Gain Ownership

The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.

This pattern is a still a stub.

This is simply the goal to gain the ownership of a game element.

The goal of controlling a game element, either by possessing it or by controlling the use of it, is common to many games. The ownership may be a reason in itself (as for example controlling space in Go or controlling Flag points in Battlefield 1942), may be a requirement for completing a higher-Level goal, or may simply make it easier to complete various types of actions or goals.

Examples

Left 4 Dead series

Example: Weapons, ammunition, and power-ups are all examples of objectives for Gain Ownership goals in first-person shooters such as Quake, Unreal Tournament, or Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

Example: Othello (also called Reversi) has the goal of gaining ownership of a majority of the game pieces, and every turn in the game involves changes in ownership.

Anti-Examples

optional

Using the pattern

Can Modulate

Configuration, Delivery, King of the Hill, Ownership, Resource Management, Stealth,

A classic example of Gain Ownership goals is capturing an opponent pieces, i.e. the use of Capture together with Transfer of Control. Chess and Go are examples of this. This example of Gain Ownership does not provide players with direct improvements to their game state but indirectly does this through weakening the opponent (but the placement or movement of pieces to perform the Capture can be lead in a direct improvement in the positioning of a player's pieces). In contrast, a potential reason for Gain Ownership goals can be that they provide Improved Abilities through Controllers, Equipment, Sets, Tools, or Vehicles (alternatively Gain Competence or New Abilities in the case of Tools). FPS Games such as the Quake series, the Unreal Tournament series, and the Wolfenstein series are examples of this through the Weapons, Ammunition, and Armor that can be picked up by players during gameplay.

Control of Territories can be the reason of Gain Ownership goals when linked with goals related to Area Control, Eliminate, Investments, or Transfer of Control. Another reason, related to controlling Territories, occurs when the ownership is tied to Area Control and controlling an area means the fulfillment of reaching a Check Point - the Team Fortress series provides an example of this through that the starting bases for the attacking side moves as that side gains control over specific parts of a map.

A reason for Gain Ownership goals which doesn't need to be linked to Conflict is that of gaining access to Clues in games with Predetermined Story Structures where the development of the story relies on getting said Clues.

Can Be Instantiated By

Ability Losses, Area Control, Bases, Conditional Passageways, Connection, Contact, Controllers, Enemies, Equipment, Factions, Gain Information, Game Items, Indirect Control, Internal Rivalry, MacGuffins, Overcome, Pick-Ups, Props, Resource Locations, Sets, Strategic Locations, Tools, Transferable Items, Units, Vehicles

Can Be Modulated By

Betting, Bidding, Enclosure, Game Element Trading, Chargers, Goal Points, Red Herrings, Renewable Resources, Resource Generators, Score

Consequences

The presence of Gain Ownership goals typically give rise to Conflict and Tension. This is especially true if other players have the ownership and in these cases Emotional Engrossment is also likely. If the contests object or area can be hidden, current owners may take on Conceal goals to hinder ownership changing hands. Gain Ownership goals also can provide player-chosen Betting goals or be the basis for system-specified Betting goals.

Successes with Gain Ownership goals give rise to Transfer of Control events whenever there exists an identifiable previous owner. Other typical effects can be Expansion, fulfillment of a Collection, or the completion of a Quest. When the ownership of an object or area give access to new information, e.g. texts in a book, this can support the completion of Gain Information goals.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Betting, Collection, Conceal, Conflict, Emotional Engrossment, Expansion, Gain Information, Quests, Tension, Transfer of Control

Can Modulate

Configuration, Delivery, King of the Hill, Ownership, Resource Management, Stealth,

Can Be Instantiated By

Ability Losses, Area Control, Bases, Conditional Passageways, Connection, Contact, Controllers, Enemies, Equipment, Factions, Game Items, Gain Information, Indirect Control, Internal Rivalry, MacGuffins, Overcome, Pick-Ups, Props, Resource Locations, Sets, Strategic Locations, Tools, Transferable Items, Units, Vehicles

Capture together with Transfer of Control

Check Points together with Area Control

Gain Competence together with Tools

Improved Abilities together with Controllers, Equipment, Sets, Tools, or Vehicles

New Abilities together with Tools

Predetermined Story Structures together with Clues

Territories together with Area Control, Eliminate, Investments, or Transfer of Control

Can Be Modulated By

Betting, Bidding, Enclosure, Game Element Trading, Chargers, Goal Points, Red Herrings, Renewable Resources, Resource Generators, Score

Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

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History

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

Acknowledgements

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