Difference between revisions of "Lives"

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[[Category:Mechanical Patterns]]
 
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[[Category:Needs revision]]
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[[Category:Needs examples]]
 
 
[[Category:Needs references]]
 
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[[Category:Stub]]
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''The number of chances players has before game instances are terminated.''
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''The number of chances players have before game instances are terminiated.''
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This pattern is a still a stub.
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Many games include dangers that can "kill" the game elements controlled by players. [[Lives]] is a design feature in games where such a "death" does not automatically result in their game sessions ending and instead players are allowed to play until one has run out of these [[Lives]].
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The loss of an individual Life is usually also associated with at least some negative effects in the game.
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=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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Counter-Strike is sometimes regarded as the first multiplayer first-person shooter that made explicit use of Lives. The player's Avatar that was killed did not respawn, and the player had to wait until the next level started, in principle, giving each player one Life.
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The original arcade version of [[Pac-Man]] gave players a single extra life at 10,000 points but other implementations give this at numerous occasions. In [[Asteroids]], the player initially has three [[Lives]] which are lost either when the player's ship is shot by a UFO or when the ship collides with an asteroid. When all [[Lives]] have been lost, the game session ends.
  
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Platform games such as Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series make use of Lives but in such way that the only consequence of losing all Lives is that the player will have to restart from the latest saved location.
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[[Counter-Strike]] can be regarded as a multiplayer [[:Category:FPS Games|First-Person Shooter]] that makes explicit use of [[Lives]]. Here, players' avatars do not respawn when killed, instead forcing players to observe the rest of a match as spectators. [[Battlefield series]] allow players to spawn again as long as their teams have "tickets" left, making teams share the amount of [[Lives]] available (although these amount also decreases if enemy teams have control over goal locations).
  
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In Asteroids, the player initially has three Lives, and they are lost either when the Avatar is shot by the UFO or collides with an asteroid. When all Lives have been lost, it is the end of the game session.
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Platform games such as the [[Super Mario series]] and [[The Legend of Zelda series]] can be said to be weak examples of games making use of [[Lives]]. This since the only consequence of losing all [[Lives]] is that players have to restart from the latest saved location.
  
 
== Using the pattern ==
 
== Using the pattern ==
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Lives are typically associated with Avatars, but games using Units can also be regarded as using Lives through the use of Parallel Lives. The main considerations when introducing Lives in a game are: what can cause the loss of a Life, what are the consequences of losing a Life, and how many Lives are available. The loss of a Life is always a Penalty, but the effect can vary. The loss of all Lives typically signifies the end of the game session for that player, but in games that allow players to join the game instance later, the player may simply start a new game session. The loss of a Life usually means that Tools are lost or that the player's Score is reduced but may also signify the loss of New Abilities and Privileged Abilities or require players to have a certain amount of Downtime before the gameplay can resume.
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The loss of [[Lives]] is a [[Life Penalties|Life Penalty]] that can have additional effects since losing all [[Lives]] can end game sessions. In addition, what caused the lose of individual [[Lives]] also can trigger other [[Death Consequences]] so games using [[Lives]] can consider the use of that pattern as well.  
  
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The number of Lives a player has can be set to a static number to limit the time of the game session. Alternatively, the Lives can be replenished during gameplay, for example, by reaching a certain Score or collecting Pick-Ups. The possibility to replenish Lives gives the players clear short-term goals and makes Lives into Renewable Resources. The use of Lives can be modulated by Damage to allow Status Indicators and partial Penalties before more significant penalties occur.
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The prime characteristic of [[Lives]] is that they can be lost, so deciding how this can happen is the primary design consideration when using the pattern. However, what the consequences of losing [[Lives]] are, and how many [[Lives]] are available is also important. [[Lives]] are typically associated with [[Avatars]] and [[Characters]], but games using [[Units]] or even [[Destructible Objects]] can use [[Lives]] through the use of [[Parallel Lives]]. They are typically not used together with [[Enemies]] but are sometimes used together with [[Boss Monsters]]. Games with [[Vehicles]] do quite often link the [[Lives]] of [[Avatars]] with the entered [[Vehicles]]; [[Lives]] are lost if the [[Vehicles]] are destroyed.
  
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Losses of Lives are typically the effects of Deadly Traps, failing to Evade actions by Enemies or players in Conflict with the player, or failing to replenish Resources within a certain Time Limit. Typically, only one Life is at stake at a time (although some games may refer to Lives when they are actually using something similar to hit points), but games using Parallel Lives are an exception.
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Losses of [[Lives]] are typically the effects of failing to [[Evade]] attacks by [[Enemies]] or other players in [[Combat]], being the target of deadly [[Traps]] or [[Environmental Effects]] (possible after failing to [[Evade]] them), colliding with object due to failing with [[Maneuvering]], or failing to replenish [[Resources]] within [[Time Limits]]. Typically, only one [[Lives|Life]] is at stake at a time, but games using [[Parallel Lives]] are an exception. The loss of [[Lives]] can be instantaneous when one is affected or can be the effect of cumulative [[Damage]] to a [[Health]] value; the former being a way [[Damage]] can directly cause [[Life Penalties]] while the latter being the consequence of [[Energy Penalties]].
  
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Once the player has suffered the consequences of losing one but not all Lives, gameplay continues as the Avatar respawns somewhere in the Game World. The location where the Avatar respawns can be the point of death, which provides continuation but may have Player Balance problems since the cause of death may still be present. The Avatar may also spawn in a random location in the Game World or a pre-determined Spawn Point. If the game design uses Spawn Points, the specific point may be determined randomly, according to an algorithm to provide Player Balance, or the player may be allowed to select from a set of Spawn Points.
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The number of [[Lives]] players have are [[Resources]] and these are either [[Non-Renewable Resources]] that can only be lost as gameplay progresses or [[Renewable Resources]] that can be regained through various means (some [[:Category:Puzzle Games|Puzzle Games]] have [[Lives]] as [[Regenerating Resources]]). Some game modes in the [[Battlefield series]] allow players to spawn again as long as their teams have "tickets" left, making the numbers of [[Lives]] a [[Shared Resources|Shared Resource]]. Examples of ways [[Lives]] are replenished include reaching certain [[Scores]] (found for example in [[Asteroids]] and [[Pac-Man]]) and collecting [[Pick-Ups]] but as [[Resources]] they can be part of most types of [[Rewards]]. They can also be provided through [[Pay to Play]] (as [[:Category:Arcade Games|Arcade Games]] and physical [[:Category:Pinball Games|Pinball Games]] are examples of).
  
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Common goals closely related to the use of Lives are Last Man Standing and King of the Hill.
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[[Last Man Standing]] goals in [[Multiplayer Games]] are closely related to the use of [[Lives]].
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=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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=== Interface Aspects ===
 
=== Interface Aspects ===
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The amount of [[Lives]] available are typically presented continuously through [[Game State Indicators]], e.g. [[HUD Interfaces]], since they are typically a central aspect of how well gameplay in evolving in game sessions.
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=== Narrative Aspects ===
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== Consequences ==
 
== Consequences ==
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Lives are a form of Resources that allow players to participate in the game as long as players have at least one life left. Lives give the players a clear Continuous Goal: to Survive against Damage from Deadly Traps or Combat against Enemies or other players, in the case of games with Player Killing and Player Elimination.
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[[Lives]] are almost always part of [[Abstract Player Constructs]]. [[Lives]] are a form of ([[Non-Localized Resources|Non-Localized]]) [[Resources]] that allow players to have [[Extra Chances]] and be able to participate in games as long as players have at least one life left. This means that games with [[Lives]] must also make use of [[Player Elimination]] and [[Game Over]] since otherwise the loss of the last [[Lives|Life]] would not differ from any other loss of [[Lives]]. While other [[Penalties]] may be attached to losing [[Lives]], the loss itself may be a [[Penalties|Penalty]] since it reduces the number of chance left and the probable gameplay time players have left. The presence of [[Lives]] give players clear [[Continuous Goals]]: to [[Survive]] as long as possible with each life in a game environment that may include [[Enemies]], [[Traps]], and other players trying to succeed with [[Player Killing]] or [[Player Elimination]] - it also modulates [[Player Killing]] since it gives definite advantages of removing all of a player's [[Lives]].
  
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As Lives are typically linked to Avatars or Characters, they are a way to link the players' successes and failures in the game to those of their Avatar or Character. If players have emotional links to the Avatars or Characters, the risk of losing Lives increases the Emotional Immersion. Regardless of this, the presence of Lives can increase Tension, as players have something easy to relate to that can be lost in the game.
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As [[Lives]] are typically linked to [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]], they are a way to link players' successes and failures in the game to those of their [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]]. If players have developed emotional links to them, the risk of losing [[Lives]] is thereby a way of increasing their [[Emotional Engrossment]]. Regardless of this, the presence of [[Lives]] can increase [[Tension]], as players have something easy to relate to that can be lost in the game. For all cases except [[Parallel Lives]], the use of [[Lives]] implies that [[Spawning]] will be present in a game design (even if this would be that a dead [[Avatars|Avatar]] or [[Characters|Character]] would rise in exactly the same place it died).
  
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As multiple Lives do not exist in reality, the use of them in games can break a Consistent Reality Logic, not only by players having several lives but also through the process of Spawning.
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The use of the pattern implies that players have at least more than one [[Lives|Life]]. This makes the pattern incompatible with [[Permadeath]]. As multiple [[Lives]] do not exist in reality, the use of them in games can break [[Thematic Consistency]], not only by players having several lives but also through the process of [[Spawning]]. [[Diegetic Consistency]] can also suffer from the use of [[Lives]] since these are so important to gameplay that they are typically always displayed in players' interfaces. When used with [[Regenerating Resources]], [[Lives]] create a form of [[Tick-Based Games|Tick-Based Game]].
  
 
== Relations ==
 
== Relations ==
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
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[[Abstract Player Constructs]],
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[[Continuous Goals]],
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[[Emotional Engrossment]],
 
[[Extra Chances]],  
 
[[Extra Chances]],  
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[[Resources]]
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[[Game Over]],
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[[Non-Localized Resources]],
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[[Player Elimination]],
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[[Resources]],
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[[Spawning]],
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[[Survive]],
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[[Tension]]
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==== with [[Damage]] ====
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[[Life Penalties]]
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==== with [[Multiplayer Games]] ====
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[[Last Man Standing]]
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==== with [[Regenerating Resources]] ====
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[[Tick-Based Games]]  
  
 
=== Can Modulate ===
 
=== Can Modulate ===
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[[Boss Monsters]],  
 
[[Boss Monsters]],  
 
[[Characters]],  
 
[[Characters]],  
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[[Destructible Objects]]
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[[Combat]],
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[[Destructible Objects]],
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[[Player Killing]]
  
 
=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
 
=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
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-
  
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
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[[Ability Losses]],  
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[[Damage]],  
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[[Decreased Abilities]],  
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[[Energy Penalties]],  
 
[[Environmental Effects]],  
 
[[Environmental Effects]],  
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[[Game State Indicators]],
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[[Health]],
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[[HUD Interfaces]],
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[[Life Penalties]],
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[[Non-Renewable Resources]],
 
[[Parallel Lives]],  
 
[[Parallel Lives]],  
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[[Pay to Play]],
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[[Pick-Ups]],
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[[Regenerating Resources]],
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[[Renewable Resources]],
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[[Scores]],
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[[Shared Resources]],
 
[[Traps]],  
 
[[Traps]],  
 
[[Vehicles]]
 
[[Vehicles]]
  
 
=== Possible Closure Effects ===
 
=== Possible Closure Effects ===
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-
  
 
=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
 
=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
 
[[Diegetic Consistency]],  
 
[[Diegetic Consistency]],  
 +
[[Permadeath]],
 
[[Thematic Consistency]]
 
[[Thematic Consistency]]
  

Latest revision as of 11:31, 18 October 2022

The number of chances players has before game instances are terminated.

Many games include dangers that can "kill" the game elements controlled by players. Lives is a design feature in games where such a "death" does not automatically result in their game sessions ending and instead players are allowed to play until one has run out of these Lives.

Examples

The original arcade version of Pac-Man gave players a single extra life at 10,000 points but other implementations give this at numerous occasions. In Asteroids, the player initially has three Lives which are lost either when the player's ship is shot by a UFO or when the ship collides with an asteroid. When all Lives have been lost, the game session ends.

Counter-Strike can be regarded as a multiplayer First-Person Shooter that makes explicit use of Lives. Here, players' avatars do not respawn when killed, instead forcing players to observe the rest of a match as spectators. Battlefield series allow players to spawn again as long as their teams have "tickets" left, making teams share the amount of Lives available (although these amount also decreases if enemy teams have control over goal locations).

Platform games such as the Super Mario series and The Legend of Zelda series can be said to be weak examples of games making use of Lives. This since the only consequence of losing all Lives is that players have to restart from the latest saved location.

Using the pattern

The loss of Lives is a Life Penalty that can have additional effects since losing all Lives can end game sessions. In addition, what caused the lose of individual Lives also can trigger other Death Consequences so games using Lives can consider the use of that pattern as well.

The prime characteristic of Lives is that they can be lost, so deciding how this can happen is the primary design consideration when using the pattern. However, what the consequences of losing Lives are, and how many Lives are available is also important. Lives are typically associated with Avatars and Characters, but games using Units or even Destructible Objects can use Lives through the use of Parallel Lives. They are typically not used together with Enemies but are sometimes used together with Boss Monsters. Games with Vehicles do quite often link the Lives of Avatars with the entered Vehicles; Lives are lost if the Vehicles are destroyed.

Losses of Lives are typically the effects of failing to Evade attacks by Enemies or other players in Combat, being the target of deadly Traps or Environmental Effects (possible after failing to Evade them), colliding with object due to failing with Maneuvering, or failing to replenish Resources within Time Limits. Typically, only one Life is at stake at a time, but games using Parallel Lives are an exception. The loss of Lives can be instantaneous when one is affected or can be the effect of cumulative Damage to a Health value; the former being a way Damage can directly cause Life Penalties while the latter being the consequence of Energy Penalties.

The number of Lives players have are Resources and these are either Non-Renewable Resources that can only be lost as gameplay progresses or Renewable Resources that can be regained through various means (some Puzzle Games have Lives as Regenerating Resources). Some game modes in the Battlefield series allow players to spawn again as long as their teams have "tickets" left, making the numbers of Lives a Shared Resource. Examples of ways Lives are replenished include reaching certain Scores (found for example in Asteroids and Pac-Man) and collecting Pick-Ups but as Resources they can be part of most types of Rewards. They can also be provided through Pay to Play (as Arcade Games and physical Pinball Games are examples of).

Last Man Standing goals in Multiplayer Games are closely related to the use of Lives.

Interface Aspects

The amount of Lives available are typically presented continuously through Game State Indicators, e.g. HUD Interfaces, since they are typically a central aspect of how well gameplay in evolving in game sessions.

Consequences

Lives are almost always part of Abstract Player Constructs. Lives are a form of (Non-Localized) Resources that allow players to have Extra Chances and be able to participate in games as long as players have at least one life left. This means that games with Lives must also make use of Player Elimination and Game Over since otherwise the loss of the last Life would not differ from any other loss of Lives. While other Penalties may be attached to losing Lives, the loss itself may be a Penalty since it reduces the number of chance left and the probable gameplay time players have left. The presence of Lives give players clear Continuous Goals: to Survive as long as possible with each life in a game environment that may include Enemies, Traps, and other players trying to succeed with Player Killing or Player Elimination - it also modulates Player Killing since it gives definite advantages of removing all of a player's Lives.

As Lives are typically linked to Avatars or Characters, they are a way to link players' successes and failures in the game to those of their Avatars or Characters. If players have developed emotional links to them, the risk of losing Lives is thereby a way of increasing their Emotional Engrossment. Regardless of this, the presence of Lives can increase Tension, as players have something easy to relate to that can be lost in the game. For all cases except Parallel Lives, the use of Lives implies that Spawning will be present in a game design (even if this would be that a dead Avatar or Character would rise in exactly the same place it died).

The use of the pattern implies that players have at least more than one Life. This makes the pattern incompatible with Permadeath. As multiple Lives do not exist in reality, the use of them in games can break Thematic Consistency, not only by players having several lives but also through the process of Spawning. Diegetic Consistency can also suffer from the use of Lives since these are so important to gameplay that they are typically always displayed in players' interfaces. When used with Regenerating Resources, Lives create a form of Tick-Based Game.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Abstract Player Constructs, Continuous Goals, Emotional Engrossment, Extra Chances, Game Over, Non-Localized Resources, Player Elimination, Resources, Spawning, Survive, Tension

with Damage

Life Penalties

with Multiplayer Games

Last Man Standing

with Regenerating Resources

Tick-Based Games

Can Modulate

Avatars, Boss Monsters, Characters, Combat, Destructible Objects, Player Killing

Can Be Instantiated By

-

Can Be Modulated By

Damage, Energy Penalties, Environmental Effects, Game State Indicators, Health, HUD Interfaces, Life Penalties, Non-Renewable Resources, Parallel Lives, Pay to Play, Pick-Ups, Regenerating Resources, Renewable Resources, Scores, Shared Resources, Traps, Vehicles

Possible Closure Effects

-

Potentially Conflicting With

Diegetic Consistency, Permadeath, Thematic Consistency

History

An updated version of the pattern Lives that was part of the original collection in the book Patterns in Game Design[1].

References

  1. ↑ Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) Patterns in Game Design. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.

Acknowledgements

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Retrieved from "http://virt10.itu.chalmers.se/index.php?title=Lives&oldid=27562"