Extra-Game Input

Affects on game states whose sources are neither internal nor from players.

Game systems consist of states and rules for how these states can change. The changes are usually initiated through the actions of players or as follow-up effects from earlier changes, but depending on the physical instantiation of a game other forces may be able to affect the game state. Typically this Extra-Game Input is not supposed to happen and game facilitators, players, or the system itself should strive to prevent this and remove these unwanted changes if possible (e.g. a king knocked over in Chess by the wind should be place upright). However, games can be designed to let some types of Extra-Game Input be permitted as allowed ways to change the system. This is typically to introduce randomness and surprises, or to make it possible to provide new content during game instances.

Examples

While a large part of the tasks of game facilitators and game masters typically relies in upholding and running the games, the introduction of new rules or new gameplay content by them can be seen as a form of Extra-Game Input when done during gameplay and not clearly as independent expansions. Examples of this include additions to games and game worlds made in Tabletop Roleplaying Games such as Dungeons & Dragons and World of Darkness, patches or interventions in Massively Multiplayer Online Games such as World of Warcraft and Ultima Online, and updates in social media games such as FarmVille and Mafia Wars. If these are treated as Extra-Game Input is however subjective; to those that expect these changes and do not suffer unexpected setbacks due to these it can be seen as part of the game while for others it can be seen as surprises or violations of what was considered to be the game.

Games using sensors do not always qualify as having Extra-Game Input. For example, those that use various types of location sensors (e.g. Geocaching and SCVNGR) use these to make the real world part of the gameplay area. Examples of games where the sensors are used more to create input rather than ground the game include the Boktai series, in which players must place the game cartridge in direct sunlight while playing to recharge their solar guns. The use of Bluetooth devices in Insectopia to generate insects also qualify since the availability of many of these are unpredictable.

Games where different game instances can be influenced by other game instances, from the same game or other games, are also a way of providing Extra-Game Input. Examples of such games include Spore, where races and artifacts created by players are used to create content in other players games, and NetHack, where messages written by a player in one game instance can be found by players in another game instance. In 4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness the only influence players have over the gameplay is when they begin, all other input to the game comes as Extra-Game Input when other players start playing the game. The ability to help other players in CityVille and FarmVille are borderline cases of Extra-Game Input since they must have acknowledged each other as neighbors; the ability of non-players to help by clicking links in Facebook is a stronger example.

Using the pattern

In relation to other types of input to a game system, the primary concern for Extra-Game Input is of course its source and if the input should be processed before affecting the game system. Several types of input sources exist. Purchasable Game Advantages and some types of Game Element Insertion provides ways in which players can provide Extra-Game Input in strongly regulated ways. Coupled Games lets other games provide Extra-Game Input to games. Non-Player Help lets those not playing a game be able to make gameplay actions and goals easier for players. While Player-Artifact Proximity is not Extra-Game Input, Artifact-Artifact Proximity can be this since players and the game system may not be able to control how the artifacts move. Dedicated Game Facilitators and Game Masters are maybe a somewhat surprising option for Extra-Game Input since their tasks mainly consist of ensuring that game systems are maintained and updated. However, when they provide Evolving Rule Sets or new gameplay content they are working outside these tasks and changing either the game state in ways not defined by rules or changing the rules themselves.

Extra-Game Input is quite natural to consider for games with Pervasive or Ubiquitous Gameplay since these already assume many potential source for such input will be available. If fact, some types of input may be impossible to avoid, especially in Hybrid Spaces, and not considering these while designing is likely to ruin any chance of reaching intended gameplay.

Diegetic Aspects

Direct use of Extra-Game Input into games as content can easily threaten to compromise Diegetic Consistency of a game unless the diegesis is very similar to the context in which the input is received.

Interface Aspects

A few types of Extra-Game Input does not directly affect gameplay but is instead used to create Handles. The primary case for this is how social media games such as FarmVille and Mafia Wars make use of profile images as part of creating player Handles.

Consequences

Extra-Game Input that uses time and dates are input can make games have Events Timed to the Real World, which in turn can modify the likelihood of eliciting Encouraged Return Visits. If players can themselves affect the Extra-Game Input they may be encouraged to do Extra-Game Actions which does this. Such games that allow also allow Activity Blending let players have Real Life Activities Affect Game State.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Extra-Game Actions, Events Timed to the Real World, Handles

with Activity Blending

Real Life Activities Affect Game State

Can Modulate

Encouraged Return Visits, Pervasive Gameplay, Ubiquitous Gameplay

Can Be Instantiated By

Artifact-Artifact Proximity, Coupled Games, Dedicated Game Facilitators, Evolving Rule Sets, Game Element Insertion, Game Masters, Hybrid Spaces, Non-Player Help, Pervasive Gameplay, Purchasable Game Advantages, Ubiquitous Gameplay

Can Be Modulated By

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Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

Diegetic Consistency

History

Updated version of the pattern Extra-Game Input first described in the report Game Design Patterns for Mobile Games.

Acknowledgements

Johan Peitz