Difference between revisions of "Replayability"
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[[Left 4 Dead series]] | [[Left 4 Dead series]] | ||
[[Space Alert]] | [[Space Alert]] | ||
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== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
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Games that are challenging or provide experiences based upon the lack of knowledge of players, i. e., Imperfect Information, are difficult to combine with Replayability. This is due to the Trans-Game Information players acquire when they successfully perform Memorizing of what happens in the game, i. e., when they can apply specific facts learned in one game instance in another game instance. This information can affect Replayability in many ways: Surprises in Narrative Structures will no longer be Surprises, Tension will be less effective when players experience the same situations, Puzzle Solving will become trivial if it is not changed between game instances, Unknown Goals will be known in later game instances, and Exploration will be pointless since the environment is already known to the player. An exception to this is presented by Conceal goals in Multiplayer Games, as the challenges in these are to find new hiding places. | Games that are challenging or provide experiences based upon the lack of knowledge of players, i. e., Imperfect Information, are difficult to combine with Replayability. This is due to the Trans-Game Information players acquire when they successfully perform Memorizing of what happens in the game, i. e., when they can apply specific facts learned in one game instance in another game instance. This information can affect Replayability in many ways: Surprises in Narrative Structures will no longer be Surprises, Tension will be less effective when players experience the same situations, Puzzle Solving will become trivial if it is not changed between game instances, Unknown Goals will be known in later game instances, and Exploration will be pointless since the environment is already known to the player. An exception to this is presented by Conceal goals in Multiplayer Games, as the challenges in these are to find new hiding places. | ||
| + | For games that require player skill, Replayability becomes automatic as players strive to achieve, test, and show Game Mastery. Similarly, when players have Strategic Knowledge in games, the games have a certain level of Replayability, as players can make use of Strategic Knowledge and improve it between game sessions as Trans-Game Information. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Can Be Instantiated By === | ||
| + | [[Achievements]], | ||
| + | [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]], | ||
| + | [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]], | ||
| + | [[Freedom of Choice]], | ||
| + | [[High Score Lists]], | ||
| + | [[Internal Conflicts]], | ||
| + | [[Open Destiny]], | ||
| + | [[Permadeath]], | ||
| + | [[Randomness]], | ||
| + | [[Sidequests]], | ||
| + | [[Speed Runs]], | ||
| + | [[Testing Achievements]], | ||
| + | [[Unwinnable Games]], | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Ephemeral Goals]], [[Levels]], or [[Quests]] together with [[Randomness]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Functional Roles]] together with [[Multiplayer Games]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Game Worlds]] together with [[Player Constructed Worlds]] or [[Randomness]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Strategic Knowledge]] together with [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]] or [[Further Player Improvement Potential]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
| + | [[Strategic Planning]] | ||
=== Diegetic Aspects === | === Diegetic Aspects === | ||
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== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
| − | Replayability in a game offers players enjoyment of a game beyond a single game session. | + | [[Replayability]] in a game offers players enjoyment of a game beyond a single game session. When this is due to player being able to contemplate different ways of playing, this leads to [[Stimulated Planning]] and players can use this to give themselves [[Varied Gameplay]]. |
| + | |||
| + | Although developing [[Strategic Knowledge]] can be part of why a game has [[Replayability]], having complete [[Strategic Knowledge]] can work against the pattern instead. Examples of how can happen is fully understanding [[Algorithmic Agents]] without [[Open Destiny]] or being able to [[Memorizing|Memorize]] all choices that are supposed to require [[Puzzle Solving]]. | ||
== Relations == | == Relations == | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
=== Can Instantiate === | === Can Instantiate === | ||
[[Stimulated Planning]] | [[Stimulated Planning]] | ||
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=== Can Modulate === | === Can Modulate === | ||
| + | - | ||
=== Can Be Instantiated By === | === Can Be Instantiated By === | ||
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=== Possible Closure Effects === | === Possible Closure Effects === | ||
| + | - | ||
=== Potentially Conflicting With === | === Potentially Conflicting With === | ||
Revision as of 12:50, 14 August 2011
The level to which a game provides new challenges, learning opportunities, or experiences when played again.
This pattern is a still a stub.
Many games are designed to be played many times. In order for these to be interesting, the game must offer new challenges to players or give players new experiences that are perceived as entertaining enough to merit continued playing. The degree to which a game provides these incentives determines its level of Replayability.
Examples
Example: Chess and Go have so many possible outcomes that players have very little chance of ever playing two games that are exactly the same. This means that every game session will have new challenges in which players can test their skills.
Example: The multiplayer first-person shooters Team Fortress Classic and Return to Castle Wolfenstein and the Battlefield series allow players to choose a character class to play. This gives them special abilities, which means that beyond the normal differences in gameplay due to varieties in players and levels, players also have different possibilities of what to do and have different roles in their teams.
The challenge and advanced mode in Portal
Left 4 Dead series Space Alert Torchlight
Using the pattern
Replayability can be achieved by letting the challenges differ between game instances, by letting challenges be solved in several different ways, or by letting players compare results between games through Trans-Game Information.
Games that provide Cognitive Immersion and have a huge potential game state space seldom offer players exactly the same challenges and thereby provide one form of Replayability. Dedicated Game Facilitators that are aware of players who have played the game before can change the setup of the particular game instances to provide another way to achieve Replayability by altering the challenges. This can for example be achieved through Reconfigurable Game World, although some games allow the players to reconfigure the Game World without the presence of a Dedicated Game Facilitator. Different challenges are also provided in games that give Varied Gameplay by having roles that players have to choose before gameplay proper begins, and by arranging that these roles have Asymmetric Goals or Asymmetric Abilities.
Letting players complete the game or parts of the game in different ways can be done through Selectable Sets of Goals or otherwise through the support of Varied Gameplay within the game. Optional Goals give Freedom of Choice of how to try and solve the overall game. The Replayability of such games increases by letting the players measure how many Optional Goals they have completed, for example, by using a Score or having Easter Eggs that give access to Inaccessible Areas.
Replayability is often acquired by supporting players to measure the level of their successes or failures. Score and High Score Lists can be used for this in Single-Player Games, and allow the players to have a measure of their Game Mastery, either to let players measure their own skill or to allow a Social Status among other players. Tournaments, with the exception of Polyathlons, allow for a similar type of Replayability as a game is typically played several times to create the outcome of the Tournament. Near Miss Indicators can show players how close they were to succeeding, encouraging them to try again and possibility also increasing their chances of succeeding by the information the provide.
Save-Load Cycles and Reversability provide Replayability on a fundamental level within games. These allow players to do Experimenting and to choose the length of play sessions, but they have little effect, or negative effect, on Replayability of the game as a whole.
Games that are challenging or provide experiences based upon the lack of knowledge of players, i. e., Imperfect Information, are difficult to combine with Replayability. This is due to the Trans-Game Information players acquire when they successfully perform Memorizing of what happens in the game, i. e., when they can apply specific facts learned in one game instance in another game instance. This information can affect Replayability in many ways: Surprises in Narrative Structures will no longer be Surprises, Tension will be less effective when players experience the same situations, Puzzle Solving will become trivial if it is not changed between game instances, Unknown Goals will be known in later game instances, and Exploration will be pointless since the environment is already known to the player. An exception to this is presented by Conceal goals in Multiplayer Games, as the challenges in these are to find new hiding places.
For games that require player skill, Replayability becomes automatic as players strive to achieve, test, and show Game Mastery. Similarly, when players have Strategic Knowledge in games, the games have a certain level of Replayability, as players can make use of Strategic Knowledge and improve it between game sessions as Trans-Game Information.
Can Be Instantiated By
Achievements, Asymmetric Starting Conditions, Dedicated Game Facilitators, Freedom of Choice, High Score Lists, Internal Conflicts, Open Destiny, Permadeath, Randomness, Sidequests, Speed Runs, Testing Achievements, Unwinnable Games,
Ephemeral Goals, Levels, or Quests together with Randomness
Functional Roles together with Multiplayer Games
Game Worlds together with Player Constructed Worlds or Randomness
Strategic Knowledge together with Exaggerated Perception of Influence or Further Player Improvement Potential
Can Be Modulated By
Diegetic Aspects
Interface Aspects
Narrative Aspects
Consequences
Replayability in a game offers players enjoyment of a game beyond a single game session. When this is due to player being able to contemplate different ways of playing, this leads to Stimulated Planning and players can use this to give themselves Varied Gameplay.
Although developing Strategic Knowledge can be part of why a game has Replayability, having complete Strategic Knowledge can work against the pattern instead. Examples of how can happen is fully understanding Algorithmic Agents without Open Destiny or being able to Memorize all choices that are supposed to require Puzzle Solving.
Relations
Can Instantiate
with Strategic Planning
Can Modulate
-
Can Be Instantiated By
Achievements, Asymmetric Starting Conditions, Dedicated Game Facilitators, Freedom of Choice, High Score Lists, Internal Conflicts, Open Destiny, Permadeath, Randomness, Sidequests, Speed Runs, Testing Achievements, Unwinnable Games,
Ephemeral Goals, Levels, or Quests together with Randomness
Functional Roles together with Multiplayer Games
Game Worlds together with Player Constructed Worlds or Randomness
Strategic Knowledge together with Exaggerated Perception of Influence or Further Player Improvement Potential
Can Be Modulated By
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Algorithmic Agents without Open Destiny
Memorizing that can be applied to Puzzle Solving
History
A rewrite of a pattern 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.
