Rewards
The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.
This pattern is a still a stub.
Contents
Examples
Anti-Examples
optional
Using the pattern
Can instantiate
with Geospatial Game Widgets
with Time Limits
Can Modulate
Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences, Alternative Reality, Area Control, Attention Swapping, Bidding, Challenging Gameplay, Character Development, Fudged Results, Game Items, Gameplay Mastery, Grinding, Invites, Penalties, Player Defined Goals, Player Killing, Red Queen Dilemmas, Resource Caps, Resources, Reward Widgets, Risk/Reward, Scores, Secret Areas, Trading
Can Be Instantiated By
Achievements, Arithmetic Progression, Betting, Character Development, Delayed Reciprocity, Factions, Free Gift Inventories, Handicap Achievements, Geometric Progression, Goal Achievements, Grind Achievements, Individual Rewards, Investments, Minigames, Player Killing, Repeat Combos, Shared Rewards, Testing Achievements, Unlocking Ownership,
Game Time Manipulation in Single-Player Games
There is a wide variety of what Rewards actually can consist of. Four different types of categories of Rewards are Access Rewards, Facilitating Rewards, Social Rewards, and Sustenance Rewards but Rewards can of course be combined to provide several of these at the same time.
Providing Improved or New Abilities are common parts of Rewards (especially for Access Rewards and Facilitating Rewards) as is Experience Points and Money (the latter which may be a [[Sustenance Reward). Another very common type of Rewards the combination of Game Items and Money in the form of Loot. Other, less common, Rewards include receiving Extra Chances (for example in the form of Lives), gaining new Companions, being presented with the possibility of Quick Returns, and being given access to Quick Travel (the two latter are Access Rewards).
Can Be Modulated By
Characters, Committed Goals, Continuous Goals, Diminishing Returns, Extra-Game Broadcasting, Extra-Game Consequences, Free Gift Inventories, Identification, Increasing Rewards, Mutual Goals, Outcome Indicators, Penalties, Player-Decided Distributions, Player-Defined Goals, Randomness, Reward Widgets Unknown Goals
Cutscenes in Single-Player Games
Potentially Conflicting With
Illusionary Rewards, Thematic Consistency
Diegetic Aspects
Interface Aspects
Narration Aspects
Consequences
Rewards are important in many ways for players to have Emotional Engrossment in games, they can for example provide Anticipation, Surprises, and Tension depending on when they are given and how certain players can be that they will receive them. The presence of them can increase Competition and create Collecting activities, especially if the Rewards exist as many small separate parts. When players need to wait for them to be accessible they can cause Encouraged Return Visits and when they are only available for short time periods they qualify as Ephemeral Events (combined with Time Limits they can be Optional Goals).
Receiving them can indicate that players have succeeded with Gain Competence goals or Player-Planned Development, but can also provide them with Game-Based Social Statuses.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Anticipation, Collecting, Competition, Emotional Engrossment, Encouraged Return Visits, Ephemeral Events, Game-Based Social Statuses, Gain Competence, Player-Planned Development, Surprises, Tension
with Geospatial Game Widgets
with Time Limits
Can Modulate
Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences, Alternative Reality, Area Control, Attention Swapping, Bidding, Challenging Gameplay, Character Development, Fudged Results, Game Items, Gameplay Mastery, Grinding, Invites, Penalties, Player Defined Goals, Player Killing, Red Queen Dilemmas, Resource Caps, Resources, Reward Widgets, Risk/Reward, Scores, Secret Areas, Trading
Can Be Instantiated By
Access Rewards, Achievements, Arithmetic Progression, Betting, Character Development, Companions, Delayed Reciprocity, Extra Chances, Experience Points, Factions, Facilitating Rewards, Free Gift Inventories, Handicap Achievements, Game Items, Geometric Progression, Goal Achievements, Grind Achievements, Improved Abilities, Individual Rewards, Investments, Loot, Minigames, Money, New Abilities, Ownership, Player Killing, Quick Returns, Quick Travel, Repeat Combos, Shared Rewards, Social Rewards, Sustenance Rewards, Testing Achievements, Unlocking
Game Time Manipulation in Single-Player Games
Can Be Modulated By
Characters, Committed Goals, Continuous Goals, Diminishing Returns, Extra-Game Broadcasting, Extra-Game Consequences, Free Gift Inventories, Identification, Increasing Rewards, Mutual Goals, Outcome Indicators, Penalties, Player-Decided Distributions, Player-Defined Goals, Randomness, Reward Widgets Unknown Goals
Cutscenes in Single-Player Games
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Illusionary Rewards, Thematic Consistency
History
An updated version of the pattern Rewards 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.
Acknowledgements
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