Player Anonymity
The case where the identity of a player of a game is not known to other players.
Player Anonymity occurs in games when the identity of a player is not known by the other players participating in a specific game instance.
Note: This patterns focuses on how players may be unaware of other players' identities. It does not focus on if Dedicated Game Facilitators, Game Masters, and even Spectators know the identities of the players.
Contents
Examples
The ESP Game uses players' input to tag picture with descriptive words. In order for players not to be able to game the system by communicating through other channels and simply coordinating their input, the game matches players so they are unlikely to be in the same larger geographical areas - or through letting players to together with replays of other players' actions.
Aiming at a young audience, Disney's Toontown Online has restrictions on what names can be chosen and what words can be used in the in-game chat system.
Most online games let players create accounts with user names that have no connection to there real world identities. This lets players of
Players of online games such as the Battlefield series or the Left 4 Dead series can choose what names they want to be identified by, and by not chatting or using voice communications they can keep other players from knowing who they are. The characters created by players of computer-mediated roleplaying games such Kingdoms, Ultima Online, and World of Warcraft can protect identities in the same fashion, but the effort of maintaining the same alter ego for prolonged period of times usually means that long-time players show their normal selves.
Using the pattern
A primary design decision regarding Player Anonymity is if players should have a say in this. Providing players with a Possibility of Anonymity puts this power in players hand but for some types of gameplay (e.g. [[]]) anonymity may be required for the design to work and in these case Enforced Player Anonymity may be motivated.
Can Be Instantiated By
Potentially Conflicting With
Social Roles, Unmediated Social Interaction
Diegetic Aspects
Interface Aspects
Narration Aspects
Consequences
Can Instantiate
Player Anonymity can help (other) players have Actor Detachment since it is difficult to connect real world characteristics of the players with what happens in the game. However, Social Interaction between players can become more harsh since the sense of social responsibility and wish to present a socially acceptable presence may be lessened.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Can Modulate
Can Be Instantiated By
Anonymous Actions, Enforced Player Anonymity, Possibility of Anonymity
Can Be Modulated By
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Possible Closure Effects
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Potentially Conflicting With
Social Roles, Unmediated Social Interaction
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
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Acknowledgements
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