Difference between revisions of "Construction"

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[[Category:Stub]]
 
[[Category:Stub]]
 
[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]
 
[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]
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''The action of introducing new game elements that are presented as intentional constructions into the Game World.''
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''The action of introducing or rearranging game elements to create structures in game worlds.''
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Building is a common activity possible in games; this may be actual constructions or simply actions that are diegetically presented as constructing something but other possibilities exist. One is that players may construct their own set of game elements to bring to a game, which may include actually building or creating them also. Another is
  
 
The introduction of game elements in the game can be the cause of players' actions. When the game elements introduced are perceived as something requiring organizing the environment (in technical terms, countering entropy) this can be framed as Construction.
 
The introduction of game elements in the game can be the cause of players' actions. When the game elements introduced are perceived as something requiring organizing the environment (in technical terms, countering entropy) this can be framed as Construction.
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This pattern is a still a stub.
 
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]
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[[Warhammer 40K]]
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[[Magic: the Gathering]]
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LARP games
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[[Race for the Galaxy]]
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[[Combos]]
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[[Puerto Rico]]
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the 'engineer' class in the [[Team Fortress series]]
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'field ops', 'engineer', 'constructor', and 'technician'
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[[Monopoly]]
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[[Amun-Re]]
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[Stimulated Planning]]
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[[Sim City series]]
  
 
[[Sims series]]
 
[[Sims series]]
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[[Minecraft]]
 
[[Minecraft]]
  
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dwarf fortress
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[[Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress]]
  
 
[[Dungeons & Dragons]]
 
[[Dungeons & Dragons]]
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A World without Oil ?
 
A World without Oil ?
  
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LARP games
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[[Narration Structures]]
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 +
 
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[[Incredible Machine game series]]
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[[Probots]]
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[[C-Robots]]
  
 
Example: Pontifex by ChronicLogic allows players to build bridges that are tested by a physics engine that sends a train over the bridges.
 
Example: Pontifex by ChronicLogic allows players to build bridges that are tested by a physics engine that sends a train over the bridges.
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[[Ultima Online]]
 
[[Ultima Online]]
  
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[[Magic: the Gathering]]
 
  
 
[[Kingdoms]]
 
[[Kingdoms]]
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== Using the pattern ==
 
== Using the pattern ==
 
(Changing or rearranging game elements to form more complex structures; Enablers: Private Game Spaces; Consequences: Pottering)
 
(Changing or rearranging game elements to form more complex structures; Enablers: Private Game Spaces; Consequences: Pottering)
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[[Investments]]
  
 
[[Game Element Insertion]]
 
[[Game Element Insertion]]
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The amount of Construction in a game can easily be limited by making it a Privileged Ability.
 
The amount of Construction in a game can easily be limited by making it a Privileged Ability.
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[[Freedom of Choice]]
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[[Emergent Gameplay]]
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[[Persistent Game Worlds]]
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[[Spectators]]
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An obvious way to affect the Game World in this fashion is through Tile-Laying.
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[[Game Masters]]
  
 
=== Diegetic Aspects ===
 
=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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== Consequences ==
 
== Consequences ==
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Construction allows the introduction of new game elements as the effect of Producers, instead of having to rely on Spawning. As such, it can be used to explain within the Consistent Reality Logic of an Alternative Reality the appearance of artificial objects by non-automatic processes.
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The introduction of game elements through [[Construction]] is functionally similar to the effect of [[Producers]] but does not need to use [[Spawning]]. As such, [[Construction]] can more easily be given representations that allow the introduction of [[Game Elements]] in [[Game Worlds]] without breaking [[Diegetic Consistency]].
  
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Construction is typically a form of Investment but is often perceived as Constructive Play since the Investment is toward creating something. When the Construction gives players sufficient Creative Control the results can be Surprises. When the players can create game elements that affect the Game World, especially in Persistent Game Worlds, Construction can enable Player Constructed Worlds. An obvious way to affect the Game World in this fashion is through Tile-Laying.
 
  
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Goals to Eliminate are typically the antithesis of the intentions of Construction as may be used to create Preventing Goals and Conflict.
 
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== Relations ==
 
  
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[[Construction]] actions typically represent [[Investments]] and are perceived as [[Constructive Play]].
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 +
With enough [[Freedom of Choice]] in what and how to construct, the pattern can provide [[Creative Control]] and this in turn can lead to [[Surprises]], both for themselves and others. When players can create game elements that affect the [[Game Worlds]], especially in [[Persistent Game Worlds]], [[Construction]] can enable [[Player Constructed Worlds]].
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== Relations ==
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
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[[Constructive Play]],
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[[Investments]],
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[[Player Constructed Worlds]],
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[[Producers]]
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==== with [[Freedom of Choice]] ====
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[[Creative Control]]
  
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==== with ... ====
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==== with [[Creative Control]] ====
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[[Surprises]]
  
 
=== Can Modulate ===
 
=== Can Modulate ===

Revision as of 16:53, 19 February 2011

The action of introducing or rearranging game elements to create structures in game worlds.

Building is a common activity possible in games; this may be actual constructions or simply actions that are diegetically presented as constructing something but other possibilities exist. One is that players may construct their own set of game elements to bring to a game, which may include actually building or creating them also. Another is

The introduction of game elements in the game can be the cause of players' actions. When the game elements introduced are perceived as something requiring organizing the environment (in technical terms, countering entropy) this can be framed as Construction.

Examples

Warhammer Fantasy Battle

Warhammer 40K

Magic: the Gathering

LARP games


Race for the Galaxy

Combos

Puerto Rico

the 'engineer' class in the Team Fortress series

'field ops', 'engineer', 'constructor', and 'technician'


Monopoly

Amun-Re


[Stimulated Planning]]


Sim City series

Sims series

Minecraft

Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress

Dungeons & Dragons

A World without Oil ?

Narration Structures


Incredible Machine game series

Probots

C-Robots

Example: Pontifex by ChronicLogic allows players to build bridges that are tested by a physics engine that sends a train over the bridges.

Example: The Sims allows players to construct homes for their Sims, redecorating and rebuilding the houses as the needs and living conditions of the Sims change.

Example: The board game The Settlers of Catan allows players to build villages and towns at the intersections of hexes in the game, and roads between them.

Example: Massively multiplayer online roleplaying games usually allow players to construct houses by buying them and construct items through actions. Text-based multiplayer dungeons take this further by letting high-level players create new areas in the Game World and program the functionality of areas and game elements.

Spore

Ultima Online


Kingdoms

DragonMud

Using the pattern

(Changing or rearranging game elements to form more complex structures; Enablers: Private Game Spaces; Consequences: Pottering)

Investments

Game Element Insertion Casual Gameplay Private Game Spaces Freedom of Choice Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership Multiplayer Games Zero-Player Games Single-Player Games Persistent Game Worlds

The main design choices for supporting Construction include the design of the new game elements that are the product of the action, what Resources are needed, the possibility of succeeding, and the variations in designs that the players can create. Requiring scarce Resources for construction to occur can give rise to Exploration or Gain Ownership as well as Trading. Linking the chance of success to a Skill encourages Construction as a Competence Area. Allowing a large variation in the possible Constructions give players a Freedom of Choice and the Creative Control to Experiment and select Player Defined Goals. The possibility of failed Constructions leading to alternative Constructions also encourages Experimenting.

The amount of Construction in a game can easily be limited by making it a Privileged Ability.

Freedom of Choice

Emergent Gameplay

Persistent Game Worlds

Spectators

An obvious way to affect the Game World in this fashion is through Tile-Laying.


Game Masters

Diegetic Aspects

Interface Aspects

Narrative Aspects

Consequences

The introduction of game elements through Construction is functionally similar to the effect of Producers but does not need to use Spawning. As such, Construction can more easily be given representations that allow the introduction of Game Elements in Game Worlds without breaking Diegetic Consistency.


Construction actions typically represent Investments and are perceived as Constructive Play.

With enough Freedom of Choice in what and how to construct, the pattern can provide Creative Control and this in turn can lead to Surprises, both for themselves and others. When players can create game elements that affect the Game Worlds, especially in Persistent Game Worlds, Construction can enable Player Constructed Worlds.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Constructive Play, Investments, Player Constructed Worlds, Producers

with Freedom of Choice

Creative Control

with Creative Control

Surprises

Can Modulate

Can Be Instantiated By

Can Be Modulated By

Possible Closure Effects

Potentially Conflicting With

History

An updated version of the pattern Construction that was part of the original collection in the book Patterns in Game Design[1].

References

  1. ↑ Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) Patterns in Game Design. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.

Acknowledgements

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