Variable Accuracy

Game mechanics to simulate differences in the difficulty to hit what one aims at.

In real life, hitting what one aims at is quite difficult. This is however not the case in games since the granularity of game worlds and the rather simple physics needed to create a basic combat system can result in players always hitting what they aim at. When this is seen as a problem, Variable Accuracy can introduce to make hitting what one aims at depend on more gameplay factors.

Examples

Left 4 Dead series Deus Ex series, Fallout series Battlefield series

Resident Evil series Metroid series Silent Hill series Metal Gear Solid series

Borderlands series Far Cry series Red Orchestra series America's Army

Using the pattern

Variable Accuracy requires the presence of Weapons (conceivably other devices such as cameras could used the pattern as well). That given, three main ways of creating Variable Accuracy has been identified: Wobble Aiming, Iron Sights, and Stationary Aiming.

Wobble Aiming, found for example in the Left 4 Dead series, the Deus Ex series, and the latter installments of the Fallout series, is simply that the Crosshairs either move slightly or that players are presented with a circle showing the potential hit area of a shot. While the latter makes use of Randomness, players are often able to lessen the movement or circles through doing Extended Actions (aiming) or acquiring better Skills or Upgrades for their Weapons. Wobble aiming is very often affected negatively by player Movement, but can also be affected by taking Damage or as part of Near Miss Indicators.

Iron Sights, use in the Far Cry series, Red Orchestra series, and America's Army among others, is supports aiming by letting players use the actual diegetic aims and scopes of the Weapons. What this means typically is that players have an additional action letting them look through their sights, and if they do not do this they may not have Crosshairs or may have significantly less chance of hitting targets.

The previous option for Variable Accuracy typically affects Movement, but Stationary Aiming takes this a step further. Found for examples in the Resident Evil series Metroid series Silent Hill series Metal Gear Solid series

These techniques can be combined, e.g. the Borderlands and Battlefield series uses both wobble aiming and iron sights.

Diegetic Aspects

Variable Accuracy is often introduced to increase Thematic Consistency, and as such it is typically also important that the ways players can affect the Variable Accuracy, e.g. the Skills, Upgrades, and Weapons available fit the setting.

Interface Aspects

Variable Accuracy typically requires some work on the game interface, especially concerning how Crosshairs can be used to indicate the level of accuracy one currently has.

Consequences

Variable Accuracy is a way of modifying Weapons so that Aim & Shoot action, and thereby Combat, becomes more difficult. The level of accuracy attained in games using the Variable Accuracy is often displayed through a visual change in the Crosshairs presented to the player. When the Variable Accuracy depends on Skills or Weapons the players has, this creates Player/Character Skill Composites, and these can be further modified by Upgrades.

The use of sights that have to be activated (i.e. the iron sights option mentioned above) make players limit their perception. This may cause both Disruption of Focused Attention and Surprises if this means that other events are unnoticed and then require them to react quickly.

The introduction of Variable Accuracy, and potentially the addition of Skills, Upgrades, and actions that affect this can make for both Challenging and Complex Gameplay. This is however often a side effect of trying to create Player Balance by balancing the different Weapons against each other, most often trying to reduce the effectiveness of sniper weapons. Indirectly, this means that the presence of Variable Accuracy in games reduces the usefulness of Sniper Locations.

By making it less certain that one will hit what one aims at, the pattern works against Predictable Consequences.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Challenging Gameplay, Complex Gameplay, Movement Limitations, Player Balance, Thematic Consistency

with Skills or Weapons

Player/Character Skill Composites

Can Modulate

Aim & Shoot, Combat, Crosshairs, Disruption of Focused Attention, Movement, Sniper Locations, Surprises, Weapons

with Upgrades

Player/Character Skill Composites

Can Be Instantiated By

Extended Actions Randomness, Weapons

Can Be Modulated By

Damage, Movement, Near Miss Indicators, Skills, Upgrades

Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

Predictable Consequences

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

Acknowledgements

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