Difference between revisions of "Internal Rivalry"
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''Being a player or character within one's same social network as an enemy or competitor.'' | ''Being a player or character within one's same social network as an enemy or competitor.'' | ||
| − | While rivalry can exist in many forms in games, [[Internal Rivalry]] is a conflict in which the progress of a conflict is regulated by the norms of a social network due to all the involved participants belonging to that network. | + | While rivalry can exist in many forms in games, [[Internal Rivalry]] is a conflict in which the progress of a conflict is regulated by the norms of a social network due to all the involved participants belonging to that network. This can make the conflict act out in other ways, or through other means, than other types of conflicts which may make it take long time to resolve or be more or less impossible to end. [[Internal Rivalry]] can also easily affect the other members of the social network, either by involving them in the conflict in some sense or threatening to destroy the whole network. |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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A basic requirement for [[Internal Rivalry]] to exist is to have some form of game structure that creates a social network. [[Factions]], [[Guilds]], and [[Teams]] can all fit this purpose. Once the intended participants of the rivalry have been places within the social network there needs to exist a conflict of interest. This can be [[Incompatible Goals]] or [[Competitions]] but these need to be [[Enforced Goals]] unless the [[Internal Rivalry]] is meant to be optional. [[Tragedy of the Commons]] is a specific example of optional [[Internal Rivalry]] based on [[Limited Resources]] where the rivalry can be kept low by successful [[Negotiation]]. | A basic requirement for [[Internal Rivalry]] to exist is to have some form of game structure that creates a social network. [[Factions]], [[Guilds]], and [[Teams]] can all fit this purpose. Once the intended participants of the rivalry have been places within the social network there needs to exist a conflict of interest. This can be [[Incompatible Goals]] or [[Competitions]] but these need to be [[Enforced Goals]] unless the [[Internal Rivalry]] is meant to be optional. [[Tragedy of the Commons]] is a specific example of optional [[Internal Rivalry]] based on [[Limited Resources]] where the rivalry can be kept low by successful [[Negotiation]]. | ||
| + | An possible problem with [[Internal Rivalry]] is to ensure that it isn't ended by the removal of the others, e.g. by [[Combat]] or [[Player Elimination]], which can be achieved through only allowing [[Indirectly Aggressive Actions]], or using [[Enforced Agent Behavior]] to provide a [[Limited Set of Actions]]. An example of using [[Enforced Agent Behavior]], albeit one that breaks the diegesis, is to disable friendly fire in First-Person Shooter games. | ||
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| − | [[ | + | up to making [[Survive]] of the other players into [[Predefined Goals]] for all involved players. |
| − | [[ | + | Another potential issue with [[Internal Rivalry]] |
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| + | [[Negative Feedback Loops]] | ||
Typically the conflict is set up by the Predefined Goal (Björk, Holopainen, 2005) of a PC that put the PC in opposition with the NPC and both the character are members of the same Faction. Different Social Norms can be used to regulate the progression of the conflict via Actions Have Social Consequences, penalties such as the risk of becoming an Outcast or rewards. | Typically the conflict is set up by the Predefined Goal (Björk, Holopainen, 2005) of a PC that put the PC in opposition with the NPC and both the character are members of the same Faction. Different Social Norms can be used to regulate the progression of the conflict via Actions Have Social Consequences, penalties such as the risk of becoming an Outcast or rewards. | ||
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[[Information Passing]] | [[Information Passing]] | ||
Revision as of 13:35, 9 September 2010
Being a player or character within one's same social network as an enemy or competitor.
While rivalry can exist in many forms in games, Internal Rivalry is a conflict in which the progress of a conflict is regulated by the norms of a social network due to all the involved participants belonging to that network. This can make the conflict act out in other ways, or through other means, than other types of conflicts which may make it take long time to resolve or be more or less impossible to end. Internal Rivalry can also easily affect the other members of the social network, either by involving them in the conflict in some sense or threatening to destroy the whole network.
Contents
Examples
In the board game The Republic of Rome players need to collaborate to keep the enemies of Rome from invading their empire, but at the same time compete against each other to become the dominant power in the Eternal City.
Internal Rivalry can exist within guilds in World of Warcraft since several players may need the same equipment for their characters. These rivalries can easily turn into open conflicts in the aftermaths of raids as the desired equipment is bound to the first character that picks it up.
Using the pattern
A basic requirement for Internal Rivalry to exist is to have some form of game structure that creates a social network. Factions, Guilds, and Teams can all fit this purpose. Once the intended participants of the rivalry have been places within the social network there needs to exist a conflict of interest. This can be Incompatible Goals or Competitions but these need to be Enforced Goals unless the Internal Rivalry is meant to be optional. Tragedy of the Commons is a specific example of optional Internal Rivalry based on Limited Resources where the rivalry can be kept low by successful Negotiation.
An possible problem with Internal Rivalry is to ensure that it isn't ended by the removal of the others, e.g. by Combat or Player Elimination, which can be achieved through only allowing Indirectly Aggressive Actions, or using Enforced Agent Behavior to provide a Limited Set of Actions. An example of using Enforced Agent Behavior, albeit one that breaks the diegesis, is to disable friendly fire in First-Person Shooter games.
up to making Survive of the other players into Predefined Goals for all involved players.
Another potential issue with Internal Rivalry
Typically the conflict is set up by the Predefined Goal (Björk, Holopainen, 2005) of a PC that put the PC in opposition with the NPC and both the character are members of the same Faction. Different Social Norms can be used to regulate the progression of the conflict via Actions Have Social Consequences, penalties such as the risk of becoming an Outcast or rewards.
Introducing Internal Conflicts in a game design is quite likely to create Internal Rivalry as well, but it is not as certain that the conclusion of the conflict will remove the rivalry also (this may of course be the wished outcome).
Diegetic Aspects
Interface Aspects
Narrative Aspects
Consequences
In Internal Rivalry, the conflict is complicated as the player needs to take into account the social network of a Faction and its Social Norms. This can lead to Varied Gameplay (Björk, Holopainen, 2005), as the consequences of the Actions Have Social Consequences can vary depending on how the player tries to reach the goal and in what kind of circumstances.
Internal Rivalry easily leads to Internal Conflicts. This can be enforced through Narration Structures but can easily occur between players in Factions, Guilds or any kind of Teams if they engage in Roleplaying or some form of Competition.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Can Modulate
Can Be Instantiated By
Can Be Modulated By
Potentially Conflicting With
History
An updated version of the pattern Internal Rivalry, first introduced in Lankoski 2010[1].
References
- ↑ Lankoski (2010). Character-Driven Game Design - A Design Approach and Its Foundations in Character Engagement. D.A. thesis at Aalto University. Publication Series of the School of Art and Design A 101.
