Difference between revisions of "Save Files"
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[[Category:Mechanical Patterns]] | [[Category:Mechanical Patterns]] | ||
[[Category:Patterns]] | [[Category:Patterns]] | ||
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[[Category:Needs revision]] | [[Category:Needs revision]] | ||
[[Category:Needs examples]] | [[Category:Needs examples]] | ||
[[Category:Needs references]] | [[Category:Needs references]] | ||
[[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]] | [[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]] | ||
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[[Category:To be Published]] | [[Category:To be Published]] | ||
| − | + | ''Files that contain information to recreate game states.'' | |
| − | ' | + | |
| − | This | + | For various reasons, players may wish to take extended breaks from computer games and during this time turn off the computer. This causes a problem of how to recreate the game state at a later point in time which having [[Save Files]] containing a game state can solve. A consequence of this is that players may return to that game state after failing instead of restarting a game, and this can in itself become a reason for creating [[Save Files]] if the possibility exists. Likewise, if [[Save Files]] are possible, players may create ones to have a freedom of testing things they would otherwise not test. |
| − | = | + | Wikipedia has an entry ''Saved Game''<ref name="wiki"/> that related to [[Save Files]]. |
| − | === | + | === Examples === |
| − | + | Most [[:Category:Computer Games|Computer Games]] provide support for [[Save Files]], e.g. the [[Doom series]], the [[Tomb Raider series]], the [[Mass Effect series]], and the [[Europa Universalis series]]. | |
== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
| + | Supporting [[Save Files]] in games consist creating the technical infrastructure that stores the game states and allows the game to take previously created [[Save Files]] and load these game states into games. Handling them are typically support through [[Secondary Interface Screens]]. | ||
| − | + | From considering players' experiences, creating [[Save Files]] mainly consist of if they are created through [[Extra-Game Actions]], [[Save Points]], automatic saving, or all three. Care also needs to be taken supporting the [[Extra-Game Actions]] related to destroy and loading [[Save Files]]. [[Resource Caps]] can be put on [[Save Files]] to limit either the number of simultaneous files that can be used, making them into a form of [[Resources|Resource]] (and working against [[Save Scumming]] when the limit is one [[Save Files|Save File]]). | |
| − | + | While there is typically a need or wish to have [[Save Files]] store complete game states, these can sometimes be quite small due to gameplay being partitioned into [[Levels]] or other smaller units. A special case of this is when the only information that needs to be saved is how long players have progressed and in this case [[Password Save Files]] can be sufficient. | |
| − | + | The presence of [[Unwinnable Game States]] can cause players to create [[Save Files]] from which they will always lose [[Lives]], fail [[Quests]], or lose entire game instances. | |
== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
| + | While [[Category:Computer Games|Computer Games]] can have built in support for [[Game Pauses]], players can really only take extensive pauses lasting days or months if [[Save Files]] help them recreate the game states later. | ||
| + | |||
| + | When players know that they can return to stored game states, [[Save Files]] can encourage them to engage in [[Experimenting]] with gameplay actions they would otherwise not do. More negatively, the possibility of creating [[Save Files]] can lead to [[Save-Load Cycles]] and [[Save Scumming]], which both lead to gameplay when intended [[Surprises]] no longer work. While creating and loading [[Save Files]] are [[Extra-Game Actions]], the presence of [[Save Files]] can give rise to additional [[Extra-Game Actions]] in the form of [[Game Element Trading]] and [[Game State Editing]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | When the number of [[Save Files]] are limited, i.e. when [[Resource Caps]] are applied on them, they become [[Resources]] that players need to consider for gameplay reasons. | ||
== Relations == | == Relations == | ||
| − | [[ | + | === Can Instantiate === |
| − | [[Save Scumming]] | + | [[Extra-Game Actions]], |
| + | [[Experimenting]], | ||
| + | [[Game Element Trading]], | ||
| + | [[Game State Editing]], | ||
| + | [[Save Scumming]], | ||
[[Save-Load Cycles]] | [[Save-Load Cycles]] | ||
| − | + | ==== with [[Resource Caps]] ==== | |
| − | + | [[Resources]] | |
| − | + | ||
| − | ==== with | + | |
=== Can Modulate === | === Can Modulate === | ||
| − | + | [[Game Pauses]] | |
=== Can Be Instantiated By === | === Can Be Instantiated By === | ||
| − | + | [[Password Save Files]], | |
| + | [[Save Points]] | ||
=== Can Be Modulated By === | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
| − | + | [[Resource Caps]], | |
| + | [[Secondary Interface Screens]], | ||
| + | [[Unwinnable Game States]] | ||
=== Possible Closure Effects === | === Possible Closure Effects === | ||
| Line 51: | Line 59: | ||
=== Potentially Conflicting With === | === Potentially Conflicting With === | ||
| − | + | [[Surprises]] | |
| + | |||
| + | [[Save Scumming]] when used together with [[Resource Caps]] | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
| Line 60: | Line 70: | ||
== Acknowledgements == | == Acknowledgements == | ||
| − | + | <references> | |
| + | <ref name="wiki">Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saved_game entry] for ''Saved Game''.</ref> | ||
| + | </references> | ||
Latest revision as of 12:17, 19 March 2018
Files that contain information to recreate game states.
For various reasons, players may wish to take extended breaks from computer games and during this time turn off the computer. This causes a problem of how to recreate the game state at a later point in time which having Save Files containing a game state can solve. A consequence of this is that players may return to that game state after failing instead of restarting a game, and this can in itself become a reason for creating Save Files if the possibility exists. Likewise, if Save Files are possible, players may create ones to have a freedom of testing things they would otherwise not test.
Wikipedia has an entry Saved Game[1] that related to Save Files.
Contents
Examples
Most Computer Games provide support for Save Files, e.g. the Doom series, the Tomb Raider series, the Mass Effect series, and the Europa Universalis series.
Using the pattern
Supporting Save Files in games consist creating the technical infrastructure that stores the game states and allows the game to take previously created Save Files and load these game states into games. Handling them are typically support through Secondary Interface Screens.
From considering players' experiences, creating Save Files mainly consist of if they are created through Extra-Game Actions, Save Points, automatic saving, or all three. Care also needs to be taken supporting the Extra-Game Actions related to destroy and loading Save Files. Resource Caps can be put on Save Files to limit either the number of simultaneous files that can be used, making them into a form of Resource (and working against Save Scumming when the limit is one Save File).
While there is typically a need or wish to have Save Files store complete game states, these can sometimes be quite small due to gameplay being partitioned into Levels or other smaller units. A special case of this is when the only information that needs to be saved is how long players have progressed and in this case Password Save Files can be sufficient.
The presence of Unwinnable Game States can cause players to create Save Files from which they will always lose Lives, fail Quests, or lose entire game instances.
Consequences
While can have built in support for Game Pauses, players can really only take extensive pauses lasting days or months if Save Files help them recreate the game states later.
When players know that they can return to stored game states, Save Files can encourage them to engage in Experimenting with gameplay actions they would otherwise not do. More negatively, the possibility of creating Save Files can lead to Save-Load Cycles and Save Scumming, which both lead to gameplay when intended Surprises no longer work. While creating and loading Save Files are Extra-Game Actions, the presence of Save Files can give rise to additional Extra-Game Actions in the form of Game Element Trading and Game State Editing.
When the number of Save Files are limited, i.e. when Resource Caps are applied on them, they become Resources that players need to consider for gameplay reasons.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Extra-Game Actions, Experimenting, Game Element Trading, Game State Editing, Save Scumming, Save-Load Cycles
with Resource Caps
Can Modulate
Can Be Instantiated By
Password Save Files, Save Points
Can Be Modulated By
Resource Caps, Secondary Interface Screens, Unwinnable Game States
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Save Scumming when used together with Resource Caps
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
-
