means updating them whether or not players interact with the game system between ticks. This may include activating [[Resource Generators]] and [[Spawn Points]] but this may also require other functions to avoid creating too many instances or to [[Encouraged Return Visits|Encourage Return Visits]] more frequently. The latter can for example be to have [[Budgeted Action Points]] that are [[Regenerating Resources]] which replenish over time. The handling of [[Resources|Resource]] flow needs to be handled for other purposes as well, including balancing the value of the various kinds of [[Resources]] against each other and ensuring that there are not too little of any type. This means considering overall how [[Producers]] and [[Consumers]] can interact in [[Producer-Consumer]] chains to create [[Emergent Gameplay]], and how specific issues such as [[Spawning]] and [[Crafting]] should be handled. One solution is to try and create [[Closed Economies]] (which was tried for [[Ultima Online]] but didn't find a stable equilibrium) or a [[Faucet/Drain]] model (e.g. [[World of Warcraft]] or [[FarmVille]]). In general, [[Persistent Game Worlds]] need to have all [[Resources]] as [[Renewable Resources|Renewable]] ones rather than [[Non-Renewable Resources|Non-Renewable]] ones.
@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
-[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]], [[Game Masters]]
+[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]],
 === Can Be Modulated By ===

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 Existing independently of players' play sessions is rather pointless if players need to synchronize when they should all interact with the [[Persistent Game Worlds]]. For this reason, use of the pattern implies  supporting [[Late Arriving Players]] and [[Drop-In/Drop-Out]] gameplay. This also makes [[Persistent Game Worlds]] partly support [[Asynchronous Gameplay]] with all the requirements and possibilities on gameplay actions that this can have. [[Private Game Spaces]] strengthens this since it limits the amount of interaction possible between the players. While the [[Freedom of Choice]] to play may lessen the feeling of having to play these games, [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] (up to making the worlds [[Player Constructed Worlds]]) can increase the wish to play them since the creations continue to exist after the players' play sessions end. Although games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] may easily have enough skill requirements to support [[Game Mastery]] and can let players play long enough to develop it, this ability to train may make it difficult to provide [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] for these players without resolving to [[Red Queen Dilemmas]]. This can to some extent be countered by [[Grinding]] but risks making players lose a sense of [[Value of Effort]]. MUDs such as [[DragonMud]] and [[Kingdoms]] introduces [[Construction]] and other forms of [[Creative Control]] to these expert players to provide [[Varied Gameplay]] and thereby other types of possible closures. Other types of [[Varied Gameplay]] can be introduced by [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] through [[Expansions]] or [[Evolving Rule Sets]] for similar reasons.
-Nearly all [[Multiplayer Games]] have some possibility for [[Social Interaction]] but [[Persistent Game Worlds]] let these interaction develop over time. This allows for formalized structures such as [[Guilds]] to appear if supported, as well as informal ones such as [[Game-Induced Player Social Status]] and [[Internal Rivalry]]. These various forms of [[Social Interaction]] may often be the main source why games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] have [[Encouraged Return Visits]] - this can be increased by design options such as [[Altruistic Actions]], [[Delayed Effects]], [[Development Time]], [[Events Timed to the Real World]], and [[Delayed Reciprocity]]. [[Encouraged Return Visits]] can also be constructed from [[Ephemeral Events]] but only if players are aware of them, e.g. through [[Extra-Game Broadcasting]] or by being seasonal.
+Nearly all [[Multiplayer Games]] have some possibility for [[Social Interaction]] but [[Persistent Game Worlds]] let these interaction develop over time. This allows for formalized structures such as [[Guilds]] to appear if supported, as well as informal ones such as [[Game-Based Social Statuses]] and [[Internal Rivalry]]. These various forms of [[Social Interaction]] may often be the main source why games with [[Persistent Game Worlds]] have [[Encouraged Return Visits]] - this can be increased by design options such as [[Altruistic Actions]], [[Delayed Effects]], [[Development Time]], [[Events Timed to the Real World]], and [[Delayed Reciprocity]]. [[Encouraged Return Visits]] can also be constructed from [[Ephemeral Events]] but only if players are aware of them, e.g. through [[Extra-Game Broadcasting]] or by being seasonal.
 Given the many aspects of [[Resources]], and possibly [[Construction]] or [[Character Development]] present in [[Persistent Game Worlds]], there are often opportunities to include [[Trading]] in the design, both in-game and as [[Extra-Game Actions]] with [[Extra-Game Consequences]].
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 == Relations ==
 === Can Instantiate ===
-[[Asynchronous Gameplay]], [[Emergent Gameplay]], [[Excise]], [[Extra-Game Actions]], [[Extra-Game Consequences]], [[Freedom of Choice]], [[Game-Induced Player Social Status]], [[Internal Rivalry]],
+[[Asynchronous Gameplay]], [[Emergent Gameplay]], [[Excise]], [[Extra-Game Actions]], [[Extra-Game Consequences]], [[Freedom of Choice]],
 [[Social Interaction]],
 [[Temporal Consistency]],