Difference between revisions of "Backseat Gamers"

Revision as of 10:32, 31 October 2012

The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Examples

Single-player Category:Computer Games are typically games that easily accommodate Backseat Players since several people can simultaneously view the display showing the game. While fast-paced games can make giving advice hard, game focusing on open world exploration (e.g. the Elder Scrolls series and Minecraft) or Turn-Based Games (e.g. the Civilization and X-COM series) typically allow players to take in comments from those nearby while still being able to play without being handicapped.

Using the pattern

The difference between Non-Player Help and Backseat Players is mainly in the awareness of "non-players" if they are affecting a game.

Can Be Instantiated By

Spectators

Can Be Modulated By

Drop-In/Drop-Out

Interface Aspects

Supporting Backseat Players does require someway for people besides the players observing the gameplay. This is typically not a problem with traditional Board Games or those co-located with players of Computer Games. Although not common, hypothetically Computer Games could support Backseat Players not near the actual players by having specific Spectator views and Communication Channels between the Spectators and the players.

Consequences

Backseat Players allow those not playing a game to influence it anyway. This is a form of Tiered Participation and can support a sense of Togetherness between those playing and those not playing.

Backseat Players may disrupt the social agreement a game instance is based on. This since the extra help may be perceived as cheating. While not necessarily noticeable in Mediated Gameplay, this makes the pattern easily come in conflict with PvP for games that have Unmediated Social Interaction.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Tiered Participation, Togetherness

Can Modulate

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Can Be Instantiated By

Hotseating, Spectators

Can Be Modulated By

Drop-In/Drop-Out

Possible Closure Effects

-

Potentially Conflicting With

Unmediated Social Interaction in PvP games

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

References

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Acknowledgements