Difference between revisions of "Spawning"
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[[Left 4 Dead series]] | [[Left 4 Dead series]] | ||
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== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
| − | [[Spawning]] of game elements controlled by players, most often [[Avatars]], are either used to effect the initial set up of a game environment, to let them enter new [[Levels]], or to revive their game elements as part of [[Death Consequences]]. [[Spawning]] can also be used to introduce [[Enemies]], [[Resources]], and [[Game Items]] such as [[Installations]] and [[Vehicles]] into [[Game Worlds]] during gameplay. A general choice regarding [[Spawning]] which is independent of these reasons are if the [[Spawning]] can occur anywhere or if it is restricted to specific [[Spawn Points]]. | + | [[Spawning]] of game elements controlled by players, most often [[Avatars]], are either used to effect the initial set up of a game environment, to let them enter new [[Levels]], or to revive their game elements as part of [[Death Consequences]] (the use of [[Lives]] practically requires [[Spawning]] to be present in a game). [[Spawning]] can also be used to introduce [[Enemies]], [[Resources]], and [[Game Items]] such as [[Installations]] and [[Vehicles]] into [[Game Worlds]] during gameplay. A general choice regarding [[Spawning]] which is independent of these reasons are if the [[Spawning]] can occur anywhere or if it is restricted to specific [[Spawn Points]]. A special location in relation to this exists when the [[Spawning]] is tied to [[Death Consequences]]: players' [[Avatars]] may respawn at their point of death. While this somewhat reduced how noticeable the pattern is, it may provides continuation but at the expense of potentially causing immediate problems again since the death causes may still be present. Even if [[Avatars]] are not respawned where they died, this location can still be interesting to return to if [[Equipment]] has been dropped there as a consequence of the deaths (see [[Minecraft]] for an example of this). |
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| − | + | Besides where [[Spawning]] occurs the design of [[Spawning]] is most often a question of [[Player Balance]]. One issue related to this is that players typically are disadvantaged when [[Spawning]]. This may be from other [[Penalties]] due to the same [[Death Consequences]] that caused the [[Spawning]] or due to players simply lacking a proper [[Game State Overview]] directly after [[Spawning]]. Several design options exist that can help [[Spawning]] players through providing [[Balancing Effects]]: letting them have have [[Invulnerabilities]] as [[Temporary Abilities]], making [[Camping]] around [[Spawn Points]] impossible (for example through [[Safe Havens]]), or letting them purchase or otherwise receive [[Tools]] to ensure a certain level of preparedness. Letting players have several [[Spawn Points]] to choose from is another possibility, and gives players a [[Freedom of Choice]] to make [[Risk/Reward]] of where to spawn as well as take into consideration nearby [[Strategic Locations]]. The design choices may of course also be appropriate for other types of [[Spawning]] besides that of [[Spawning]] players' [[Avatars]]. | |
| − | + | While [[Downtime]] can be experienced as part of other [[Death Consequences]] combined with [[Spawning]], the actual [[Spawning]] action can force players to have [[Downtime]]. This is not only a [[Penalties|Penalty]] (especially when combined with [[Invulnerabilities]]) since it can let or force players to observe their new environments before beginning to take actions. | |
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=== Can Be Modulated By === | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
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== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
| − | [[Spawning]] can most often be seen as [[Game Element Insertion]] by abstract [[Producers]] at specific [[Spawn Points]]. It gives game designs a way of avoiding [[Player Elimination]] ( | + | [[Spawning]] can most often be seen as [[Game Element Insertion]] by abstract [[Producers]] at specific [[Spawn Points]]. It gives game designs a way of avoiding [[Player Elimination]] (as well as [[Early Elimination]] and [[Team Elimination]]) while having still having [[Player Killing]] in [[Multiplayer Games]], and also allowing an easy solution to introduce [[Late Arriving Players]]. [[Spawning]] are often associated with [[Ability Losses]] and [[Downtime]] from the players' perspective when they occur as part of [[Death Consequences]] since players can first notice the [[Ability Losses]] and the lost gameplay opportunities when they have spawned. |
== Relations == | == Relations == | ||
Revision as of 11:51, 12 July 2011
Locations in game worlds where avatars, units, or enemies appear.
This pattern is a still a stub.
All games where new game elements appear during game play must provide means by which these game elements are introduced. Spawning is one of the common ways of doing this besides letting game elements appear from factories, buildings, and cities which all act as a kind of producer. When Spawning occurs, it simply places the game elements in the game environment and lets it be able to do actions and be affected by actions in the game world.
Contents
Examples
Example: Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory moves which spawn points are used in certain levels after major events have taken place, such as blowing up a cave or bank door or blowing up a wall in an old city.
Example: Battlefield 1942 allows players to choose where to spawn after being killed from a number of spawn points, where the exact set of points that can be chosen from depends on the teams position in the game.
Example: spawning in the same position as another player in Quake killed that player's avatar in what is called a telefrag.
Example: The arcade game Gauntlet let players enter ongoing games by being spawned into locations near the other players.
Using the pattern
Spawning of game elements controlled by players, most often Avatars, are either used to effect the initial set up of a game environment, to let them enter new Levels, or to revive their game elements as part of Death Consequences (the use of Lives practically requires Spawning to be present in a game). Spawning can also be used to introduce Enemies, Resources, and Game Items such as Installations and Vehicles into Game Worlds during gameplay. A general choice regarding Spawning which is independent of these reasons are if the Spawning can occur anywhere or if it is restricted to specific Spawn Points. A special location in relation to this exists when the Spawning is tied to Death Consequences: players' Avatars may respawn at their point of death. While this somewhat reduced how noticeable the pattern is, it may provides continuation but at the expense of potentially causing immediate problems again since the death causes may still be present. Even if Avatars are not respawned where they died, this location can still be interesting to return to if Equipment has been dropped there as a consequence of the deaths (see Minecraft for an example of this).
Besides where Spawning occurs the design of Spawning is most often a question of Player Balance. One issue related to this is that players typically are disadvantaged when Spawning. This may be from other Penalties due to the same Death Consequences that caused the Spawning or due to players simply lacking a proper Game State Overview directly after Spawning. Several design options exist that can help Spawning players through providing Balancing Effects: letting them have have Invulnerabilities as Temporary Abilities, making Camping around Spawn Points impossible (for example through Safe Havens), or letting them purchase or otherwise receive Tools to ensure a certain level of preparedness. Letting players have several Spawn Points to choose from is another possibility, and gives players a Freedom of Choice to make Risk/Reward of where to spawn as well as take into consideration nearby Strategic Locations. The design choices may of course also be appropriate for other types of Spawning besides that of Spawning players' Avatars.
While Downtime can be experienced as part of other Death Consequences combined with Spawning, the actual Spawning action can force players to have Downtime. This is not only a Penalty (especially when combined with Invulnerabilities) since it can let or force players to observe their new environments before beginning to take actions.
Can Be Modulated By
Can Modulate
Grind Achievements, Persistent Game Worlds,
Diegetic Aspects
Except for Alternative Realities which have teleportation as a feature, Spawning is rarely easy to explain within a Thematic Consistency. A weak solution is arrivals from Inaccessible Areas but for this case the question why one cannot enter the Inaccessible Areas if one can leave them may instead break the Thematic Consistency.
Interface Aspects
When players have the opportunity to choose where to spawn, this typically requires them to select the Spawning point on a Secondary Interface Screen (typically a map). Examples of this can be found in the Battlefield series.
Narrative Aspects
Spawning can be used to move the focus of gameplay so that it advances Predetermined Story Structures. This is mainly done after major Irreversible Actions such as completing important goals or Quests have led to Cut Scenes and players after this need to be positioned in new places in the Game Worlds. Another example of how Spawning can focus players attention as part of telling a story is the appearance of new Boss Monsters - due to the nature of Spawning this is typically in the form of summoning some unearthly creature.
Consequences
Spawning can most often be seen as Game Element Insertion by abstract Producers at specific Spawn Points. It gives game designs a way of avoiding Player Elimination (as well as Early Elimination and Team Elimination) while having still having Player Killing in Multiplayer Games, and also allowing an easy solution to introduce Late Arriving Players. Spawning are often associated with Ability Losses and Downtime from the players' perspective when they occur as part of Death Consequences since players can first notice the Ability Losses and the lost gameplay opportunities when they have spawned.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Ability Losses, Downtime, Game Element Insertion
Can Modulate
Avatars, Enemies, Game Items, Grind Achievements, Inaccessible Areas, Installations, Late Arriving Players, Levels, Multiplayer Games, Persistent Game Worlds, Player Balance, Player Killing, Predetermined Story Structures, Resources, Spawn Points, Vehicles
Can Be Instantiated By
Death Consequences, Lives, Producers, Spawn Points
Can Be Modulated By
Balancing Effects, Freedom of Choice, Invulnerabilities, Irreversible Events, Secondary Interface Screens, Strategic Locations, Temporary Abilities
Possible Closure Effects
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Potentially Conflicting With
History
An updated version of the pattern Spawning 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.
