Difference between revisions of "Polyathlons"

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''Polyathlons are games or tournaments consisting of several different challenges where each challenge requires a different skill set.''
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''Polyathlons are tournaments where each competition requires different skill sets.''
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This pattern is a still a stub.
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One way to vary gameplay in both individual games and tournaments is to make them consist of several different events with different gameplay in each, and doing so typically blurs the distinction between a game and a tournament. [[Polyathlons]] is a generalized name for these gameplay structures although specific cases are often known by how many events they contain, e.g. [[Decathlon]] being competitions consisting of ten different events.
  
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One way to vary gameplay in a tournament is to make players play different kinds of games. As these games typically have different skill requirements, playing them makes the areas of competences required to win a Polyathlon larger than other forms of tournaments as well as making it more likely that players have different specialties. The latter allows more players to have experiences of winnings, as they can have partial victories within the tournament by winning individual games.
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As the events in [[Polyathlons]] have different skill requirements, playing these requires competence in more skill areas than other forms of tournaments as well as making it more likely that players have different specialties. The latter allows more players to have experiences of winnings, as they can have partial victories within the tournament by winning individual games.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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Example: Triathlon,Pentathlon andDecathlon, where the outcome of the whole event is based on the outcome of a series of game instances of different sports; pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, riding and cross-country running in the case of Pentathlon.
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Several [[:Category:Sports|Sport]] competitions are structured as [[Polyathlons]] consisting of several different types of individual sports. [[Decathlon]] is the oldest established such competition but another example is [[Triathlons]] consisting of swimming, biking, and running components (with [[Ironman Triathlons]] as an extreme version). [[Biathlons]] typically mean combinations of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting but [[Chess Boxing]] is also a [[Biathlons|Biathlon]]. [[Olympic Decathlon]], [[Summer Games]], and [[Winter Games]] are examples of [[:Category:Computer Games|computer-based]] versions of the sport [[Polyathlons]].
  
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Example: WarioWare, Inc. consists of many Mini Games, which are played sequentially to progress in the main game.
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The [[WarioWare series]] consists of many minigames, which are played sequentially to progress in the main game, and can be considered [[Polyathlons]] since they each require different gameplay.
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With the exception of [[Chess Boxing]], Hybrid Sports<ref name="Hybrid Sports"/> are not [[Polyathlons]] since they combine the rules of two or more sports at the same time instead of making the gameplay switch between the sports.
  
 
== Using the pattern ==
 
== Using the pattern ==
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[[Polyathlons]] are games consisting of several different games or events.
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[[Polyathlons]] are games consisting of several different games or events. This means that designing [[Polyathlons]] consist of creating [[Tournaments]] of different types of games (e.g. [[Decathlon]] or [[Chess Boxing]]) or having [[Minigames]] or [[Quick Games]] in ordinary games (these can also be used in [[Tournaments]] since they are games in themselves).
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The games in a Polyathlon can either be chosen to require particular skills within a category of expertise, or be chosen to spread the requirements between categories (such as Dexterity-Based Actions, Memorizing, Luck, Negotiation, or Rhythm-Based Actions). When the requirements are different, player can choose to develop specific Competence Areas as part of their planning.
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Polyathlons do not have to be so complex that they require several different play sessions to complete. Using, for example, Quick Games, as in WarioWare, Inc., a Polyathlon can have the same time requirement as ordinary games.
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[[Minigames]]
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[[Selectable Set of Goals]]
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=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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=== Interface Aspects ===
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The games in a [[Polyathlons|Polyathlon]] either can be chosen to require skill within one single category of expertise, or be chosen to spread the requirements between categories, e.g. spreading events between requiring [[Dexterity-Based Actions]], [[Memorizing]], and [[Negotiation]]. Each however typically needs to have a clear [[Main Goal|Main Goals]] since otherwise it is difficult to include it when concluding the final outcome of the [[Polyathon|Polyathons]].
  
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=== Narrative Aspects ===
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The exact games used in [[Polyathlons]] do not need to be set in advance. Instead, players can be given a choice of which games or events should be included in a form of [[Selectable Set of Goals]].
  
 
== Consequences ==
 
== Consequences ==
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=== Can Modulate ===
 
=== Can Modulate ===
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=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
 
=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
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[[Minigames]],
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[[Quick Games]],
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[[Tournaments]]
  
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
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[[Main Goals]],
 
[[Selectable Set of Goals]]
 
[[Selectable Set of Goals]]
  
 
=== Possible Closure Effects ===
 
=== Possible Closure Effects ===
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=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
 
=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
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== History ==
 
== History ==
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<references>
 
<references>
 
<ref name="Bjork & Holopainen 2004">Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) ''Patterns in Game Design''. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.</ref>
 
<ref name="Bjork & Holopainen 2004">Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) ''Patterns in Game Design''. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.</ref>
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<ref name="Hybrid Sports">Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_sport entry] for hybrid sports.</ref>
 
</references>
 
</references>
  
 
== Acknowledgements ==
 
== Acknowledgements ==
 
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Latest revision as of 07:42, 23 February 2023

Polyathlons are games or tournaments consisting of several different challenges where each challenge requires a different skill set.

One way to vary gameplay in both individual games and tournaments is to make them consist of several different events with different gameplay in each, and doing so typically blurs the distinction between a game and a tournament. Polyathlons is a generalized name for these gameplay structures although specific cases are often known by how many events they contain, e.g. Decathlon being competitions consisting of ten different events.

As the events in Polyathlons have different skill requirements, playing these requires competence in more skill areas than other forms of tournaments as well as making it more likely that players have different specialties. The latter allows more players to have experiences of winnings, as they can have partial victories within the tournament by winning individual games.

Examples

Several Sport competitions are structured as Polyathlons consisting of several different types of individual sports. Decathlon is the oldest established such competition but another example is Triathlons consisting of swimming, biking, and running components (with Ironman Triathlons as an extreme version). Biathlons typically mean combinations of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting but Chess Boxing is also a Biathlon. Olympic Decathlon, Summer Games, and Winter Games are examples of computer-based versions of the sport Polyathlons.

The WarioWare series consists of many minigames, which are played sequentially to progress in the main game, and can be considered Polyathlons since they each require different gameplay.

With the exception of Chess Boxing, Hybrid Sports[1] are not Polyathlons since they combine the rules of two or more sports at the same time instead of making the gameplay switch between the sports.

Using the pattern

Polyathlons are games consisting of several different games or events. This means that designing Polyathlons consist of creating Tournaments of different types of games (e.g. Decathlon or Chess Boxing) or having Minigames or Quick Games in ordinary games (these can also be used in Tournaments since they are games in themselves).

The games in a Polyathlon either can be chosen to require skill within one single category of expertise, or be chosen to spread the requirements between categories, e.g. spreading events between requiring Dexterity-Based Actions, Memorizing, and Negotiation. Each however typically needs to have a clear Main Goals since otherwise it is difficult to include it when concluding the final outcome of the Polyathons.

The exact games used in Polyathlons do not need to be set in advance. Instead, players can be given a choice of which games or events should be included in a form of Selectable Set of Goals.

Consequences

The primary use of Polyathlons is to provide Varied Gameplay for players and force them to either prioritize some Competence Areas or be a generalist. If players can affect which games are to be played through having a Selectable Set of Goals, Polyathlons lets players use Extra-Game Information knowledge about other players' skills at playing specific games, especially if choosing one game means excluding another.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Competence Areas, Varied Gameplay

with Selectable Set of Goals

Extra-Game Information

Can Modulate

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Can Be Instantiated By

Minigames, Quick Games, Tournaments

Can Be Modulated By

Main Goals, Selectable Set of Goals

Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

-

History

An updated version of the pattern Polyathlons that was part of the original collection in the book Patterns in Game Design[2].

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia entry for hybrid sports.
  2. ↑ 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=Polyathlons&oldid=27630"