Automated Responses

Events triggered by game state configurations designed to either inform players or make responses for them.

Many games have

Examples

A weak examples of Automated Responses is the "look" action in Adventure Games such as Maniac Mansion and the Zork series, which while they do inform players about game elements are in fact triggered by specific actions by players rather than game state configurations.

Using the pattern

Designing Automated Responses consist of deciding what responses show exist (and why) and when they should be given. The types of responses can be divided into two main categories: the ones that affect the game state and the ones that only inform players about the game state. Voice-overs is one way of creating Automated Responses without affecting game states while Algorithmic Agents and Mules can perform gameplay actions as Automated Responses.

When Automated Responses should be given are typically bound tightly to the specific responses that should be possible, e.g. providing specific information about a game element, or related to it, when it is encountered. Quite naturally, Line of Sight can be used to make the Automated Responses only be made about things the player is actually looking at.

Interface Aspects

As Automated Responses provide information or feedback to players it is an Interface Pattern.

Narration Aspects

Since Automated Responses can provide narration (e.g when used with Voice-overs), the pattern can be an Narration Pattern.

Consequences

Automated Responses are ways of modulating Avatars, Characters, or (at least) Chat Channels. By doing so they can created Enforced Agent Behavior or provide Player Augmentations. When they are combined with Player/Character Skill Composites, the resulting effect can become Player/System Action Composites.

Automated Responses can help players have Smooth Learning Curves. When Automated Responses brings players' attention to certain features about the current game state, they function as Point of Interest Indications.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Enforced Agent Behavior, Player Augmentations, Point of Interest Indications, Smooth Learning Curves

with Player/Character Skill Composites

Player/System Action Composites

Can Modulate

Avatars, Characters, Chat Channels

Can Be Instantiated By

Algorithmic Agents, Mules, Voice-overs

Can Be Modulated By

Line of Sight

Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

Player Agency

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

References

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Acknowledgements

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