Game Element Trading

The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Note: this pattern describes exchanges between people of the items used to play games. See Trading for exchanges of resources as part of the gameplay.

Using the pattern

Game Element Trading requires Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership so that different players can own different parts of a game, with typical examples of tradable parts being Cards, Dice, Game Items, Miniatures, and the marbles of Marble Games. While the type of game element is a first design choice regarding this pattern, where these game elements come from is a second design choice. Game systems can provide them during gameplay through Game Element Insertion (e.g. through Loot) but Purchasable Game Advantages is another solution (seen for example in the booster packs available for Magic: The Gathering). Player Created Game Elements can also be used but risks crashing markets as the values of game elements can become very low if players create too large numbers of some type of game element.

Interface Aspects

This is for example supported through

Consequences

Rather obviously, Game Element Trading create a Transfer of Control of game elements, which may affect the ease of succeeding with Collecting and Gain Ownership goals. If the game elements traded are significantly rare or important for the gameplay at the point of time of the trade, they may become Memorabilia.

While Character Development and Cosmetic Game Items can create Extra-Game Consequences by themselves, the possibility of Game Element Trading adds more types of possible consequences. In contrast, Resource Generators and Tools only produce Extra-Game Consequences when combined with Game Element Trading.

Can Instantiate

with Player-Artifact Proximity

Player-Player Proximity

Can Be Instantiated By

Character Development, Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership, Player-Artifact Proximity,

Cosmetic Game Items together with Multiplayer Games

Game Items together with Persistent Game Worlds

Tools together with Multiplayer Games

Potentially Conflicting With

Ubiquitous Gameplay

Relations

Can Instantiate

Memorabilia Transfer of Control

with Player-Artifact Proximity

Player-Player Proximity

with Character Development, Cosmetic Game Items, Resource Generators, or Tools

Extra-Game Consequences

Can Modulate

Collecting Gain Ownership

Can Be Instantiated By

Character Development, Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership, Player-Artifact Proximity, Player Created Game Elements, Purchasable Game Advantages

Cosmetic Game Items together with Multiplayer Games

Game Items together with Persistent Game Worlds

Tools together with Multiplayer Games

Can Be Modulated By

Game Element Insertion

Potentially Conflicting With

Player Created Game Elements, Ubiquitous Gameplay

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

References

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