Goal Indicators

Information presented to players about their current goals in a game.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Examples

Example: in Grand Theft Auto 3 the subgoals in the game are indicated with floating arrows which point out where the goal objects are located. These goals are always connected to a specific game element, for example, to go to a specific place, kill a certain character and so on. The nature of these goals is usually revealed to the player in cut scenes, which are also used to carry the story forward in the game. Players can also check their current goals from a specific goal list.

Example: Chess, Backgammon and other classical board games state the goals of players directly in the rules (check-mate the opponent's king, move all the pieces off the board). The position of the opponent's king in Chess and the location of the home base in Backgammon are Goal Indicators, which guide players' actions during the game play.

Anti-Examples

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Using the pattern

Goal Indicators can be created using Check Points, Closure Points, and Progress Indicators. Cutscenes and Narration Structures in general can also be used.

Can Be Modulated By

Direct Information, Game State Overviews

Since Goal Indicators provide information to players they work against them having Uncertainty of Information. It also works against Player Defined Goals in the sense that it draws attention to goal created by game designers.

Interface Aspects

Goal Indicators is an Interface Pattern.

Narration Aspects

As stated above, Goal Indicators can be expressed through Closure Points and Narration Structures.

Consequences

Using Goal Indicators typically changes how Public Information is displayed to players, often affecting Time Pressure and Time Limits whenever they are part of a goal definition.

Relations

Can Instantiate

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Can Modulate

Public Information, Time Pressure, Time Limits

Can Be Instantiated By

Check Points, Closure Points, Cutscenes, Narration Structures, Progress Indicators

Can Be Modulated By

Direct Information, Game State Overviews

Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

Player Defined Goals, Uncertainty of Information

History

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

Acknowledgements

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