Difference between revisions of "Spectators"

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[[Category:Patterns]]
 
[[Category:Patterns]]
[[Category:Needs work]]
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[[Category:Interface Patterns]]
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[[Category:Pervasive Patterns]]
 
[[Category:Needs revision]]
 
[[Category:Needs revision]]
[[Category:Needs examples]]
 
 
[[Category:Needs references]]
 
[[Category:Needs references]]
[[Category:Stub]]
 
 
[[Category:To be Published]]
 
[[Category:To be Published]]
[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]
 
 
''People, possibly former, current, or future players, who observe the actions that players do in a game without being able to affect the game themselves.''
 
''People, possibly former, current, or future players, who observe the actions that players do in a game without being able to affect the game themselves.''
  
This pattern is a still a stub.
+
Not all people who can observe the development of a game played are players. Those who cannot directly affect the game as a player are [[Spectators]]. While these do not experience gameplay directly, they can gain an experience from watching the game and can learn or prepare to play the game.
 
+
Not all people who can observe the development of a game played are players. Those who cannot directly affect the game as a player are Spectators. While these do not experience gameplay directly, they can gain an experience from watching the game and can learn or prepare to play the game.
+
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
[[Chess]]
+
Players whose avatars are killed in [[Counter-Strike series|Counter-Strike]] have to wait until the next game begins before being able to play. Depending on the server, they may be able to watch as [[Spectators]] while they are waiting or can only view a scoreboard.
  
Example: players whose avatars are killed in Counterstrike have to wait until the next game begins before being able to play. Depending on the server, they may be able to watch as Spectators while they are waiting or can only view a scoreboard.
+
Most tournaments, e.g. within [[Chess]], [[Go]], [[Soccer]], and the [[Starcraft series]], have [[Spectators]] to the individual games that are played. This allows people participating in the tournament but not in the individual game to follow the gameplay as well as letting other interested people follow the whole tournament.
  
Example: most tournaments have spectators to the individual games that are played. This allows people participating in the tournament but not in the individual game to follow the gameplay as well as letting other interested people follow the whole tournament.
+
Games that take place in public environments, e.g. [[ConQwest]], [[Insectopia]], [[Momentum]] , cannot help but be observed by non-players. If these [[Spectators]] are aware that they are witnessing gameplay is another issue though. In the case of [[Day of the Figurines]], it is easier to say that people are aware since one part of the game is a public installation at a museum where people can view the positions of all players' characters in the game world.
  
 
==== Anti-Examples ====
 
==== Anti-Examples ====
optional
+
Many [[:Category:Computer Games|Computer Games]] that depict [[:Category:Sports|Sports]] or car races, e.g. [[Wii Sports]], and the [[FIFA series|FIFA]] and [[Gran Turismo series]], have diegetic [[Spectators]] in their games. But since these are not actual people watching the events taking place,
  
 
== Using the pattern ==
 
== Using the pattern ==
Spectators can either be people who will not be players at all in a game session at all or be used to give players information about the game while not playing or being able to act within it. In either case, they need to be provided with Public Information in order to be considered Spectators as they otherwise have no information about the game state. Players currently in the game can temporarily become Spectators by Ultra-Powerful Events or Turn Taking and Spectator can be used to instantiate Downtime as a form of Penalty. Late arriving players can be given a Game State Overview by being Spectators for a short period of time before joining the game while games which have Player Elimination and especially Early Elimination can use Spectators to allow the eliminated players to continue to follow the gameplay.
+
[[Spectators]] can either be people who will not be players at all in a game session at all or be used to give players information about the game while not playing or being able to act within it. In either case, they need to be provided with some form of [[Public Information]] in order to be considered [[Spectators]] as they otherwise have no information about the game state.  
  
Spectators that never become players in a game instance can still affect the outcome of the game. The most common form is by encouraging or discouraging specific players or teams, but some games such as Who wants to be a Millionaire? let Spectators give players advice.
+
Players currently in a game can temporarily become [[Spectators]] by [[Ultra-Powerful Events]] or [[Turn Taking]] (this is more or less impossible to hinder in games with [[Hotseating]] unless the players themselves do not wish it), and making players into [[Spectators]] can be used to instantiate [[Downtime]] as a form of [[Penalties|Penalty]]. [[Late Arriving Players]] can as [[Spectators]] be given [[Game State Overviews]] for a short period of time before joining the game to let them be aware of the current situation within the game. Games which have [[Player Elimination]], especially [[Early Elimination]] but also [[Permadeath]], can use [[Spectators]] to allow the eliminated players to continue to follow the gameplay.
  
=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
+
There are many ways of supporting non-player [[Spectators]]. First, many games inherently support [[Spectators]] with some possibility to get an insight to a game in progress. This includes traditional [[:Category:Board Games|Board]], [[:Category:Card Games|Card]], and [[:Category:Miniature Games|Miniature Games]] but typically not [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]]. Most [[:Category:Computer Games|Computer Games]] also allow [[Spectators]] simply by letting them view the display showing the game, but understanding the game situation may be difficult in fast-paced games or games heavily relying on interaction between different players. Games with [[Alternate Reality Gameplay|Alternate Reality]], [[Pervasive Gameplay|Pervasive]], or [[Ubiquitous Gameplay]] often cannot help having [[Spectators]] but in these cases, the people watching may not be aware that they are seeing gameplay actions. [[Extra-Game Actions]] doesn't in itself create [[Spectators]] but provide designers with more control of the likelihood of possible [[Spectators]] noticing the actions.
[[Alternate Reality Gameplay]],  
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[[Downtime]],
+
[[Early Elimination]],  
+
[[Extra-Game Actions]],  
+
[[Extra-Game Broadcasting]],
+
[[Game State Overview]],
+
[[Gameplay Statistics]],
+
[[High Score Lists]],  
+
[[Hotseating]],
+
[[Non-Player Help]],
+
[[Penalties]],
+
[[Permadeath]],  
+
[[Pervasive Gameplay]],  
+
[[Player Elimination]],
+
[[Public Information]],  
+
[[Public Player Statistics]],
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[[Replays]],
+
[[Tournaments]],
+
[[Turn Taking]],
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[[Ubiquitous Gameplay]],
+
[[Ultra-Powerful Events]]
+
  
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
+
Games that specifically want to support [[Spectators]], e.g. [[Tournaments]], can do so in several ways. [[Gameplay Statistics]] such as [[High Score Lists]], [[Public Player Statistics]], and [[Replays]] can be used let [[Spectators]] (and possible future players) gain information about previous gameplay activities while [[Extra-Game Broadcasting]] can be used to push such information into other media than the one supporting or mediating the game.
[[Agents]],  
+
[[Meta Games]],  
+
[[Multiplayer Games]]
+
  
=== Diegetic Aspects ===
+
While watching the actions of players may be the naturally most interesting activity of [[Spectators]], any type of [[Agents]] be help provide interest to a game since they provide seeming intent to what happens in the games. Further, [[Multiplayer Games]] are like to be more interesting since here players are either intentionally competing or cooperating to achieve certain goals. [[Spectators]] may by themselves or by encouragement by game facilitators modify their interest in the watch games by making [[Meta Games]], with [[Betting]] on the outcome of the game as the most common example of this.
  
 
=== Interface Aspects ===
 
=== Interface Aspects ===
 
+
[[Spectators]] is an [[:Category:Interface Patterns|Interface Pattern]].
=== Narrative Aspects ===
+
  
 
== Consequences ==
 
== Consequences ==
The use of [[Spectators]] in games allow players to show their [[Game Mastery]] and from this display gain [[Game-Based Social Statuses]], especially when difficult or complex gameplay actions like [[Repeat Combos]] are required. Allowing people to be [[Spectators]], as for example is common in [[Tournaments]], make it possible for these people to gain [[Strategic Knowledge]] about the game and players may act as mentors through showing how to perform possible actions. This is possible even if games with no players, i.e. [[Zero-Player Games]], since the [[Spectators]] can learn simply from observing what gameplay actions work in given situations.  
+
Having [[Spectators]] that can observe gameplay can be both good and bad for gameplay that requires [[Performance Uncertainty]]; [[Spectators]] can encourage players to perform better but can also cause [[Tension]] related to this performance. The presence of [[Spectators]] allows players to show their [[Gameplay Mastery]] and from this display gain [[Game-Based Social Statuses]], especially when difficult or complex gameplay actions like [[Repeat Combos]] are required. Allowing people to be [[Spectators]], as for example is common in [[Tournaments]], make it possible for these people to gain [[Strategic Knowledge]] about the game and players may act as mentors through showing how to perform possible actions. This is possible even if games with no players, i.e. [[Zero-Player Games]], since the [[Spectators]] can learn simply from observing what gameplay actions work in given situations.  
  
When [[Spectators]] can communicate with the players, this allow for [[Social Interaction]] between, making it possible to have [[Social Interaction]] even in [[Single-Player Games]]. This may however also lead the [[Spectators]] trying to influence the development of the gameplay by giving advice and commands, i.e. by being [[Backseat Gamers]].
+
When [[Spectators]] can communicate with the players either through [[Unmediated Social Interaction]] or [[Communication Channels]], this allow for [[Social Interaction]] between, making it possible to have [[Social Interaction]] even in [[Single-Player Games]]. This may however also lead the [[Spectators]] to willing or not, and knowingly or not, provide [[Non-Player Help]]. When the [[Spectators]] are aware of the gameplay in progress and try to influence the development of the gameplay by giving advice and commands, this can instead become a case of [[Backseat Gamers]]. An alternate to all this is to provide dedicated [[Communication Channels]] to the [[Spectators]] or support players in doing [[Extra-Game Actions]] that can give information to the [[Spectators]].
  
The possibility of being [[Spectators]] can help [[Late Arriving Players]] to understand the current game state before joining a game. Likewise, being able to observe the states of [[Mules]] can help players judge if they need to start playing actively or can let the [[Mules]] continue with their automated behavior.
+
[[Spectators]] is also a [[Social Roles|Social Role]] players can have in games. The possibility of being [[Spectators]] can help [[Late Arriving Players]] to understand the current game state before joining a game. Likewise, being able to observe the states of [[Mules]] can help players judge if they need to start playing actively or can let the [[Mules]] continue with their automated behavior.
  
 
While it can be argued that no game is being played unless somebody is performing gameplay actions, the use of [[Spectators]] can question this argument. Specifically, [[Zero-Player Games]] or games with [[No Direct Player Influence]] can be meaningful if [[Spectators]] (which may be players in the sense that they may have set up in advance the actions being done) are allowed to observe the gameplay as it unfolds.
 
While it can be argued that no game is being played unless somebody is performing gameplay actions, the use of [[Spectators]] can question this argument. Specifically, [[Zero-Player Games]] or games with [[No Direct Player Influence]] can be meaningful if [[Spectators]] (which may be players in the sense that they may have set up in advance the actions being done) are allowed to observe the gameplay as it unfolds.
  
[[Spectators]] can be cast as [[Non-Player Characters]] in games. While this is most easily conceivable in [[:Category:Alternate Reality Games|Alternate Reality Games]] or [[:Category:Pervasive Games:Pervasive Games]], it can be used in most games to make the [[Non-Player Characters]] have more agency or unpredictability that if they are controlled by algorithms.
+
[[Spectators]] can be cast as [[Non-Player Characters]] in games. While this is most easily conceivable in [[:Category:Alternate Reality Games|Alternate Reality Games]] or [[:Category:Pervasive Games|Pervasive Games]], it can be used in most games to make the [[Non-Player Characters]] have more agency or unpredictability that if they are controlled by algorithms.
  
 
The use of [[Spectators]] allows people that are not players in one game to be players in [[Meta Games]] based upon the game, e.g. [[Betting]] on the outcome.
 
The use of [[Spectators]] allows people that are not players in one game to be players in [[Meta Games]] based upon the game, e.g. [[Betting]] on the outcome.
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[[Backseat Gamers]],  
 
[[Backseat Gamers]],  
 
[[Betting]],  
 
[[Betting]],  
[[Game Mastery]],
 
 
[[Game-Based Social Statuses]],  
 
[[Game-Based Social Statuses]],  
[[Strategic Knowledge]]
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[[Non-Player Help]],
 +
[[Social Roles]],
 +
[[Strategic Knowledge]],
 +
[[Tension]]
  
==== with [[Repeat Combos]] ====
+
==== with [[Extra-Game Actions]] ====
[[Game Mastery]]
+
[[Non-Player Help]]  
  
 
==== with [[Single-Player Games]] ====
 
==== with [[Single-Player Games]] ====
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=== Can Modulate ===
 
=== Can Modulate ===
 +
[[Gameplay Mastery]],
 
[[Late Arriving Players]],  
 
[[Late Arriving Players]],  
 
[[Mules]],  
 
[[Mules]],  
 
[[Non-Player Characters]],  
 
[[Non-Player Characters]],  
 
[[No Direct Player Influence]],  
 
[[No Direct Player Influence]],  
 +
[[Performance Uncertainty]],
 
[[Zero-Player Games]]
 
[[Zero-Player Games]]
  
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[[Downtime]],  
 
[[Downtime]],  
 
[[Early Elimination]],  
 
[[Early Elimination]],  
[[Extra-Game Actions]],
 
 
[[Extra-Game Broadcasting]],  
 
[[Extra-Game Broadcasting]],  
[[Game State Overview]],  
+
[[Game State Overviews]],  
 
[[Gameplay Statistics]],  
 
[[Gameplay Statistics]],  
 
[[High Score Lists]],  
 
[[High Score Lists]],  
 
[[Hotseating]],  
 
[[Hotseating]],  
[[Non-Player Help]],
 
 
[[Penalties]],  
 
[[Penalties]],  
 
[[Permadeath]],  
 
[[Permadeath]],  
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=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
[[Agents]],  
 
[[Agents]],  
 +
[[Communication Channels]],
 +
[[Extra-Game Actions]],
 
[[Meta Games]],  
 
[[Meta Games]],  
[[Multiplayer Games]]
+
[[Multiplayer Games]],
 +
[[Unmediated Social Interaction]]  
  
 
=== Possible Closure Effects ===
 
=== Possible Closure Effects ===

Latest revision as of 12:07, 19 March 2018

People, possibly former, current, or future players, who observe the actions that players do in a game without being able to affect the game themselves.

Not all people who can observe the development of a game played are players. Those who cannot directly affect the game as a player are Spectators. While these do not experience gameplay directly, they can gain an experience from watching the game and can learn or prepare to play the game.

Examples

Players whose avatars are killed in Counter-Strike have to wait until the next game begins before being able to play. Depending on the server, they may be able to watch as Spectators while they are waiting or can only view a scoreboard.

Most tournaments, e.g. within Chess, Go, Soccer, and the Starcraft series, have Spectators to the individual games that are played. This allows people participating in the tournament but not in the individual game to follow the gameplay as well as letting other interested people follow the whole tournament.

Games that take place in public environments, e.g. ConQwest, Insectopia, Momentum , cannot help but be observed by non-players. If these Spectators are aware that they are witnessing gameplay is another issue though. In the case of Day of the Figurines, it is easier to say that people are aware since one part of the game is a public installation at a museum where people can view the positions of all players' characters in the game world.

Anti-Examples

Many Computer Games that depict Sports or car races, e.g. Wii Sports, and the FIFA and Gran Turismo series, have diegetic Spectators in their games. But since these are not actual people watching the events taking place,

Using the pattern

Spectators can either be people who will not be players at all in a game session at all or be used to give players information about the game while not playing or being able to act within it. In either case, they need to be provided with some form of Public Information in order to be considered Spectators as they otherwise have no information about the game state.

Players currently in a game can temporarily become Spectators by Ultra-Powerful Events or Turn Taking (this is more or less impossible to hinder in games with Hotseating unless the players themselves do not wish it), and making players into Spectators can be used to instantiate Downtime as a form of Penalty. Late Arriving Players can as Spectators be given Game State Overviews for a short period of time before joining the game to let them be aware of the current situation within the game. Games which have Player Elimination, especially Early Elimination but also Permadeath, can use Spectators to allow the eliminated players to continue to follow the gameplay.

There are many ways of supporting non-player Spectators. First, many games inherently support Spectators with some possibility to get an insight to a game in progress. This includes traditional Board, Card, and Miniature Games but typically not Tabletop Roleplaying Games. Most Computer Games also allow Spectators simply by letting them view the display showing the game, but understanding the game situation may be difficult in fast-paced games or games heavily relying on interaction between different players. Games with Alternate Reality, Pervasive, or Ubiquitous Gameplay often cannot help having Spectators but in these cases, the people watching may not be aware that they are seeing gameplay actions. Extra-Game Actions doesn't in itself create Spectators but provide designers with more control of the likelihood of possible Spectators noticing the actions.

Games that specifically want to support Spectators, e.g. Tournaments, can do so in several ways. Gameplay Statistics such as High Score Lists, Public Player Statistics, and Replays can be used let Spectators (and possible future players) gain information about previous gameplay activities while Extra-Game Broadcasting can be used to push such information into other media than the one supporting or mediating the game.

While watching the actions of players may be the naturally most interesting activity of Spectators, any type of Agents be help provide interest to a game since they provide seeming intent to what happens in the games. Further, Multiplayer Games are like to be more interesting since here players are either intentionally competing or cooperating to achieve certain goals. Spectators may by themselves or by encouragement by game facilitators modify their interest in the watch games by making Meta Games, with Betting on the outcome of the game as the most common example of this.

Interface Aspects

Spectators is an Interface Pattern.

Consequences

Having Spectators that can observe gameplay can be both good and bad for gameplay that requires Performance Uncertainty; Spectators can encourage players to perform better but can also cause Tension related to this performance. The presence of Spectators allows players to show their Gameplay Mastery and from this display gain Game-Based Social Statuses, especially when difficult or complex gameplay actions like Repeat Combos are required. Allowing people to be Spectators, as for example is common in Tournaments, make it possible for these people to gain Strategic Knowledge about the game and players may act as mentors through showing how to perform possible actions. This is possible even if games with no players, i.e. Zero-Player Games, since the Spectators can learn simply from observing what gameplay actions work in given situations.

When Spectators can communicate with the players either through Unmediated Social Interaction or Communication Channels, this allow for Social Interaction between, making it possible to have Social Interaction even in Single-Player Games. This may however also lead the Spectators to willing or not, and knowingly or not, provide Non-Player Help. When the Spectators are aware of the gameplay in progress and try to influence the development of the gameplay by giving advice and commands, this can instead become a case of Backseat Gamers. An alternate to all this is to provide dedicated Communication Channels to the Spectators or support players in doing Extra-Game Actions that can give information to the Spectators.

Spectators is also a Social Role players can have in games. The possibility of being Spectators can help Late Arriving Players to understand the current game state before joining a game. Likewise, being able to observe the states of Mules can help players judge if they need to start playing actively or can let the Mules continue with their automated behavior.

While it can be argued that no game is being played unless somebody is performing gameplay actions, the use of Spectators can question this argument. Specifically, Zero-Player Games or games with No Direct Player Influence can be meaningful if Spectators (which may be players in the sense that they may have set up in advance the actions being done) are allowed to observe the gameplay as it unfolds.

Spectators can be cast as Non-Player Characters in games. While this is most easily conceivable in Alternate Reality Games or Pervasive Games, it can be used in most games to make the Non-Player Characters have more agency or unpredictability that if they are controlled by algorithms.

The use of Spectators allows people that are not players in one game to be players in Meta Games based upon the game, e.g. Betting on the outcome.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Backseat Gamers, Betting, Game-Based Social Statuses, Non-Player Help, Social Roles, Strategic Knowledge, Tension

with Extra-Game Actions

Non-Player Help

with Single-Player Games

Social Interaction

with Zero-Player Games

Strategic Knowledge

Can Modulate

Gameplay Mastery, Late Arriving Players, Mules, Non-Player Characters, No Direct Player Influence, Performance Uncertainty, Zero-Player Games

Can Be Instantiated By

Alternate Reality Gameplay, Downtime, Early Elimination, Extra-Game Broadcasting, Game State Overviews, Gameplay Statistics, High Score Lists, Hotseating, Penalties, Permadeath, Pervasive Gameplay, Player Elimination, Public Information, Public Player Statistics, Replays, Tournaments, Turn Taking, Ubiquitous Gameplay, Ultra-Powerful Events

Can Be Modulated By

Agents, Communication Channels, Extra-Game Actions, Meta Games, Multiplayer Games, Unmediated Social Interaction

Possible Closure Effects

-

Potentially Conflicting With

-

History

An updated version of the pattern Spectators 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

-