Game State Overviews

Information provided to players that extends beyond the observational abilities provided by simply observing game elements.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Examples

Example: Most racing games, e. g., Mario Kart Double Dash!! and the Monkey Race party games in the Super Monkey Ball series, provide a small overhead map that shows the location of other players on the track.

Anti-Examples

optional

Using the pattern

Interface Aspects

Game State Overviews is an Interface Pattern.

Relations

cbmb Alarms Turn Taking

cbib Cutscenes, Dedicated Game Facilitators, Game State Indicators

Game Worlds with God Views or Third-Person Views

cm Units Levels Tactical Planning Multiplayer Games

ci Stimulated Planning

with Game Worlds

Alignment

with Multiplayer Games and Turn-Based Games

Analysis Paralysis

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Game Worlds Collaborative Actions Memorizing Mini-maps Balancing Effects Strategic Knowledge Movement Privileged Movement Sniper Locations Bookkeeping Tokens Score Tracks Spawning Camping Third-Person Views God Views Cameras Game World Exploration Game World Navigation Races Traverse Split-Screen Views Auxiliary Game Screens Picture-in-Picture Views Speedending Near Miss Indicators Outcome Indicators Progress Indicators

Instantiates: Cognitive Engrossment, Disruption of Focused Attention

Modulates: Attention Swapping, Perceivable Margins, Reconnaissance, Puzzle Solving, Negotiation, Player Defined Goals, Preventing Goals, Public Information, Identification, Narrative Structures

Instantiated by: Disruption of Focused Attention, Score

Modulated by: Spectators, Status Indicators, Fog of War, Perfect Information, Area Control, Extra-Game Actions

Potentially conflicting with: Attention Swapping, Surprises, Limited Foresight, Leaps of Faith, Reconnaissance

Can Instantiate

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Can Modulate

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Can Be Instantiated By

Goal Indicators,

Can Be Modulated By

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Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

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History

An updated version of the pattern Game State Overview that was part of the original collection in the book Patterns in Game Design.

Acknowledgements

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