Difference between revisions of "Scores"
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Designing a system for [[Scores]] in a game consists of deciding when players [[Scores]] are adjusted, how much they are adjusted by, and if there are certain [[Scores|Score]] values which activate events, including ending the game. The last case is shows how [[Scores]] often can become [[Races]] (but see [[King of the Hill]] for an alternative). | Designing a system for [[Scores]] in a game consists of deciding when players [[Scores]] are adjusted, how much they are adjusted by, and if there are certain [[Scores|Score]] values which activate events, including ending the game. The last case is shows how [[Scores]] often can become [[Races]] (but see [[King of the Hill]] for an alternative). | ||
| − | Generalizing, [[Scores]] are typically increased as [[Rewards]] for succeeding with goals and decreased as [[Penalties]] for failing to succeed with goals. The actual update or finalization of [[Scores]] may be a [[Death Consequences]] but dying may in itself result in [[Scores]] decreasing so the patterns can modify each other. | + | Generalizing, [[Scores]] are typically increased as [[Rewards]] for succeeding with goals and decreased as [[Penalties]] for failing to succeed with goals. The actual update or finalization of [[Scores]] may be a [[Death Consequences]] but dying may in itself result in [[Scores]] |
| + | decreasing so the patterns can modify each other. | ||
While increasing one's [[Scores|Score]] can be a goal in itself, games sometimes provides [[Rewards]] for reaching certain [[Scores]]. A common examples is increasing the number of [[Lives]] one has when reaching certain [[Scores]]; [[Pinball Dreams]] does this through providing a jackpot value common for all players that can provide [[Lives]]. | While increasing one's [[Scores|Score]] can be a goal in itself, games sometimes provides [[Rewards]] for reaching certain [[Scores]]. A common examples is increasing the number of [[Lives]] one has when reaching certain [[Scores]]; [[Pinball Dreams]] does this through providing a jackpot value common for all players that can provide [[Lives]]. | ||
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[[Scores]] can be seen as [[Investments]] in games where players have choices between trying to improve their possibilities to affect future gameplay, i.e. create [[Gameplay Engines]], and getting points for their [[Scores]]. Players of both [[Dominion]] and [[Race for the Galaxy]] need to make decisions of this nature as part of considering to do a [[Construction/Scoring Phase Shift]]. When [[Scores]] can intentionally be decreased by players as a way of performing others actions ([[Murano]] is an example of this), [[Scores]] become [[Resources]] (so they can be both [[Resources]] and [[Investments]] at the same time). | [[Scores]] can be seen as [[Investments]] in games where players have choices between trying to improve their possibilities to affect future gameplay, i.e. create [[Gameplay Engines]], and getting points for their [[Scores]]. Players of both [[Dominion]] and [[Race for the Galaxy]] need to make decisions of this nature as part of considering to do a [[Construction/Scoring Phase Shift]]. When [[Scores]] can intentionally be decreased by players as a way of performing others actions ([[Murano]] is an example of this), [[Scores]] become [[Resources]] (so they can be both [[Resources]] and [[Investments]] at the same time). | ||
| − | [[Scores]] can affect all types of [[:Category:Winning Patterns|Winning Patterns]], by being [[Tiebreakers]] for games with [[Winning by Ending Gameplay]] and by being general [[Progress Indicators]] in [[Unwinnable Games]]. They are typically the prime way of determining winners in games using [[Winner determined after Gameplay Ends]] but may be complemented by [[Tiebreakers]]. While [[Scores]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] rather obviously give players ways of having [[Competition]] against each other, they can work the same way in [[Single-Player Games]] through the use of [[High Score Lists]] to let players compete against themselves or others through comparing [[Scores]] between game instances (an example of using [[Scores]] as [[Trans-Game Information]]). | + | [[Scores]] can affect all types of [[:Category:Winning Patterns|Winning Patterns]], by being [[Tiebreakers]] for games with [[Winning by Ending Gameplay]] and by being general [[Progress Indicators]] in [[Unwinnable Games]]. They are typically the prime way of determining winners in games using [[Winner determined after Gameplay Ends]] but may be complemented by [[Tiebreakers]]. While [[Scores]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] rather obviously give players ways of having [[Competition]] against each other, they can work the same way in [[Single-Player Games]] through the use of [[High Score Lists]] to let players compete against themselves or others through comparing [[Scores]] between game instances (an example of using [[Scores]] as [[Trans-Game Information]]). |
| − | [[End State Scoring]] and [[Secret Scoring Mechanisms]] are two general ways of modifying how [[Scores]] work in a game, both promoting [[Tension]] and [[Uncertainty of Outcome]]. | + | [[End State Scoring]] and [[Secret Scoring Mechanisms]] are two general ways of modifying how [[Scores]] work in a game, both promoting [[Tension]] and [[Uncertainty of Outcome]]. [[Scores]] can easily be tied to [[Extra-Game Consequences]] through [[Gambling]], i.e. through requiring payment in money to play and offering payment back as [[Rewards]]. |
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| + | When tying events and [[Extra-Game Consequences]] to [[Scores]] it may be necessary to consider if [[Tied Results]] are possible and should be allowed. [[Tiebreakers]] is the solution to avoid having [[Tied Results]]. | ||
=== Can Be Instantiated By === | === Can Be Instantiated By === | ||
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[[Handicap Systems]] together with [[Meta Games]] | [[Handicap Systems]] together with [[Meta Games]] | ||
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=== Can Be Modulated By === | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
[[Combos]], | [[Combos]], | ||
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[[Handicap Systems]], | [[Handicap Systems]], | ||
[[Pick-Ups]], | [[Pick-Ups]], | ||
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=== Diegetic Aspects === | === Diegetic Aspects === | ||
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=== Interface Aspects === | === Interface Aspects === | ||
| + | [[Scores]] are typically important information in games where they are used, and for this reason often part of [[Gameplay Statistics]] and [[Game State Indicators]]. [[Score Tracks]] is a specific interface (or visualization) component dedicated for this. | ||
== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
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[[Tied Results]], | [[Tied Results]], | ||
[[Trans-Game Information]] | [[Trans-Game Information]] | ||
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| + | ==== with [[Extra-Game Consequences]] ==== | ||
| + | [[Gambling]] | ||
==== with [[Gameplay Engines]] ==== | ==== with [[Gameplay Engines]] ==== | ||
Revision as of 12:05, 20 January 2015
The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.
This pattern is a still a stub.
Contents
Examples
Scenarios in Memoir '44 are typically not balanced between the two sides but through using scores for each game players can switch sides after a first game instance and compare their results of two game instances to get a balanced combined score.
deathmatch Quake series
ticks Battlefield series
Using the pattern
Designing a system for Scores in a game consists of deciding when players Scores are adjusted, how much they are adjusted by, and if there are certain Score values which activate events, including ending the game. The last case is shows how Scores often can become Races (but see King of the Hill for an alternative).
Generalizing, Scores are typically increased as Rewards for succeeding with goals and decreased as Penalties for failing to succeed with goals. The actual update or finalization of Scores may be a Death Consequences but dying may in itself result in Scores decreasing so the patterns can modify each other.
While increasing one's Score can be a goal in itself, games sometimes provides Rewards for reaching certain Scores. A common examples is increasing the number of Lives one has when reaching certain Scores; Pinball Dreams does this through providing a jackpot value common for all players that can provide Lives.
Scores can be seen as Investments in games where players have choices between trying to improve their possibilities to affect future gameplay, i.e. create Gameplay Engines, and getting points for their Scores. Players of both Dominion and Race for the Galaxy need to make decisions of this nature as part of considering to do a Construction/Scoring Phase Shift. When Scores can intentionally be decreased by players as a way of performing others actions (Murano is an example of this), Scores become Resources (so they can be both Resources and Investments at the same time).
Scores can affect all types of Winning Patterns, by being Tiebreakers for games with Winning by Ending Gameplay and by being general Progress Indicators in Unwinnable Games. They are typically the prime way of determining winners in games using Winner determined after Gameplay Ends but may be complemented by Tiebreakers. While Scores in Multiplayer Games rather obviously give players ways of having Competition against each other, they can work the same way in Single-Player Games through the use of High Score Lists to let players compete against themselves or others through comparing Scores between game instances (an example of using Scores as Trans-Game Information).
End State Scoring and Secret Scoring Mechanisms are two general ways of modifying how Scores work in a game, both promoting Tension and Uncertainty of Outcome. Scores can easily be tied to Extra-Game Consequences through Gambling, i.e. through requiring payment in money to play and offering payment back as Rewards.
When tying events and Extra-Game Consequences to Scores it may be necessary to consider if Tied Results are possible and should be allowed. Tiebreakers is the solution to avoid having Tied Results.
Can Be Instantiated By
Collections together with Resources
Handicap Systems together with Meta Games
Can Be Modulated By
Combos, Handicap Systems, Pick-Ups,
Diegetic Aspects
Scores are often difficult to explain within a game's theme, so using it easily breaks Thematic Consistency and often thereby also Diegetic Consistency.
Interface Aspects
Scores are typically important information in games where they are used, and for this reason often part of Gameplay Statistics and Game State Indicators. Score Tracks is a specific interface (or visualization) component dedicated for this.
Consequences
Scores make games have the Continuous Goal of Collecting points which can also be seen as a Race to either first reach a certain Score or have the highest Score when gameplay ends. They make easy value to use as Trans-Game Information in Tournaments which can result in Player Elimination for those with low Scores, and can easily act as Tiebreakers in games built to use Back-to-Back Game Sessions (Memoir '44 being an example of this).
When publicly accessible, they simultaneously are a type of Progress Indicators and Game State Overview which create Stimulated Planning and Tension. This can give rise to Dynamic Alliances working against a Predictable Winner in Multiplayer Games. While wanting to win over other players can be sufficient reason for Multiplayer games to have Replayability, Scores in Single-Player Games can promote Replayability in trying to beat one's own Score from previous game instances and this can be seen as a weak use of Trans-Game Information (a stronger such use of Scores is through the use of High Score Lists).
Save Points and Save-Load Cycles tend to not work well with Scores since players can go back repeatedly in attempts to maximize their scores.
Relations
Time Limited Game Instances - modulates Risk/Reward Rewards Penalties
Can Instantiate
Collecting, Continuous Goals, Game State Overview, High Score Lists, Investments, Player Elimination, Progress Indicators, Races, Replayability, Resources, Stimulated Planning, Tension, Tied Results, Trans-Game Information
with Extra-Game Consequences
with Gameplay Engines
Construction/Scoring Phase Shift
with Multiplayer Games
Dynamic Alliances, Predictable Winner
with Winning by Ending Gameplay
Can Modulate
Back-to-Back Game Sessions, Death Consequences, King of the Hill, Lives, Multiplayer Games, Single-Player Games, Tournaments, Unwinnable Games, Winner determined after Gameplay Ends, Winning by Ending Gameplay
Can Be Instantiated By
Collections together with Resources
Handicap Systems together with Meta Games
Can Be Modulated By
Combos, Death Consequences, End State Scoring, Extra-Game Consequences, Gameplay Statistics, Game State Indicators, Handicap Systems, Pick-Ups, Score Tracks, Secret Scoring Mechanisms, Tiebreakers
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Diegetic Consistency, Save Points, Save-Load Cycles, Thematic Consistency
History
An updated version of the pattern Score 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
-
