No Direct Player Influence
Games where players direct influence on the actual gameplay is non-existent or close to non-existent.
It may seem strange to consider games where players cannot influence the outcome directly since this seems to state there would be no gameplay. However, the first games of chance seem to have come to being from the use of dice and lots as divination methods [1][2], i.e. one let the gods decide who should have the ante. For these, it is enough for players to be 'emotionally attached' (as noted by Juul as begin one part of his definition of games[3]) and believing that they are exerting effort to influence the outcome (another of Juul's characteristics of games[3]) however illusionary that latter part may be. Later examples show that another solution it to make players exert effort before the system is activated.
Note: This pattern uses players varyingly to signify those participating in a game or a meta game.
Contents
Examples
Gambling games such as Baccarat, Craps, and Roulette can be seen as examples of No Direct Player Influence since they are pure games of chance when players are actually only betting on an outcome, not affecting it themselves.
The board game Ricochet Robots, being a form of puzzle game, consists solely of players figuring out the most efficient way to move robots and then proving if they had a correct solution. Programming games such as Crobots and P-Robots let players create code to control robots that battle other similar robots but don't let the them directly affect the gameplay when battles have started. Conway's Game of Life is actually an cellular automaton but can be seen as a game when users set up goals for how it should evolve based upon an initial state and are not allowed to interfere with after it is started.
The game Progress Quest, which can be seen as a critique of the need for grinding in massively multiplayer games such as World of Warcraft, allows players to do some initial setup but then the only effect players can have on the game is to let it continue to run. In contrast, 4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness doesn't need any setup and is successfully completed by being the only person playing the game in the whole world for the time period stated in the game's name.
Using the pattern
Making games have No Direct Player Influence is easy in one fashion and difficult in another. Easy since instantiating the pattern simply consists of not letting players be able to interact with the systems - in principle enforcing them to continuously making No-Ops. It may however be difficult since players still need to be interesting and have some type of interaction possible (or else the pattern truly becomes a Negative Pattern). Typical solutions include the use of Solution Uncertainty, Exaggerated Perception of Influence, or Meta Games, in often combined with with use of Spectators. Basically all of these rely on the design providing Extra-Game Actions to "players".
Exaggerated Perception of Influence can for the purpose of this pattern most easily be achieved with Randomness process which players can initiate but any way allowing player to feel Luck can work. Many ways work, Cards for Baccarat, and spinning a wheel and ball for Roulette, but the use of Dice (as in Craps) may be more efficient since it offers close tangible interaction through shaking.
Meta Games in turn typically consists of providing Creative Control in the design of Algorithmic Agents (as for Crobots or P-Robots) or the system's initial state (as Conway's Game of Life does) but can simply be when to play (as 4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness). Action Programming can also be used to support this kind of indirect player influence. They can typically also be made into Asynchronous Gameplay easily since previously created Algorithmic Agents can be made available independent of the presence of their creators.
Interface Aspects
Interfaces may seem unnecessary in games that don't allow player influence. However, they may be necessary for controlling the viewpoint of Spectators, allowing the Creative Control in creating the initial state or Algorithmic Agents before gameplay begins, or connecting the games with their Meta Games.
Consequences
Games with No Direct Player Influence limit Player Agency to the level that they are always Zero-Player Games in some fashion and predetermined Enforced Agent Behavior if there are any Agents present. They also always limits players' Freedom of Choice in some aspect, although it may still exist as Creative Control before gameplay begins or through the delusion created by an Exaggerated Perception of Influence of effects that are really based upon Randomness. No Direct Player Influence games based upon creating Algorithmic Agents can also be seen as an example of Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership.
As long as players' instruction can be given to without requiring the other players to be there, and that the results of them can likewise be given individually, games with No Direct Player Influence naturally provide a basis for Asynchronous Gameplay. This may however not result in Common Experiences depending on how much the players identify with the actions of their agents.
Quite naturally, No Direct Player Influence is incompatible with Free Game Element Manipulation.
Performance Uncertainty and Player Unpredictability are affected by No Direct Player Influence in that the consequences of how players decide to affect the game state is revealed later. Games with No Direct Player Influence can have Further Player Improvement Potential if they depend on skills or abilities that come into play before gameplay begins; otherwise the pattern works against Further Player Improvement Potential.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Asynchronous Gameplay, Enforced Agent Behavior, Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership, Zero-Player Games
Can Modulate
Performance Uncertainty, Player Unpredictability
Can Be Instantiated By
Algorithmic Agents, Extra-Game Actions, No-Ops, Solution Uncertainty
Exaggerated Perception of Influence together with Luck or Randomness
Meta Games together with Creative Control and Algorithmic Agents
Can Be Modulated By
Action Programming, Spectators
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Free Game Element Manipulation, Freedom of Choice, Further Player Improvement Potential, Player Agency
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
- ↑ Adkins, L. (1998) Handbook to life in ancient Rome, p. 313. ISBN 0195123328.
- ↑ Johnstron, S. I (2004) Religions of the ancient world, p. 385. ISBN 0674015177.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Juul, J. (2005). Half-Real: Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds. The MIT Press. ISBN 0262101106.
