Difference between revisions of "Permadeath"
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== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
| − | = | + | While deaths occur in many games that include [[Conflict]] or [[Combat]], [[Permadeath]] for players' [[Focus Loci]] are more uncommon (see Klastrup<ref name="Klastrup"> for a discussion on the role of deaths in games). It should be noted that [[Units]] typically have [[Permadeath]] but this pattern has little effect on gameplay since they most often can be replaced and they have no or little individuality compared to other [[Units]]. Likewise, [[Non-Player Characters]] often have [[Permadeath]] if they can be killed at all (besides depending on the types of activities permitted by the game this also depends on how vital they are to [[Predetermined Story Structures]]). This means that the pattern has most relevance for [[Avatars]] and [[Characters]] that are [[Player Characters]]. |
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| + | The actual implementation of [[Permadeath]] is trivial, it is | ||
| + | |||
[[Difficulty Levels]] | [[Difficulty Levels]] | ||
[[Avatars]], | [[Avatars]], | ||
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=== Diegetic Aspects === | === Diegetic Aspects === | ||
=== Interface Aspects === | === Interface Aspects === | ||
| + | [[Spectators]] | ||
=== Narrative Aspects === | === Narrative Aspects === | ||
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[[Challenging Gameplay]], | [[Challenging Gameplay]], | ||
[[Replayability]] | [[Replayability]] | ||
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| + | ==== with [[Multiplayer Games]] ==== | ||
| + | [[Downtime]] | ||
=== Can Modulate === | === Can Modulate === | ||
[[Avatars]], | [[Avatars]], | ||
| − | [[Characters]] | + | [[Characters]], |
| + | [[Player Characters]] | ||
=== Can Be Instantiated By === | === Can Be Instantiated By === | ||
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=== Can Be Modulated By === | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
| − | + | [[Spectators]] | |
=== Possible Closure Effects === | === Possible Closure Effects === | ||
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<ref name="wiki">Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_death entry] for ''Permanent Death'' in games.</ref> | <ref name="wiki">Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_death entry] for ''Permanent Death'' in games.</ref> | ||
<ref name="wow">[http://www.wowwiki.com/Permadeath Entry] for [[Permadeath]] on the World of Warcraft Wiki.</ref> | <ref name="wow">[http://www.wowwiki.com/Permadeath Entry] for [[Permadeath]] on the World of Warcraft Wiki.</ref> | ||
| + | <ref name="Klastrup">Klastrup, L. (2007). http://www.jvrb.org/archiv/1022/ Why Death Matters: Understanding Gameworld Experience]. The Journal of Virtual Reality and Broadcasting, Vol. 4, 2007.</ref> | ||
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</references> | </references> | ||
== Acknowledgements == | == Acknowledgements == | ||
- | - | ||
Revision as of 08:50, 5 July 2011
The event where deaths of characters are permanent.
The avatars and characters that players control in games are often at risk of dying. While this makes gameplay risky, many games soften this by letting players have many lives or letting them start at a previous location if they die. A few other games instead have Permadeath. In these the death of one's avatar or character ends the game sessions.
Wikipedia has a entry on Permanent Death in games[1].
Note: World of Warcraft uses Permadeath for other purpose ("roleplayed deaths" and removals of characters from servers). These connotations are not included in this pattern but see the entry[2] on the WoWWiki for more information about this alternative use.
Examples
Some Tabletop Roleplaying Games do let player cheat death by reincarnation spells, memory backups, and other devices but these may not be available for players with inexperienced characters. For others, e.g. Call of Cthulhu and Hârnmaster, death is irrevocable either because they try to simulate reality closer or they focus on the frailty of humans.
The text-based adventure games NetHack and Rogue uses Permadeath so making single mistakes can lead to game sessions ending, and this feature is a central aspect of this type of games. Permadeath is considerably more rare in other type of computer-based games; there is a version of BatMUD where death is permanent and Diablo II has an option for "hardcore" gameplay that includes Permadeath. Player can restart from earlier positions in the Fallout series but selecting hardcore modes in Fallout: New Vegas means that the deaths of companions are Permadeaths.
Counter-Strike can be said to have Permadeath since players' avatars do not respawn after being killed. This does not hinder them from playing for long however, since matches usually are pretty short and all players spawn when new matches begin.
Using the pattern
While deaths occur in many games that include Conflict or Combat, Permadeath for players' Focus Loci are more uncommon (see KlastrupCite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
[2]
[3]
</references>
Acknowledgements
-- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedwiki - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Entry for Permadeath on the World of Warcraft Wiki.
- ↑ Klastrup, L. (2007). http://www.jvrb.org/archiv/1022/ Why Death Matters: Understanding Gameworld Experience]. The Journal of Virtual Reality and Broadcasting, Vol. 4, 2007.
