Difference between revisions of "Survive"
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''The goal of trying to avoid having game elements being eliminated, killed, or otherwise removed from gameplay.'' | ''The goal of trying to avoid having game elements being eliminated, killed, or otherwise removed from gameplay.'' | ||
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=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
| − | [[Survive]] goals typically manifest in two different ways in games. One is a hostile environment, primarily through enemies or monsters, threaten to kill players' characters. Example of this can be found in [[Asteroids]], [[Chess]], [[Go]], [[Space Alert]], [[Space Invaders]], and the [[Left 4 Dead series]]. Another is that players | + | [[Survive]] goals typically manifest in two different ways in games. One is a hostile environment, primarily through enemies or monsters, threaten to kill players' characters. Example of this can be found in [[Asteroids]], [[Chess]], [[Go]], [[Space Alert]], [[Space Invaders]], and the [[Left 4 Dead series]]. Another is that players must handle continuously depleting resources, as for example in [[Oxygen Not Included]]. [[:Category:Roguelikes|Roguelikes]], e.g., [[Unexplored]], and more generally [[:Category:Survival Games|Survival Games]] typically provide both types of challenges with varying ratios. Examples of [[:Category:Survival Games|Survival Games]] include [[Dead of Winter]], [[Minecraft]], [[No Man's Sky]], [[Project Zomboid]], [[Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress]], [[Terraria]], and [[Valheim]]. |
== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
The two primary aspects of consider when designing for [[Survive]] goals in a game is what is to [[Survive]] and what threatens it. | The two primary aspects of consider when designing for [[Survive]] goals in a game is what is to [[Survive]] and what threatens it. | ||
| − | [[Survive]] goals tied to game elements directly tied to players' agency, e.g., [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], and [[Units]] are typically most natural to consider in games. The use of [[Lives]] | + | [[Survive]] goals tied to game elements directly tied to players' agency, e.g., [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], and [[Units]] are typically most natural to consider in games. The use of [[Lives]] allows [[Survive]] goals to not remove game elements permanently or end gameplay when a [[Survive]] goal is failed the first time. However, [[Survive]] goals do not need to be focus on players' [[Focus Loci]]. [[Guard]], [[Guide and Protect]], and [[Herd]] can be modulated with the [[Survive]] goal by making it possible for the targets of those goals to "die" and thereby failing the goals. [[Survive]] goals can also be introduced to the rivals in games with [[Internal Rivalry]] to removing elimination of those rivals as a solution to the rivalry. |
| − | Survival threats can either be passive or active. Passive | + | Survival threats can either be passive or active. Passive threats are typically based on [[Maintenance Costs]] of thematically suitable [[Resources]] (e.g., [[Health]]) and many different [[Resources]] can be used simultaneously or more complex or difficult gameplay (e.g., food, water, air, heat, etc.). [[Steadily Decreasing Resources]] can be used to make passive threats to [[Survive]] goals be guaranteed to at some point succeed in making players fail with the goal and thereby create [[Unwinnable Games]]. Active threats can broadly be divided into [[Enemies]] and [[Environmental Effects]]. An alterative to game-controlled [[Enemies]] are players with [[Eliminate]] goals focused on the owner of the [[Survive]] goal ([[Enemies]] can also be given [[Eliminate]] goals to nuance whom they are [[Enemies]] to). A special case of this is [[Last Man Standing]]; where players all have [[Survive]] goals and [[Symmetric Goals]] of [[Eliminate|Eliminating]] each other. Introducing [[Eliminate]] goals is one way to modify the [[Survive]] goal with a [[Preventing Goals|Preventing Goal]]. However, [[Preventing Goals]] to [[Survive]] goals can also be possible for passive threats if for example players can deny each other access to needed [[Resources]]. |
[[Survive]] goals in themselves are [[Preventing Goals]]. However, players can be offered more active ways of succeeding with [[Survive]] goals by allowing them to [[Conceal]] the targets of the goals or by [[Eliminate|Eliminating]] the threats that exist. | [[Survive]] goals in themselves are [[Preventing Goals]]. However, players can be offered more active ways of succeeding with [[Survive]] goals by allowing them to [[Conceal]] the targets of the goals or by [[Eliminate|Eliminating]] the threats that exist. | ||
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== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
| − | [[Survive]] is an example of a [[Continuous Goals|Continuous Goal]] in that succeeding with it requires maintaining a state (i.e., being ''alive'') over time. It often functions as a [[Preventing Goals|Preventing Goal]] also | + | [[Survive]] is an example of a [[Continuous Goals|Continuous Goal]] in that succeeding with it requires maintaining a state (i.e., being ''alive'') over time. It often functions as a [[Preventing Goals|Preventing Goal]] also whenever there is some player of [[Agents|Agent]] that has a relevant [[Eliminate]] goal. That is, [[Survive]] and [[Eliminate]] often function as [[Preventing Goals]] to each other. |
== Relations == | == Relations == | ||
Revision as of 11:58, 18 October 2022
The goal of trying to avoid having game elements being eliminated, killed, or otherwise removed from gameplay.
Many games have effects that capture, destroy, kill, or eliminate game elements depending on the theme of the game. As these events are usually negative for the players who control the game elements, they have the expected goal of trying to make these game elements Survive.
Contents
Examples
Survive goals typically manifest in two different ways in games. One is a hostile environment, primarily through enemies or monsters, threaten to kill players' characters. Example of this can be found in Asteroids, Chess, Go, Space Alert, Space Invaders, and the Left 4 Dead series. Another is that players must handle continuously depleting resources, as for example in Oxygen Not Included. Roguelikes, e.g., Unexplored, and more generally Survival Games typically provide both types of challenges with varying ratios. Examples of Survival Games include Dead of Winter, Minecraft, No Man's Sky, Project Zomboid, Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress, Terraria, and Valheim.
Using the pattern
The two primary aspects of consider when designing for Survive goals in a game is what is to Survive and what threatens it.
Survive goals tied to game elements directly tied to players' agency, e.g., Avatars, Characters, and Units are typically most natural to consider in games. The use of Lives allows Survive goals to not remove game elements permanently or end gameplay when a Survive goal is failed the first time. However, Survive goals do not need to be focus on players' Focus Loci. Guard, Guide and Protect, and Herd can be modulated with the Survive goal by making it possible for the targets of those goals to "die" and thereby failing the goals. Survive goals can also be introduced to the rivals in games with Internal Rivalry to removing elimination of those rivals as a solution to the rivalry.
Survival threats can either be passive or active. Passive threats are typically based on Maintenance Costs of thematically suitable Resources (e.g., Health) and many different Resources can be used simultaneously or more complex or difficult gameplay (e.g., food, water, air, heat, etc.). Steadily Decreasing Resources can be used to make passive threats to Survive goals be guaranteed to at some point succeed in making players fail with the goal and thereby create Unwinnable Games. Active threats can broadly be divided into Enemies and Environmental Effects. An alterative to game-controlled Enemies are players with Eliminate goals focused on the owner of the Survive goal (Enemies can also be given Eliminate goals to nuance whom they are Enemies to). A special case of this is Last Man Standing; where players all have Survive goals and Symmetric Goals of Eliminating each other. Introducing Eliminate goals is one way to modify the Survive goal with a Preventing Goal. However, Preventing Goals to Survive goals can also be possible for passive threats if for example players can deny each other access to needed Resources.
Survive goals in themselves are Preventing Goals. However, players can be offered more active ways of succeeding with Survive goals by allowing them to Conceal the targets of the goals or by Eliminating the threats that exist.
Games aiming at FUBAR Enjoyment by having a player need to deal with many simultaneous challenges can increase the likelihood of that experience by adding the need of fulfilling Survive goals.
Diegetic Aspects
While Survive goals with active threats are typically presented as violence in some form, Rhythm-Based Actions show how Survive goals can be tied more abstractly to player performance in music-themed games such as the Guitar Hero series.
Narration Aspects
Survive goals tied to other entities than those controlled by players, i.e., NPCs, offer the possibility of Quests that can readily be tied to a game's narration.
Consequences
Survive is an example of a Continuous Goal in that succeeding with it requires maintaining a state (i.e., being alive) over time. It often functions as a Preventing Goal also whenever there is some player of Agent that has a relevant Eliminate goal. That is, Survive and Eliminate often function as Preventing Goals to each other.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Continuous Goals, Preventing Goals, Quests
Can Modulate
Eliminate, Guard, Guide and Protect, FUBAR Enjoyment, Herd, Internal Rivalry
Can Be Instantiated By
Avatars, Characters, Enemies, Environmental Effects, Lives, Last Man Standing, Maintenance Costs, Rhythm-Based Actions, Units
Can Be Modulated By
Conceal, Eliminate, Steadily Decreasing Resources, Preventing Goals
Possible Closure Effects
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Potentially Conflicting With
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History
An updated version of the pattern Survive 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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