Difference between revisions of "Uncertainty of Information"
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| − | [[Limited Planning Ability]] and [[Solution Uncertainty]] are two typically consequences of players having [[Uncertainty of Information]] since it adds uncertainty to things like [[Delayed Effects]] and lessens [[Predictable Consequences]]. This in turn can provide [[Gain Information]] goals, encourage [[Game World Exploration]], and generally increase [[Tension]]. Uncertainty of the position of [[Enemies]] provides players with the goal of [[Reconnaissance]]. | + | [[Limited Planning Ability]] and [[Solution Uncertainty]] are two typically consequences of players having [[Uncertainty of Information]] since it adds uncertainty to things like [[Delayed Effects]] and lessens [[Predictable Consequences]]. This in turn can provide [[Gain Information]] goals, encourage [[Game World Exploration]] or [[Stimulated Planning]], and generally increase [[Tension]]. Uncertainty of the position of [[Enemies]] provides players with the goal of [[Reconnaissance]]. |
[[Uncertainty of Information]] can provide the requirements for [[Anonymous Actions]] and [[Secret Resources]]. It can partly through this also support [[Player Unpredictability]] and patterns related to this such as [[Betrayal]] and [[Secret Alliances]]. | [[Uncertainty of Information]] can provide the requirements for [[Anonymous Actions]] and [[Secret Resources]]. It can partly through this also support [[Player Unpredictability]] and patterns related to this such as [[Betrayal]] and [[Secret Alliances]]. | ||
Revision as of 10:28, 29 January 2015
The case when a player cannot be certain on the reliability of information he or she has.
This pattern is a still a stub.
Contents
Examples
Battleship and Stratego both depend on a player not knowing the exact positions of the other players' piece.
Anti-Examples
optional
Using the pattern
Uncertainty of Information is typically added to games to provide Player Unpredictability or Solution Uncertainty. Imperfect Information, Indirect Information, and Randomness are the generic methods to achieve Uncertainty of Information but many more specific ways exists.
Information Passing can create uncertainty in itself (see for example Chinese whispers) and players may engage in Bluffing while communicating. In addition, the Communication Channels in themselves can provide errors and uncertainty to the communication. Players and Non-Player Help can also create Uncertainty of Information through Ambiguous Responses.
Enforced Player Anonymity provides Uncertainty of Information regarding which player did what. What actions Enemies will do can also have a level of uncertainty when these are decided at least partly by Randomness. Fog of War applies Uncertainty of Information to what people know about of Game Worlds.
While Randomness in general can introduce Uncertainty of Information, Drawing Stacks is a specific case which both can have a guaranteed distribution over time and use Stack Seeding for more precise uncertainty. Feigned Die Rolls is an option for Dice where players can not be certain that the results are based on Randomness.
Can Modulate
While Outcome Indicators can work against Uncertainty of Information, they themselves can be modified to have Uncertainty of Information.
Can Be Modulated By
Narration Aspects
Detective Structures is a way of providing Uncertainty of Information in games since players know not more about the game state or World than what their Focus Loci provides.
Consequences
Limited Planning Ability and Solution Uncertainty are two typically consequences of players having Uncertainty of Information since it adds uncertainty to things like Delayed Effects and lessens Predictable Consequences. This in turn can provide Gain Information goals, encourage Game World Exploration or Stimulated Planning, and generally increase Tension. Uncertainty of the position of Enemies provides players with the goal of Reconnaissance.
Uncertainty of Information can provide the requirements for Anonymous Actions and Secret Resources. It can partly through this also support Player Unpredictability and patterns related to this such as Betrayal and Secret Alliances.
Several patterns work against Uncertainty of Information simply because they provide information to players. Direct Information and Perfect Information are the patterns which most strongly does this, but other that do this to a lesser degree include Game State Indicators, Goal Indicators, Outcome Indicators, Predictable Consequences, and Progress Indicators.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Anonymous Actions, Betrayal, Gain Information, Game World Exploration, Limited Planning Ability, Player Unpredictability, Secret Alliances, Secret Resources, Solution Uncertainty, Tension
with Enemies
Can Modulate
Delayed Effects, Outcome Indicators, Predictable Consequences, Stimulated Planning, Unknown Goals
Can Be Instantiated By
Ambiguous Responses, Bluffing, Communication Channels, Detective Structures, Drawing Stacks, Enforced Player Anonymity, Feigned Die Rolls, Fog of War, Imperfect Information, Indirect Information, Information Passing, Non-Player Help, Randomness
Enemies together with Randomness
Can Be Modulated By
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Direct Information, Game State Indicators, Goal Indicators, Outcome Indicators, Perfect Information, Predictable Consequences, Progress Indicators
History
An updated version of the pattern Uncertainty of Information 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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