Difference between revisions of "Near Miss Indicators"
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[[Category:Mechanical Patterns]] | [[Category:Mechanical Patterns]] | ||
[[Category:Interface Patterns]] | [[Category:Interface Patterns]] | ||
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[[Category:Needs revision]] | [[Category:Needs revision]] | ||
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[[Category:Needs references]] | [[Category:Needs references]] | ||
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[[Category:To be Published]] | [[Category:To be Published]] | ||
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''Means of providing players with explicit information about how close they or others were to achieving a goal when they have failed to achieve it.'' | ''Means of providing players with explicit information about how close they or others were to achieving a goal when they have failed to achieve it.'' | ||
| − | + | Many games do not let players succeed with all their actions. Those that do but provide players with information about how close their, or other players', misses are provide [[Near Miss Indicators]]. | |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
| + | Guesses that are adjacent to ships in [[Battleships]] but do not hit them require the player to state that these are "near misses". | ||
| − | [ | + | [[Bowling]] has implicit [[Near Miss Indicators]] in that the number of pins left standing is a direct measure of how near the player was from succeeding. Further, pins are built in such way that they are prone to sway from one side to another without ultimately falling, providing another layer of implicit [[Near Miss Indicators]] in [[Bowling]]. |
| − | [[ | + | The design of [[Roulette]] wheels support [[Near Miss Indicators]] for bets on Red or Black colors since the design makes a loss only one slot away from one or two winning positions. Similarly, slot machines usually have the symbols arranged in such way that near misses, such as getting two cherries when three is required, are more frequent than random distribution would predict. [[Near Miss Indicators]] can be found in many other games of luck, e.g. scratch pads. |
| − | + | Many [[:Category:FPS Games|First Person Shooters]], e.g. the [[Battlefield series]], provide [[Near Miss Indicators]] to those being shot at. | |
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== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
| − | [[Near Miss | + | [[Near Miss Indicators]] can simply be created by making [[Progress Indicators]] that indicate not hits but close misses. They can be part of [[Game State Overviews]] and can of course have [[Imperfect Information]]. For games with [[Variable Accuracy]], triggered [[Near Miss Indicators]] for players that have been targets of fail attacks can be reason to lower those players accuracy. For games that allow saving and loading of game states, [[Near Miss Indicators]] can encourage [[Save-Load Cycles]]. |
[[Near Miss Indicators]] and [[Auto-Aim]] rarely work together since [[Auto-Aim]] mechanics tend to make near misses not happen. | [[Near Miss Indicators]] and [[Auto-Aim]] rarely work together since [[Auto-Aim]] mechanics tend to make near misses not happen. | ||
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=== Interface Aspects === | === Interface Aspects === | ||
| − | [[Near Miss Indicators]] is | + | [[Near Miss Indicators]] is an [[:Category:Interface Patterns|Interface Pattern]]. |
== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
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[[Clues]], | [[Clues]], | ||
[[Determinable Chance to Succeed]], | [[Determinable Chance to Succeed]], | ||
| + | [[Game State Overviews]], | ||
[[Luck]], | [[Luck]], | ||
[[Replayability]], | [[Replayability]], | ||
| Line 50: | Line 44: | ||
[[Anticipation]], | [[Anticipation]], | ||
[[Outcome Indicators]], | [[Outcome Indicators]], | ||
| + | [[Save-Load Cycles]], | ||
[[Stimulated Planning]], | [[Stimulated Planning]], | ||
[[Tactical Planning]], | [[Tactical Planning]], | ||
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=== Can Be Modulated By === | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
| − | + | [[Imperfect Information]] | |
| − | [[Imperfect Information | + | |
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=== Possible Closure Effects === | === Possible Closure Effects === | ||
Latest revision as of 11:59, 17 July 2016
Means of providing players with explicit information about how close they or others were to achieving a goal when they have failed to achieve it.
Many games do not let players succeed with all their actions. Those that do but provide players with information about how close their, or other players', misses are provide Near Miss Indicators.
Contents
Examples
Guesses that are adjacent to ships in Battleships but do not hit them require the player to state that these are "near misses".
Bowling has implicit Near Miss Indicators in that the number of pins left standing is a direct measure of how near the player was from succeeding. Further, pins are built in such way that they are prone to sway from one side to another without ultimately falling, providing another layer of implicit Near Miss Indicators in Bowling.
The design of Roulette wheels support Near Miss Indicators for bets on Red or Black colors since the design makes a loss only one slot away from one or two winning positions. Similarly, slot machines usually have the symbols arranged in such way that near misses, such as getting two cherries when three is required, are more frequent than random distribution would predict. Near Miss Indicators can be found in many other games of luck, e.g. scratch pads.
Many First Person Shooters, e.g. the Battlefield series, provide Near Miss Indicators to those being shot at.
Using the pattern
Near Miss Indicators can simply be created by making Progress Indicators that indicate not hits but close misses. They can be part of Game State Overviews and can of course have Imperfect Information. For games with Variable Accuracy, triggered Near Miss Indicators for players that have been targets of fail attacks can be reason to lower those players accuracy. For games that allow saving and loading of game states, Near Miss Indicators can encourage Save-Load Cycles.
Near Miss Indicators and Auto-Aim rarely work together since Auto-Aim mechanics tend to make near misses not happen.
Diegetic Aspects
Near Miss Indicators are probably most clearly understood as non-diegetic presentations but can in some games be integrated into the diegetic to maintain Diegetic Consistency, e.g. through sound or technical alarms to players when shots have nearly their Avatars.
Interface Aspects
Near Miss Indicators is an Interface Pattern.
Consequences
Near Miss Indicators are Outcome Indicators and can have many effects on gameplay. First off, they can increase Tension since they can make players aware of how close to succeeding they were, and this can give both Clues and let them have a Determinable Chance to Succeed for their next attempt. Successful later attempt with low chances of success can let them feel Luck with knowing how close they were can promote Replayability and modify players Anticipation when about to do their new attempt. Having Near Miss Indicators can also help update Tactical Planning, that is help promote Stimulated Planning as part of gameplay. When Near Miss Indicators
Relations
Can Instantiate
Clues, Determinable Chance to Succeed, Game State Overviews, Luck, Replayability, Tension
Can Modulate
Anticipation, Outcome Indicators, Save-Load Cycles, Stimulated Planning, Tactical Planning, Variable Accuracy
Can Be Instantiated By
Can Be Modulated By
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
History
An updated version of the pattern Near Miss Indicators 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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