Difference between revisions of "Complex Gameplay"
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[[Complex Gameplay]] can have several different far-reaching consequences for a game design. First, it can lead to [[Challenging Gameplay]] and possibly [[FUBAR Enjoyment]]. Second, it can lead to [[Solution Uncertainty]] and make [[Predictable Consequences]] absent so players may be inclined to do [[Experimenting]]. This also lead to [[Complex Gameplay]] making [[Surprises]] possible but at the same time making [[Anticipation]] more unlikely. [[Complex Gameplay]] has a dual relation to [[Hovering Closures]], it can provide these by having many simultaneously requirements that need to be fulfilled at the same time but when they are too many of these, or their status is not clearly presented, players may not experience them as being close to being reached. The pattern does however not need to lead to both [[Solution Uncertainty]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]] at the same time, and when a game with [[Complex Gameplay]] lacks challenging aspects (at least sometimes), it can provide [[Creative Control]] and let players engage in [[Pottering]] ([[Minecraft]] can be seen as an example of this). Third, the complexity of gameplay can lead to [[Varied Gameplay]] since players may only be focusing or interacting with specific parts of the gameplay in each game instance. All these consequences can lead to [[Cognitive Engrossment]] so this is perhaps one of the more predictable effects of [[Complex Gameplay]]. Finally, being able to handle the complexity of a game with [[Complex Gameplay]] is a form of [[Game Mastery]], e.g. when being able to skillfully make use of all possible [[Combos]]. | [[Complex Gameplay]] can have several different far-reaching consequences for a game design. First, it can lead to [[Challenging Gameplay]] and possibly [[FUBAR Enjoyment]]. Second, it can lead to [[Solution Uncertainty]] and make [[Predictable Consequences]] absent so players may be inclined to do [[Experimenting]]. This also lead to [[Complex Gameplay]] making [[Surprises]] possible but at the same time making [[Anticipation]] more unlikely. [[Complex Gameplay]] has a dual relation to [[Hovering Closures]], it can provide these by having many simultaneously requirements that need to be fulfilled at the same time but when they are too many of these, or their status is not clearly presented, players may not experience them as being close to being reached. The pattern does however not need to lead to both [[Solution Uncertainty]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]] at the same time, and when a game with [[Complex Gameplay]] lacks challenging aspects (at least sometimes), it can provide [[Creative Control]] and let players engage in [[Pottering]] ([[Minecraft]] can be seen as an example of this). Third, the complexity of gameplay can lead to [[Varied Gameplay]] since players may only be focusing or interacting with specific parts of the gameplay in each game instance. All these consequences can lead to [[Cognitive Engrossment]] so this is perhaps one of the more predictable effects of [[Complex Gameplay]]. Finally, being able to handle the complexity of a game with [[Complex Gameplay]] is a form of [[Game Mastery]], e.g. when being able to skillfully make use of all possible [[Combos]]. | ||
| − | [[Complex Gameplay]] can give [[Excise]] if players need to manipulate many individual game components as part of gameplay. When the [[Complex Gameplay]] relies on [[Resource Management]], this can take the form of [[Grinding]]. | + | [[Complex Gameplay]] can give [[Excise]] if players need to manipulate many individual game components as part of gameplay. When the [[Complex Gameplay]] relies on [[Resource Management]], this can take the form of [[Grinding]]. |
| − | + | ||
== Relations == | == Relations == | ||
Revision as of 08:55, 14 January 2015
The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.
This pattern is a still a stub.
(Right level of complexity)
Contents
Examples
Game of Life Magic: the Gathering both which are Turing equivalent.
Europa Universalis series Crusader Kings series
Anti-Examples
optional
Using the pattern
Complex Gameplay can be a design goal for several reasons in game, common ones being to provide Challenging Gameplay, Solution Uncertainty, and, more generally, Cognitive Engrossment. It can also be used to increase or decrease the likelihood of Analysis Paralysis or Stimulated Planning since a certain level of complexity might increase the presence of these patterns but adding even more complexity might decrease them. The generic ways of providing Complex Gameplay is through number of game components (and their relations), through numbers of rules (and their inter-connectivity), and through the number of actions with Predictable Consequences players can perform.
Can Be Instantiated By
Abilities, Algorithmic Agents, Asynchronous Collaborative Actions, Attention Swapping, Budgeted Action Points, Combos, Converters, Dedicated Game Facilitators, Enemies, Evolving Rule Sets, Game Masters, Indirect Control, Internal Rivalry, Movement, Optional Rules, Orthogonal Differentiation, Perfect Information, Producer-Consumer, Puzzle Solving, Red Herrings, Resources, Resource Management, Rhythm-Based Actions, Rock-Paper-Scissors, Role Reversal, Skills, Trumps, Units, Variable Accuracy, Varying Rule Sets
Betrayal together with Cooperation or Teams
Collaborative Actions together with Delayed Effects or Delayed Reciprocity
Limited Resources together with Traverse
Trading together with Delayed Effects
(have below as example for Algorithmic Agents, Dedicated Game Facilitators, or Game Masters)
Non-Player Characters with Algorithmic Agents, Dedicated Game Facilitators, or Game Masters
(have below as example for Enemies and [[Goal Hierarchies)
Quests together with with Enemies or Goal Hierarchies
Can Be Modulated By
Ability Losses, Exaggerated Perception of Influence, Extra-Game Information, Limited Foresight, Limited Planning Ability, Narration Structures, Smooth Learning Curves, Time Pressure, Varying Rule Sets
Diegetic Aspects
Interface Aspects
Narration Aspects
Consequences
Complex Gameplay can have several different far-reaching consequences for a game design. First, it can lead to Challenging Gameplay and possibly FUBAR Enjoyment. Second, it can lead to Solution Uncertainty and make Predictable Consequences absent so players may be inclined to do Experimenting. This also lead to Complex Gameplay making Surprises possible but at the same time making Anticipation more unlikely. Complex Gameplay has a dual relation to Hovering Closures, it can provide these by having many simultaneously requirements that need to be fulfilled at the same time but when they are too many of these, or their status is not clearly presented, players may not experience them as being close to being reached. The pattern does however not need to lead to both Solution Uncertainty and Challenging Gameplay at the same time, and when a game with Complex Gameplay lacks challenging aspects (at least sometimes), it can provide Creative Control and let players engage in Pottering (Minecraft can be seen as an example of this). Third, the complexity of gameplay can lead to Varied Gameplay since players may only be focusing or interacting with specific parts of the gameplay in each game instance. All these consequences can lead to Cognitive Engrossment so this is perhaps one of the more predictable effects of Complex Gameplay. Finally, being able to handle the complexity of a game with Complex Gameplay is a form of Game Mastery, e.g. when being able to skillfully make use of all possible Combos.
Complex Gameplay can give Excise if players need to manipulate many individual game components as part of gameplay. When the Complex Gameplay relies on Resource Management, this can take the form of Grinding.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Challenging Gameplay, Cognitive Engrossment, Creative Control, Excise, Experimenting, FUBAR Enjoyment, Game Mastery, Hovering Closures, Pottering, Solution Uncertainty, Varied Gameplay
with Resource Management
Can Modulate
Analysis Paralysis, Stimulated Planning
Can Be Instantiated By
Abilities, Algorithmic Agents, Asynchronous Collaborative Actions, Attention Swapping, Budgeted Action Points, Combos, Converters, Dedicated Game Facilitators, Enemies, Evolving Rule Sets, Game Masters, Indirect Control, Internal Rivalry, Movement, Optional Rules, Orthogonal Differentiation, Perfect Information, Predictable Consequences, Producer-Consumer, Puzzle Solving, Red Herrings, Resources, Resource Management, Rhythm-Based Actions, Rock-Paper-Scissors, Role Reversal, Skills, Surprises, Trumps, Units, Variable Accuracy, Varying Rule Sets
Betrayal together with Cooperation or Teams
Collaborative Actions together with Delayed Effects or Delayed Reciprocity
Limited Resources together with Traverse
Trading together with Delayed Effects
Can Be Modulated By
Ability Losses, Exaggerated Perception of Influence, Extra-Game Information, Limited Foresight, Limited Planning Ability, Narration Structures, Smooth Learning Curves, Time Pressure, Varying Rule Sets
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Anticipation, Hovering Closures, Predictable Consequences
History
An heavily updated version of the pattern Right Level of Complexity that was part of the original collection in the book Patterns in Game Design[1]. The update has made the pattern be rather close to the concept of analytic complexity described in Costikyan's book Uncertainty in Games[2].
References
- ↑ Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) Patterns in Game Design. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.
- ↑ Costikyan, G. 2013. Uncertainty in Games. MIT Press. Official webpage for the book.
Acknowledgements
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