Difference between revisions of "Shrinking Game Worlds"
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''Game worlds that become smaller as gameplay progresses.'' | ''Game worlds that become smaller as gameplay progresses.'' | ||
| − | + | Some games, primarily those where player compete against each other, decrease the size of the game world as game play progresses. These [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] make sure that player will sooner or later encounter each other. | |
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| − | Some games, primarily those where player compete against each other, decrease the size of the game world as game play progresses. | + | |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
| + | Most of the stones placed while playing [[Go]] are not removed, leading to players having an effectively [[Shrinking Game Worlds|Shrinking Game World]]. The same is true in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]], but in this case it is due to players removing ice tiles each time it is their turn. | ||
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Example: The game area shrinks in Bomber Man after players have failed to eliminate each other in a certain period of time to increase the tension of the game. | Example: The game area shrinks in Bomber Man after players have failed to eliminate each other in a certain period of time to increase the tension of the game. | ||
Example: One of the multiplayer levels in Half-Life allowed players to activate an air strike. All those not in a bunker complex when the air strike hit was killed, in effect reducing the Game World to the bunker for parts of the game play. | Example: One of the multiplayer levels in Half-Life allowed players to activate an air strike. All those not in a bunker complex when the air strike hit was killed, in effect reducing the Game World to the bunker for parts of the game play. | ||
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[[Greed Corp]] | [[Greed Corp]] | ||
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== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
Revision as of 11:15, 2 September 2011
Game worlds that become smaller as gameplay progresses.
Some games, primarily those where player compete against each other, decrease the size of the game world as game play progresses. These Shrinking Game Worlds make sure that player will sooner or later encounter each other.
Contents
Examples
Most of the stones placed while playing Go are not removed, leading to players having an effectively Shrinking Game World. The same is true in Hey! That's My Fish!, but in this case it is due to players removing ice tiles each time it is their turn.
Example: The game area shrinks in Bomber Man after players have failed to eliminate each other in a certain period of time to increase the tension of the game.
Example: One of the multiplayer levels in Half-Life allowed players to activate an air strike. All those not in a bunker complex when the air strike hit was killed, in effect reducing the Game World to the bunker for parts of the game play.
Using the pattern
Shrinking Game Worlds have two prime characteristics: in what way Game Worlds shrink and what activates the shrinkage. It is however important that each shrinkage is an Irreversible Event since otherwise the game effect instead becomes that of a Reconfigurable Game World (one could theoretically conceive of games where sometimes reductions are countered by growths in other areas but overall Game Worlds become smaller with time). Having Tiles as Destructible Objects even if the "destruction" can simply be its removal, it one way of creating Shrinking Game Worlds and can do this with clear units for the shrinkage (e.g. Greed Corp).
The reduction of Game World size can simply be a matter of Time Limits (as in multiplayer games in the Bomberman series) or be required action by players during their turn in Turn-Based Games.
Consequences
Shrinking Game Worlds are Ultra-Powerful Events that instantiate The Show Must Go On but successively making Game Worlds smaller as gameplay takes place. They increase Tension by creating Movement Limitations which in turn can limit players' Freedom of Choice. That Game Worlds shrink can be seen as an Environmental Effect in these worlds, and these can effectively become Traps for players - especially if other players can affect which parts of Game Worlds are removed (as in Hey! That's My Fish!). By definition, Game Worlds that are to shrink need to be Reconfigurable Game Worlds and the actual shrinkage is a reconfiguration. If players can control the shrinkage this allows Player Defined Goals and a form of Player Constructed Worlds.
As the actual shrinking are Irreversible Events, Shrinking Game Worlds can both guarantee Time Limited Game Instances and Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses since players are force to share a more limited space and outcomes of struggles become more and more vital for the final outcome of the game instances.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Environmental Effects, Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses, Movement Limitations, Player Constructed Worlds, Player Defined Goals, Reconfigurable Game Worlds, Tension, The Show Must Go On, Time Limited Game Instances, Traps, Ultra-Powerful Events
Can Modulate
Can Be Instantiated By
Destructible Objects together with Tiles
Can Be Modulated By
Irreversible Events, Time Limits
Possible Closure Effects
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Potentially Conflicting With
History
An updated version of the pattern Shrinking Game World that was part of the original collection in the book Patterns in Game Design[1].
References
- ↑ Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) Patterns in Game Design. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.
Acknowledgements
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