Difference between revisions of "Crosshairs"
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[[Category:Patterns]] | [[Category:Patterns]] | ||
[[Category:Interface Patterns]] | [[Category:Interface Patterns]] | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Platform Patterns]] |
[[Category:Needs revision]] | [[Category:Needs revision]] | ||
[[Category:Needs references]] | [[Category:Needs references]] | ||
[[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]] | [[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]] | ||
| − | + | ''Visual aims to help players aim.'' | |
| − | ''Visual aims to help players | + | |
| − | Many games require players to aim at what they want to interact with in the game worlds. While some games lock the point players aim at to the middle of the screen, it can be difficult to judge exactly | + | Many games require players to aim at what they want to interact with in the game worlds. While some games lock the point players can aim at to the middle of the screen, it can be difficult to judge exactly where this is. [[Crosshairs]] can be overlaid on the game world presentation to make this more easy, and in other games where players can move their aim point freely it is more or less required that players are provided with [[Crosshairs]] to be able to know what they are pointing at. |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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While most with [[Crosshairs]] have them fixed in the middle of the display, exception such as [[Missile Command]] and ports of the [[Operation Wolf series]] exist. | While most with [[Crosshairs]] have them fixed in the middle of the display, exception such as [[Missile Command]] and ports of the [[Operation Wolf series]] exist. | ||
| − | The site GiantBomb has a list<ref name="gb"/> of games using [[Crosshairs]]. | + | The site GiantBomb has a list<ref name="gb"/> of games using [[Crosshairs]], and has another one under the name ''Iron Sights''<ref name="iron"/> for sights that have to be activated (both these are assumed to be part of this pattern). Actually, it also has a list<ref name="gb2"/> for games that does ''not'' have crosshairs, something which is done to increase difficulty or to make people make use of the in-game scopes. |
== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
| − | While the actual design of [[Crosshairs]] is more a question of graphical design than gameplay design, there are a couple of gameplay-related options for them. The first is if their location should be fixed (as in the [[Quake series|Quake]] and [[Unreal Tournament series]]) or moveable (as in [[Missile Command]]). They can be modified by [[Auto-Aim]] functionality, either directly through making the system more them through the use of ''reticule magnetism'' or indirectly (in [[Combat]] contexts) by letting bullets aimed near [[Enemies]] hit anyway. | + | While the actual design of [[Crosshairs]] is more a question of graphical design than gameplay design, there are a couple of gameplay-related options for them. The first is if their location should be fixed (as in the [[Quake series|Quake]] and [[Unreal Tournament series]]) or moveable (as in [[Missile Command]]). They can be modified by [[Auto-Aim]] functionality, either directly through making the system more them through the use of ''reticule magnetism'' or indirectly (in [[Combat]] contexts) by letting bullets aimed near [[Enemies]] hit anyway. [[Variable Accuracy]] can either require players to activate scopes (e.g. through ''Iron Sights''<ref name="iron"/>) or make players that aim for a longer time have higher chances of hitting where they aim, and games using this pattern often indicate the current accuracy through the [[Crosshairs]]. |
| − | [[ | + | [[Crosshairs]] can also be modified to provide more information about what is aimed at. Showing [[Handles]] and [[Health]] are typical examples of this but this can also be used to show [[Tooltips]]. [[Crosshairs]] also make natural starting points for creating context-dependent [[Pie Menus]] since they already allow players to indicate their point of interest. |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | [[Handles]] | + | |
| − | [[Health]] | + | |
| − | [[ | + | |
| − | [[ | + | |
=== Interface Aspects === | === Interface Aspects === | ||
| − | [[Crosshairs]] is an [[Category:Interface Patterns|Interface Pattern]] and many of the options surrounding [[Crosshairs]] are related to interface issues. For example, the actual design of [[Crosshairs]] is often changed to reflect which [[Weapons|Weapon]] is being used | + | [[Crosshairs]] is an [[:Category:Interface Patterns|Interface Pattern]] and many of the options surrounding [[Crosshairs]] are related to interface issues. For example, the actual design of [[Crosshairs]] is often changed to reflect which [[Weapons|Weapon]] is being used as well as the status of [[Variable Accuracy]] systems. The [[Crosshairs]] can also be used to provide additional information about what is being aimed at, most commonly [[Health]] or [[Handles]], the latter to avoid [[Friendly Fire]] (another, more extreme, solution is to remove [[Crosshairs]] when aimed at friends). Later installments in the [[Battlefield series]] show how [[Pie Menus]] can be used to allow optional actions based upon what is in the [[Crosshairs]]. |
== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
| − | [[Crosshairs]] are visual aids for players to interact with [[Game Worlds]], and are most often used to support [[Aim & Shoot]] actions in [[Combat]]. They are a form of [[God Fingers]] for triggering specific actions directly rather than selecting game elements to interact with, but this is mainly relevant when the [[Crosshairs]] are moveable. | + | [[Crosshairs]] are visual aids for players to interact with [[Game Worlds]], and are most often used to support [[Dexterity-Based Actions]] - especially [[Aim & Shoot]] actions in [[Combat]]. They are a form of [[God Fingers]] for triggering specific actions directly rather than selecting game elements to interact with, but this is mainly relevant when the [[Crosshairs]] are moveable. |
| − | As visual aids [[Crosshairs]] may be part of [[HUD Interfaces]] or create these, and may introduce [[Non-Diegetic Features]] in games. | + | As visual aids, [[Crosshairs]] may be part of [[HUD Interfaces]] or create these, and may introduce [[Non-Diegetic Features]] in games. |
== Relations == | == Relations == | ||
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[[Aim & Shoot]], | [[Aim & Shoot]], | ||
[[Combat]], | [[Combat]], | ||
| + | [[Dexterity-Based Actions]], | ||
[[Friendly Fire]], | [[Friendly Fire]], | ||
[[Weapons]] | [[Weapons]] | ||
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<references> | <references> | ||
<ref name="gb">[http://www.giantbomb.com/crosshair/92-638/ Page] on the GiantBomb site describing [[Crosshairs]].</ref> | <ref name="gb">[http://www.giantbomb.com/crosshair/92-638/ Page] on the GiantBomb site describing [[Crosshairs]].</ref> | ||
| + | <ref name="gb2">[http://www.giantbomb.com/no-reticle-aiming/92-4658/ Page] on the GiantBomb site describing ''No-Reticle Aiming''.</ref> | ||
| + | <ref name="iron">[http://www.giantbomb.com/iron-sights/92-567/ Page] on the GiantBomb site describing ''Iron Sights''.</ref> | ||
</references> | </references> | ||
== Acknowledgements == | == Acknowledgements == | ||
- | - | ||
Latest revision as of 06:34, 22 June 2014
Visual aims to help players aim.
Many games require players to aim at what they want to interact with in the game worlds. While some games lock the point players can aim at to the middle of the screen, it can be difficult to judge exactly where this is. Crosshairs can be overlaid on the game world presentation to make this more easy, and in other games where players can move their aim point freely it is more or less required that players are provided with Crosshairs to be able to know what they are pointing at.
Contents
Examples
Given its definition, Crosshairs are used in Computer Games. They practically exist in all First-Person Shooters, e.g. Borderlands and the Battlefield, Far Cry, Left 4 Dead, Quake, and Unreal Tournament series. Other games that make use of Crosshairs - because they also contain shooting as part of the gameplay - include Mirror's Edge and the Fallout, Mass Effect, and Tomb Raider series.
While most with Crosshairs have them fixed in the middle of the display, exception such as Missile Command and ports of the Operation Wolf series exist.
The site GiantBomb has a list[1] of games using Crosshairs, and has another one under the name Iron Sights[2] for sights that have to be activated (both these are assumed to be part of this pattern). Actually, it also has a list[3] for games that does not have crosshairs, something which is done to increase difficulty or to make people make use of the in-game scopes.
Using the pattern
While the actual design of Crosshairs is more a question of graphical design than gameplay design, there are a couple of gameplay-related options for them. The first is if their location should be fixed (as in the Quake and Unreal Tournament series) or moveable (as in Missile Command). They can be modified by Auto-Aim functionality, either directly through making the system more them through the use of reticule magnetism or indirectly (in Combat contexts) by letting bullets aimed near Enemies hit anyway. Variable Accuracy can either require players to activate scopes (e.g. through Iron Sights[2]) or make players that aim for a longer time have higher chances of hitting where they aim, and games using this pattern often indicate the current accuracy through the Crosshairs.
Crosshairs can also be modified to provide more information about what is aimed at. Showing Handles and Health are typical examples of this but this can also be used to show Tooltips. Crosshairs also make natural starting points for creating context-dependent Pie Menus since they already allow players to indicate their point of interest.
Interface Aspects
Crosshairs is an Interface Pattern and many of the options surrounding Crosshairs are related to interface issues. For example, the actual design of Crosshairs is often changed to reflect which Weapon is being used as well as the status of Variable Accuracy systems. The Crosshairs can also be used to provide additional information about what is being aimed at, most commonly Health or Handles, the latter to avoid Friendly Fire (another, more extreme, solution is to remove Crosshairs when aimed at friends). Later installments in the Battlefield series show how Pie Menus can be used to allow optional actions based upon what is in the Crosshairs.
Consequences
Crosshairs are visual aids for players to interact with Game Worlds, and are most often used to support Dexterity-Based Actions - especially Aim & Shoot actions in Combat. They are a form of God Fingers for triggering specific actions directly rather than selecting game elements to interact with, but this is mainly relevant when the Crosshairs are moveable.
As visual aids, Crosshairs may be part of HUD Interfaces or create these, and may introduce Non-Diegetic Features in games.
Relations
Can Instantiate
God Fingers, HUD Interfaces, Non-Diegetic Features
Can Modulate
Aim & Shoot, Combat, Dexterity-Based Actions, Friendly Fire, Weapons
Can Be Instantiated By
-
Can Be Modulated By
Auto-Aim, Handles, Health, Pie Menus, Tooltips, Variable Accuracy
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
-
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
- ↑ Page on the GiantBomb site describing Crosshairs.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Page on the GiantBomb site describing Iron Sights.
- ↑ Page on the GiantBomb site describing No-Reticle Aiming.
Acknowledgements
-
