Game Over
The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.
This pattern is a still a stub.
Contents
Examples
Asteroids, Donkey Kong, Outrun, Pong, and Pac-Man are all games where players experience Game Over when they run out of lives. However, in original Arcade version it was possible to pay for more lives. Gauntlet is a latter example.
Using the pattern
Designing Game Over events in a game consists of choosing what causes them. A typical cause is simple that it is Death Consequence, typically cause by losing all Lives or suffering from a Permadeath. However, Player Elimination or Player Kicking can also function as can Time Limits that create Time Limited Game Instances. Of course, winning a game also causes a Game Over but the pattern can also be applied to Unwinnable Games since Game Over events can be penalties.
End State Scoring is an option to add some Tension after gameplay has ended and can be used to support Winner determined after Gameplay Ends. Another, which adds a consequence and possible goal to want to reach a Game Over event, is to use Winning by Ending Gameplay. Pay to Play is an option to let players begin playing again if they are willing to play.
Consequences
Game Over causes players to not be able to play. In practice this becomes Downtime if another game instance will start soon, as is the structure of quick games such as Coup or The Resistance but otherwise can force the former players to start doing something else. Unless Game Over occurs to all players at the same time in Multiplayer Games, it can create Unsynchronized Game Sessions.
Relations
Can Instantiate
with Multiplayer Games
Can Modulate
Unwinnable Games, Winner determined after Gameplay Ends
Can Be Instantiated By
Death Consequences, Lives, Permadeath, Player Elimination, Player Kicking, Time Limited Game Instances, Time Limits, Winning by Ending Gameplay, Winning the game
Can Be Modulated By
End State Scoring, Pay to Play
Possible Closure Effects
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Potentially Conflicting With
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History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
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Acknowledgements
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