Difference between revisions of "Scenes"

Revision as of 13:22, 30 June 2014

An in time and space localized gameplay period.

Some games divide gameplay into several different sequences differentiate by where and when they take place in the game world. Such individual sequences are Scenes.

Examples

Scenes are a game concept is primarily used in Tabletop Roleplaying Games, and is explicitly discussed in Toon and Vampire: The Masquerade. The latter defines Scenes as “one compact period of time in one location”^[1]. Fiasco and Universalis are examples of more modern Roleplaying Games which explores alternative power structures by letting players, rather than game masters, create Scenes

Since Levels create rigidly-confined Scenes, many Computer Games exhibits the pattern also. Adventure Games are among those that most often make use of Levels for narrative purposes, with Grim Fandango and the Walking Dead seriesas examples of how Scenes unlock the narration as gameplay challenges are overcome. Fahrenheit shows a more complex use of Scenes in that it shifts which character the player controls between each of them.

The Assassin's Creed series is an example of how Action Games can make use of Scenes to construct more complex narratives. Here, the main historical gameplay is framed by Scenes of focused on the modern day character Desmond Miles. Another example of use of Scenes in the series is from the second game, where players briefly get to play Altaïr from the first game as to get knowledge about how Altaïr's bloodline continued.

Anti-Examples

Dwarf Fortress and Minecraft are examples of games with Open Worlds and no Cutscenes.

Using the pattern

A first option when considering the use of Scenes is it they should be Levels. This subpattern of Scenes put emphasis on defining all diegetic elements and gameplay actions while not using it allows a focus on Narration Structures.

Narration Structures Characters Temporal Consistency Melodramatic Structures Open Destiny

Diegetic Aspects

Scenes that are not created through Levels allow details about the Game Worlds to be decided or created only when they need to be. This can be used to have both Game Element Insertion and Reconfigurable Game Worlds; Fiasco and Universalis shows how this can be used to provide players with Creative Control.

Cutscenes Environmental Storytelling Predetermined Story Structures Movement

Narrative Aspects

Consequences

Scenes are one way of presenting Game Worlds to players.

--- Predetermined Story Structures and can thereby be used to progress a narrative as gameplay progresses, especially since any present Boss Monsters or Environmental Storytelling ---

Relations

Cutscenes Environmental Storytelling Predetermined Story Structures Movement

Can Instantiate

Game Element Insertion, Game Worlds, Melodramatic Structures, Narration Structures, Reconfigurable Game Worlds

with ...

Can Modulate

Characters

Can Be Instantiated By

Levels

Can Be Modulated By

Creative Control

Possible Closure Effects

-

Potentially Conflicting With

Open Destiny, Temporal Consistency

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

References

1. ↑ Mark Rein·Hagen (1991). Vampire - The Masquerade, page 31. White Wolf.

Acknowledgements

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