Pottering - Revision history

Staffan Björk: /* Consequences */

2018-03-18T10:35:42Z

‎Consequences

Staffan Björk: /* Can Modulate */

2018-03-18T10:34:38Z

‎Can Modulate

Staffan Björk at 09:29, 21 September 2016

2016-09-21T09:29:55Z

Staffan Björk at 10:42, 13 August 2016

2016-08-13T10:42:37Z

Staffan Björk at 15:05, 2 August 2015

2015-08-02T15:05:02Z

Staffan Björk at 19:38, 25 July 2015

2015-07-25T19:38:06Z

Staffan Björk at 20:05, 24 July 2015

2015-07-24T20:05:10Z

Staffan Björk at 09:29, 13 January 2015

2015-01-13T09:29:22Z

Staffan Björk at 15:12, 15 September 2014

2014-09-15T15:12:12Z

Staffan Björk at 19:19, 9 September 2014

2014-09-09T19:19:36Z

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 == Consequences ==
-[[Pottering]] is typically instantiated through players changing [[Game Worlds]] (but [[Resource Management]] shows how this does not always need to be the case). In games with small [[Game Worlds]] (e.g. [[FarmVille]] or [[Ravenwood Fair]]) or those were [[Pottering]] is done extensively in the regions the players inhabit (e.g. [[Minecraft]]), the pattern can give rise to [[Player-Constructed Worlds]].
+[[Pottering]] is typically instantiated through players changing [[Game Worlds]] (but pure [[Resource Management]] shows how this does not always need to be the case). However, in all cases it affects how [[Resources]] are handled in a game. In games with small [[Game Worlds]] (e.g. [[FarmVille]] or [[Ravenwood Fair]]) or those were [[Pottering]] is done extensively in the regions the players inhabit (e.g. [[Minecraft]]), the pattern can give rise to [[Player-Constructed Worlds]].
 Games with [[Pottering]] provide players with a [[Freedom of Choice]] of what to do. This can be used for effect in [[Expansion]] and [[Exploitation]] phases since these typically are not so time critical as other phases. However, [[Pottering]] is likely to also cause [[Repetitive Gameplay]] since players are likely to do a significant amount of whatever actions they are doing as [[Pottering]].

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 [[Expansion]],
 [[Exploitation]],
-[[Game Worlds]]
+[[Game Worlds]],
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===

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 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Pottering]] requires that players can find activities in a game - often in the form of [[Abilities]] - which they want to perform for their own sake without them being forced on them by the design or other players. This means that [[Player Defined Goals]] are required for the pattern to emerge but also often [[Framed Freedom]] so that players know what is possible. These goals should however not be [[Committed Goals]] or ones that need too much effort before having some types of closures since they otherwise become a pressure that lessen the feeling that one is performing the activity for its own sake. Typical actions or activities that can provide this is [[Construction]] when players have [[Creative Control]], but sorting activities as part of [[Resource Management]] can also work as can [[Grinding]]. [[Puzzles]], either as part of games or as complete games but without [[Time Limits]] or [[Time Pressure]], can be seen as an option as well given that they let players take their time and only perform actions when they wish to. In [[Single-Player Games]], [[Sanctioned Cheating]] can help players engage in [[Pottering]] by removing [[Resource]] needs and various threats without disrupting [[Player Balance]] in a way that would happen if the pattern was used in [[Multiplayer Games]].
+[[Pottering]] requires that players can find activities in a game - often in the form of [[Abilities]] - which they want to perform for their own sake without them being forced on them by the design or other players. This means that [[Player Defined Goals]] are required for the pattern to emerge but also often [[Framed Freedom]] so that players know what is possible. These goals should however not be [[Committed Goals]] or ones that need too much effort before having some types of closures since they otherwise become a pressure that lessen the feeling that one is performing the activity for its own sake. Typical actions or activities that can provide this is [[Construction]] when players have [[Creative Control]], but sorting activities as part of [[Resource Management]] can also work as can [[Grinding]]. [[Puzzles]], either as part of games or as complete games but without [[Time Limits]] or [[Time Pressure]], can be seen as an option as well given that they let players take their time and only perform actions when they wish to. In [[Single-Player Games]], [[Sanctioned Cheating]] can help players engage in [[Pottering]] by removing [[Resources]] needs and various threats without disrupting [[Player Balance]] in a way that would happen if the pattern was used in [[Multiplayer Games]].
 A main component of supporting [[Pottering]] is that players do not constantly feel stressed that the activities they are doing can be destroyed or interfered with, making games with [[Casual Gameplay]], [[Lull Periods]], or [[Private Game Spaces]] likely types of games in which [[Pottering]] can occur. If one wishes to only encourage [[Pottering]] in certain areas of the [[Game Worlds|Game World]], [[Safe Havens]] can be used instead. While [[Complex Gameplay]] might seem to work against [[Pottering]] because players need to understand or control all aspects of the gameplay, this does actually not need to be stressful in itself and the complexity it allows can let players choose to engage in [[Pottering]] in certain parts of the gameplay. In contrast, games with [[Time Limits]] or constant [[Tension]] or [[Time Pressure]] works against the pattern. This does not mean that oppositions or threats cannot exist in the games: [[Minecraft]] have monsters appearing during the night but these are no problem if players have constructed [[Safe Havens]] for themselves, and players' countries in the [[Europa Universalis series]] may be attacked by other countries but this is a rather rare occurrence throughout game instances. Another option is through letting things decay slowly as a result of [[The Show Must Go On]] - the withering of crops in [[FarmVille]] or the growing of roots and trees in [[Ravenwood Fair]] are examples of this.

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 [[Pottering]] is typically instantiated through players changing [[Game Worlds]] (but [[Resource Management]] shows how this does not always need to be the case). In games with small [[Game Worlds]] (e.g. [[FarmVille]] or [[Ravenwood Fair]]) or those were [[Pottering]] is done extensively in the regions the players inhabit (e.g. [[Minecraft]]), the pattern can give rise to [[Player-Constructed Worlds]].
-Games with [[Pottering]] provide players with a [[Freedom of Choice]] of what to do. This can be used for effect in [[Expansion]] and [[Exploitation]] phases since these typically are not so time critical as other phases.
+Games with [[Pottering]] provide players with a [[Freedom of Choice]] of what to do. This can be used for effect in [[Expansion]] and [[Exploitation]] phases since these typically are not so time critical as other phases. However, [[Pottering]] is likely to also cause [[Repetitive Gameplay]] since players are likely to do a significant amount of whatever actions they are doing as [[Pottering]].
 Since [[Pottering]] lets players slowly but surely affect the game to meet their own voluntary or unconscious goals, the pattern can sneak a [[Value of Effort]] onto them.
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 [[Never Ending Stories]],
 [[Player-Constructed Worlds]],
 [[Value of Effort]]

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 [[Pottering]] requires that players can find activities in a game - often in the form of [[Abilities]] - which they want to perform for their own sake without them being forced on them by the design or other players. This means that [[Player Defined Goals]] are required for the pattern to emerge but also often [[Framed Freedom]] so that players know what is possible. These goals should however not be [[Committed Goals]] or ones that need too much effort before having some types of closures since they otherwise become a pressure that lessen the feeling that one is performing the activity for its own sake. Typical actions or activities that can provide this is [[Construction]] when players have [[Creative Control]], but sorting activities as part of [[Resource Management]] can also work as can [[Grinding]]. [[Puzzles]], either as part of games or as complete games but without [[Time Limits]] or [[Time Pressure]], can be seen as an option as well given that they let players take their time and only perform actions when they wish to. In [[Single-Player Games]], [[Sanctioned Cheating]] can help players engage in [[Pottering]] by removing [[Resource]] needs and various threats without disrupting [[Player Balance]] in a way that would happen if the pattern was used in [[Multiplayer Games]].
-A main component of supporting [[Pottering]] is that players do not constantly feel stressed that the activities they are doing can be destroyed or interfered with, making games with [[Casual Gameplay]] or [[Private Game Spaces]] likely types of games in which [[Pottering]] can occur. If one wishes to only encourage [[Pottering]] in certain areas of the [[Game Worlds|Game World]], [[Safe Havens]] can be used instead. While [[Complex Gameplay]] might seem to work against [[Pottering]] because players need to understand or control all aspects of the gameplay, this does actually not need to be stressful in itself and the complexity it allows can let players choose to engage in [[Pottering]] in certain parts of the gameplay. In contrast, games with [[Time Limits]] or constant [[Tension]] or [[Time Pressure]] works against the pattern. This does not mean that oppositions or threats cannot exist in the games: [[Minecraft]] have monsters appearing during the night but these are no problem if players have constructed [[Safe Havens]] for themselves, and players' countries in the [[Europa Universalis series]] may be attacked by other countries but this is a rather rare occurrence throughout game instances. Another option is through letting things decay slowly as a result of [[The Show Must Go On]] - the withering of crops in [[FarmVille]] or the growing of roots and trees in [[Ravenwood Fair]] are examples of this.
+A main component of supporting [[Pottering]] is that players do not constantly feel stressed that the activities they are doing can be destroyed or interfered with, making games with [[Casual Gameplay]], [[Lull Periods]], or [[Private Game Spaces]] likely types of games in which [[Pottering]] can occur. If one wishes to only encourage [[Pottering]] in certain areas of the [[Game Worlds|Game World]], [[Safe Havens]] can be used instead. While [[Complex Gameplay]] might seem to work against [[Pottering]] because players need to understand or control all aspects of the gameplay, this does actually not need to be stressful in itself and the complexity it allows can let players choose to engage in [[Pottering]] in certain parts of the gameplay. In contrast, games with [[Time Limits]] or constant [[Tension]] or [[Time Pressure]] works against the pattern. This does not mean that oppositions or threats cannot exist in the games: [[Minecraft]] have monsters appearing during the night but these are no problem if players have constructed [[Safe Havens]] for themselves, and players' countries in the [[Europa Universalis series]] may be attacked by other countries but this is a rather rare occurrence throughout game instances. Another option is through letting things decay slowly as a result of [[The Show Must Go On]] - the withering of crops in [[FarmVille]] or the growing of roots and trees in [[Ravenwood Fair]] are examples of this.
 [[Pottering]] can also be supported by games for activities outside the main gameplay. One example of this is to allow [[Player Created Game Elements]] since players can choose how much effort they wish to put into these, as for example was possible in creating one's clothes and props for [[Dragonbane] and to a lesser extent is possible when by choosing how to paint ones' miniatures in [[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]. Another example is considering which game elements to bring to games using [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]] to create game instances, often through the use of [[Pre-Customized Decks]].
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 [[Grinding]],
 [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]],
 [[Safe Havens]],
 [[Player Created Game Elements]],

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 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Pottering]] requires that players can find activities in a game which they want to perform for their own sake without them being forced on them by the design or other players. This means that [[Player Defined Goals]] are required for the pattern to emerge but also often [[Framed Freedom]] so that players know what is possible. These goals should however not be [[Committed Goals]] or ones that need too much effort before having some types of closures since they otherwise become a pressure that lessen the feeling that one is performing the activity for its own sake. Typical actions or activities that can provide this is [[Construction]] when players have [[Creative Control]], but sorting activities as part of [[Resource Management]] can also work as can [[Grinding]]. [[Puzzles]], either as part of games or as complete games but without [[Time Limits]] or [[Time Pressure]], can be seen as an option as well given that they let players take their time and only perform actions when they wish to.
+[[Pottering]] requires that players can find activities in a game which they want to perform for their own sake without them being forced on them by the design or other players. This means that [[Player Defined Goals]] are required for the pattern to emerge but also often [[Framed Freedom]] so that players know what is possible. These goals should however not be [[Committed Goals]] or ones that need too much effort before having some types of closures since they otherwise become a pressure that lessen the feeling that one is performing the activity for its own sake. Typical actions or activities that can provide this is [[Construction]] when players have [[Creative Control]], but sorting activities as part of [[Resource Management]] can also work as can [[Grinding]]. [[Puzzles]], either as part of games or as complete games but without [[Time Limits]] or [[Time Pressure]], can be seen as an option as well given that they let players take their time and only perform actions when they wish to. In [[Single-Player Games]], [[Sanctioned Cheating]] can help players engage in [[Pottering]] by removing [[Resource]] needs and various threats without disrupting [[Player Balance]] in a way that would happen if the pattern was used in [[Multiplayer Games]].
 A main component of supporting [[Pottering]] is that players do not constantly feel stressed that the activities they are doing can be destroyed or interfered with, making games with [[Casual Gameplay]] or [[Private Game Spaces]] likely types of games in which [[Pottering]] can occur. If one wishes to only encourage [[Pottering]] in certain areas of the [[Game Worlds|Game World]], [[Safe Havens]] can be used instead. In contrast, games with [[Time Limits]] or constant [[Tension]] or [[Time Pressure]] works against the pattern. This does not mean that oppositions or threats cannot exist in the games: [[Minecraft]] have monsters appearing during the night but these are no problem if players have constructed [[Safe Havens]] for themselves, and players' countries in the [[Europa Universalis series]] may be attacked by other countries but this is a rather rare occurrence throughout game instances. Another option is through letting things decay slowly as a result of [[The Show Must Go On]] - the withering of crops in [[FarmVille]] or the growing of roots and trees in [[Ravenwood Fair]] are examples of this.
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 [[Construction]] together with [[Creative Control]]
 === Can Be Modulated By ===