Difference between revisions of "Game Items"

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== Using the pattern ==
 
== Using the pattern ==
[[Tools]]
 
[[Armor]]
 
[[Weapons]]
 
[[Equipment]]
 
[[MacGuffins]]
 
[[Cosmetic Game Items]]
 
  
[[Ownership]]
 
  
[[Sets]]
+
[[Achievements]]
 +
[[Construction]]
 +
[[Cooldown]]
 +
[[Alien Space Bats]]
 +
[[Quests]]
 +
[[Line of Sight]]
 +
[[Props]]
  
[[Inventories]]
+
[[Resources]]
  
One aspect of [[Game Items]] is how they should be acquired. While some [[Game Items]] can be gotten through [[Trading]] or as [[Rewards]], [[Tools]] can also be [[Pick-Ups]], i.e. existing as game elements in [[Game Worlds]] and [[Levels]] before being acquired, possible through appearing as [[Loot]].
+
General categories of [[Game Items]] include [[Armor]] for protecting against [[Damage]], [[Tools]] for providing [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]], and [[Weapons]] for modifying [[Combat]]. These are all [[Equipment]] but [[Game Items]] providing passive benefits are other examples of [[Equipment]]. While these all provide or modify some gameplay functionality, [[Cosmetic Game Items]] and [[MacGuffins]] are examples of [[Game Items]] that can serve purposes in games without directly affecting gameplay.  
  
Tools can be used as goal objects in Gain Ownership goals, especially if there is only one instance of the Tool available and it is in a predetermined place. If the players can construct the Tools themselves, which is common in games using Converters in Producer-Consumer chains, the knowledge of what Tools to construct can be Strategic Knowledge. However, the production of the Tool can require Resources or knowledge, and gaining these may be used as goals in themselves using Gain Ownership or Gain Information goal patterns.
+
Destructible Objects
 +
through deterioration (most common for [[Armor]], [[Tools]], and [[Weapons]])
  
One aspect of [[Game Items]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] is if they are [[Transferable Items]], and if so how this is controlled. [[Stealing]] is one option here, which adds [[Attention Demanding]] to those game elements holding them as well as [[Tension]] and possibly [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]]. Otherwise, [[Ownership]] of [[Tools]] may simply be that no offensive [[Transfer of Control]] actions such as [[Stealing]] are possible but those holding [[Tools]] can either drop them or voluntary engage in [[Trading]]. Some games that wishes to make [[Transferable Items]] impossible (e.g. [[World of Warcraft]]) make the equipping of them into [[Irreversible Events]].
+
 
 +
[[Sockets]]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
One aspect of [[Game Items]] is how they should be acquired. While some [[Game Items]] can be gotten through [[Trading]] or as [[Rewards]], [[Tools]] can also be [[Pick-Ups]], i.e. existing as game elements in [[Game Worlds]] and [[Levels]] before being acquired, possible through appearing as [[Loot]]. Another option is that the players can construct [[Game Items]] themselves through [[Crafting]], as for example done in [[Minecraft]] or [[Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress]]. Related to this, [[Game Items]] can be used as goal objects in [[Gain Ownership]] goals, especially if there is only one instance of a [[Game Items|Game Item]] available and it is in a predetermined place.
 +
 
 +
Once players can have [[Ownership]] of [[Game Items]], other design options open up. [[Inventories]] allow for many [[Game Items]] to be carried and interacted with through [[Secondary Interface Screens]]. Having [[Equipable Items]] lets players choose which [[Game Items]] should be active or should provide [[New Abilities]] at any given point in time. [[Sets]] can be used to allow [[Combos]] to occur for having specific combinations of [[Game Items]] equipped.
 +
 
 +
For [[Multiplayer Games]] one can consider if [[Game Items]] are to be [[Transferable Items]], and if so how this is controlled. [[Stealing]] is one option here, which adds [[Attention Demanding]] to those game elements holding them as well as [[Tension]] and possibly [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]]. Otherwise, [[Ownership]] of [[Tools]] may simply be that no offensive [[Transfer of Control]] actions such as [[Stealing]] are possible but those holding [[Tools]] can either drop them or voluntary engage in [[Trading]]. Some games that wishes to make [[Transferable Items]] impossible (e.g. [[World of Warcraft]]) make the equipping of them into [[Irreversible Events]].
  
 
=== Diegetic Aspects ===
 
=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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== Consequences ==
 
== Consequences ==
 
When [[Ownership]] is regulated the existence of [[Game Items]] open up for [[Transfer of Control]] and [[Collecting]] actions to achieve [[Gain Ownership]] goals. This may also open up for [[Competitions]] and [[Races]] if the location of the [[Game Items]] are known to the players. However, it may or may not be possible to drop or trade a Tool after it has been taken. If a Tool is dropped when an Avatar or Unit carrying it is killed or destroyed, or if Gain Ownership over other players Tools is supported in the game design, the presence of Tools promotes Competition even after the Tool has been acquired.
 
When [[Ownership]] is regulated the existence of [[Game Items]] open up for [[Transfer of Control]] and [[Collecting]] actions to achieve [[Gain Ownership]] goals. This may also open up for [[Competitions]] and [[Races]] if the location of the [[Game Items]] are known to the players. However, it may or may not be possible to drop or trade a Tool after it has been taken. If a Tool is dropped when an Avatar or Unit carrying it is killed or destroyed, or if Gain Ownership over other players Tools is supported in the game design, the presence of Tools promotes Competition even after the Tool has been acquired.
 
  
 
== Relations ==
 
== Relations ==
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
 +
[[Gain Ownership]]
  
 
==== with [[Stealing]] ====
 
==== with [[Stealing]] ====
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=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
 
=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
[[Rewards]]  
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[[Armor]],
 +
[[Cosmetic Game Items]],
 +
[[Equipment]],
 +
[[MacGuffins]],
 +
[[Tools]],
 +
[[Rewards]], 
 +
[[Weapons]]
  
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
[[Collecting]],
 
[[Collecting]],
 +
[[Crafting]],
 +
[[Equipable Items]],
 +
[[Inventories]],
 
[[Loot]],  
 
[[Loot]],  
 
[[Ownership]],  
 
[[Ownership]],  
 
[[Pick-Ups]],  
 
[[Pick-Ups]],  
 +
[[Sets]],
 
[[Stealing]],  
 
[[Stealing]],  
 
[[Trading]],  
 
[[Trading]],  

Revision as of 10:27, 9 April 2011


Diegetic objects in game worlds that can be moved or interacted with.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Examples

Using the pattern

Achievements Construction Cooldown Alien Space Bats Quests Line of Sight Props

Resources

General categories of Game Items include Armor for protecting against Damage, Tools for providing Improved or New Abilities, and Weapons for modifying Combat. These are all Equipment but Game Items providing passive benefits are other examples of Equipment. While these all provide or modify some gameplay functionality, Cosmetic Game Items and MacGuffins are examples of Game Items that can serve purposes in games without directly affecting gameplay.

Destructible Objects through deterioration (most common for Armor, Tools, and Weapons)


Sockets


One aspect of Game Items is how they should be acquired. While some Game Items can be gotten through Trading or as Rewards, Tools can also be Pick-Ups, i.e. existing as game elements in Game Worlds and Levels before being acquired, possible through appearing as Loot. Another option is that the players can construct Game Items themselves through Crafting, as for example done in Minecraft or Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress. Related to this, Game Items can be used as goal objects in Gain Ownership goals, especially if there is only one instance of a Game Item available and it is in a predetermined place.

Once players can have Ownership of Game Items, other design options open up. Inventories allow for many Game Items to be carried and interacted with through Secondary Interface Screens. Having Equipable Items lets players choose which Game Items should be active or should provide New Abilities at any given point in time. Sets can be used to allow Combos to occur for having specific combinations of Game Items equipped.

For Multiplayer Games one can consider if Game Items are to be Transferable Items, and if so how this is controlled. Stealing is one option here, which adds Attention Demanding to those game elements holding them as well as Tension and possibly Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences. Otherwise, Ownership of Tools may simply be that no offensive Transfer of Control actions such as Stealing are possible but those holding Tools can either drop them or voluntary engage in Trading. Some games that wishes to make Transferable Items impossible (e.g. World of Warcraft) make the equipping of them into Irreversible Events.

Diegetic Aspects

Interface Aspects

Narrative Aspects

Consequences

When Ownership is regulated the existence of Game Items open up for Transfer of Control and Collecting actions to achieve Gain Ownership goals. This may also open up for Competitions and Races if the location of the Game Items are known to the players. However, it may or may not be possible to drop or trade a Tool after it has been taken. If a Tool is dropped when an Avatar or Unit carrying it is killed or destroyed, or if Gain Ownership over other players Tools is supported in the game design, the presence of Tools promotes Competition even after the Tool has been acquired.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Gain Ownership

with Stealing

Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences, Attention Demanding, Tension

Can Modulate

Game Worlds, Levels

Can Be Instantiated By

Armor, Cosmetic Game Items, Equipment, MacGuffins, Tools, Rewards, Weapons

Can Be Modulated By

Collecting, Crafting, Equipable Items, Inventories, Loot, Ownership, Pick-Ups, Sets, Stealing, Trading, Transfer of Control, Transferable Items

Possible Closure Effects

Potentially Conflicting With

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

References

-

Acknowledgements