Difference between revisions of "Helplessness"

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''Gameplay situations where players cannot themselves affect their situation.''
 
''Gameplay situations where players cannot themselves affect their situation.''
  
This pattern is a still a stub.
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Games may be about putting players in positions where they can make interesting choices but sometimes games takes this away from them. By doing so, they put them in a state of [[Helplessness]] where even if they can notice how the gameplay progresses they are unable to do anything about it.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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== Using the pattern ==
 
== Using the pattern ==
 
[[Ultra-Powerful Events]]
 
  
 
[[Extended Actions]]
 
[[Extended Actions]]
[[Multiplayer Games]]
 
 
[[Delayed Reciprocity]]
 
[[Delayed Reciprocity]]
  
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[[Cut Scenes]]
 
[[Cut Scenes]]
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 +
[[Multiplayer Games]]
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[[Helplessness]] can be partial alleviated by letting players
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[[Communication Channels]]
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[[Negotiation]]
  
 
=== Diegetic Aspects ===
 
=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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== Consequences ==
 
== Consequences ==
[[Helplessness]] quite easily creates [[Tension]] in players, and [[Anticipation]] either of being saved or in meeting ones fate.
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[[Helplessness]] can be seen as [[Ultra-Powerful Events]] that quite easily creates [[Tension]] in players, and possibly [[Anticipation]] as they notice that effort is being made to help them or that they their fate is being sealed.
  
 
It makes it impossible for players affected to have [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], but if players can save incapacitated players they can instead have it, as well as contextually having a [[Privileged Abilities|Privileged Ability]] compared to those in need of help.
 
It makes it impossible for players affected to have [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], but if players can save incapacitated players they can instead have it, as well as contextually having a [[Privileged Abilities|Privileged Ability]] compared to those in need of help.
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=== Can Instantiate ===
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
 
[[Anticipation]],  
 
[[Anticipation]],  
[[Tension]]
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[[Tension]],
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[[Ultra-Powerful Events]]
  
 
==== with [[Multiplayer Games]] ====
 
==== with [[Multiplayer Games]] ====
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=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
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[[Multiplayer Games]]
  
 
=== Possible Closure Effects ===
 
=== Possible Closure Effects ===

Revision as of 20:06, 15 March 2011

Gameplay situations where players cannot themselves affect their situation.

Games may be about putting players in positions where they can make interesting choices but sometimes games takes this away from them. By doing so, they put them in a state of Helplessness where even if they can notice how the gameplay progresses they are unable to do anything about it.

Examples

Player in the Left 4 Dead series can become incapacitated by falling off ledges, being pinned by infected with special powers, or by simply receiving enough damage. When this occurs players cannot by themselves affect their fate, they have to be saved by other players.

Using the pattern

Extended Actions Delayed Reciprocity

Exaggerated Perception of Influence

Privileged Abilities

No-Ops

Cut Scenes

Multiplayer Games Helplessness can be partial alleviated by letting players

Communication Channels

Negotiation

Diegetic Aspects

Interface Aspects

Narrative Aspects

Consequences

Helplessness can be seen as Ultra-Powerful Events that quite easily creates Tension in players, and possibly Anticipation as they notice that effort is being made to help them or that they their fate is being sealed.

It makes it impossible for players affected to have Exaggerated Perception of Influence, but if players can save incapacitated players they can instead have it, as well as contextually having a Privileged Ability compared to those in need of help.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Anticipation, Tension, Ultra-Powerful Events

with Multiplayer Games

Exaggerated Perception of Influence, Privileged Abilities

Can Modulate

-

Can Be Instantiated By

-

Can Be Modulated By

Multiplayer Games

Possible Closure Effects

-

Potentially Conflicting With

Exaggerated Perception of Influence

History

An updated version of the pattern Helplessness first identified in the paper Exploring Aesthetic Gameplay Design Patterns – Camaraderie in Four Games[1].

References

  1. Bergström, K., Björk, S. & Lundgren, S. (2010). Exploring Aesthetic Gameplay Design Patterns – Camaraderie in Four Games. Paper presentation at Mindtrek 2010. Tampere, Finland.

Acknowledgements

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