View source for Sockets

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''Spaces for game item upgrades.''

Games that allow players to upgrade their game items sometimes do this by having specific slots for these upgrades. The slots are called [[Sockets]] after one of the most common appearance of this - that the items have slots into which gems can be fitted to provide various bonuses.

=== Examples ===
The [[Diablo series]], [[Torchlight]], and [[World of Warcraft]] all have game items that players can put different types of gems into them while the the [[Dragon Age series]] provides the same functionality through runes. [[World of Warcraft]] has several types of [[Sockets]], including those for cogs rather than gems, limiting which upgrades can be put in which game items.

Some [[:Category:FPS Games|First-Person Shooters]], e.g. the [[Battlefield series|Battlefied]] and [[Left 4 Dead series]] use what is in essence [[Sockets]] to handle what weapons and other equipment is being carried. Here each "socket" represents a type of weapon or equipment, for example allowing players a choice of which primary and secondary weapons to use.

== Using the pattern ==
[[Sockets]] are locations for placing [[Upgrades]] in [[Game Items]] and this dictates the main design options available when introducing them into a game design. Primary is to decide how many [[Sockets]] the various types of [[Game Items]] should have, and if there are different types of [[Sockets]] into which only certain types of [[Upgrades]] can be placed.

[[Sockets]] are limited in number for any [[Game Items]] and this makes them into [[Limited Resources]]. However, this can be changed in some way. Increases in the number of [[Sockets]] can be the effect of [[Upgrades]] - for example providing the [[Companions|Companion]] Isabela in [[Dragon Age II]] with a "Supportive Corselet" or "Boiled Leather Plates" gives an extra rune slot each to her. In [[World of Warcraft]], blacksmiths can add a gem socket to a bracer or glove at the cost of making them have [[Enforced Ownership]] if equipped (they can make a "Eternal Belt Buckle" which works as an [[Upgrades|Upgrade]] to belts with the same cost attached). 

An option existing specifically for [[Sockets]] is if the [[Upgrades]] placed within them can be remove later. [[World of Warcraft]] and [[Dragon Age II]] hinders this (but not [[Dragon Age]]) making the [[Upgrading]] in these games into [[Irreversible Events]]; while other types of [[Upgrading]] may be irreversible because the [[Upgrades]] are consumed in these case the [[Upgrades]] remains to remind players of their choice. An additional option exists when [[Upgrades]] are permanently locked in [[Sockets]] - that new [[Upgrades]] may be placed in them but that the old ones are destroyed then.

[[Sockets]] have commonalities with [[Inventories]] as it may be worth considering looking at the options for [[Inventories]] when designing [[Sockets]]. While all [[Game Items]] can be given [[Sockets]], [[Armor]] is a special case in that [[Sockets]] often are used to limit [[Armor]] so that only one of each type of armor (e.g. those protecting arms or legs) can be equipped at a time. This use of [[Sockets]] can be seen as a complement to [[Inventories]]. Several [[:Category:FPS Games|First-Player Shooters]] provide a set number of options of [[Weapons]] that can be selected - this is a way in which [[Sockets]] can function as a form of [[Inventories]] and a way of providing [[Equipment]] by letting players choose which [[Sockets|Socket]] contains the active [[Weapons|Weapon]]. 

=== Interface Aspects ===
The management of [[Sockets]] may be part of the interfaces for [[Inventories]] or have their own [[Secondary Interface Screens]] as for example [[World of Warcraft]] provides.

== Consequences ==
[[Sockets]] gives players the [[Freedom of Choice]] to choose when to engage in [[Upgrading]] through using [[Upgrades]] on [[Game Items]].

When [[Upgrades]] can be removed from [[Sockets]], players can make [[Tradeoffs]] between their different benefits that different [[Upgrades]] can provide. When they cannot be removed, players need to do [[Risk/Reward]] choices if they should place a particular [[Upgrades|Upgrade]] in a particular [[Sockets|Socket]] or if they should hope for a better combination later.

== Relations ==
=== Can Instantiate ===
[[Freedom of Choice]], 
[[Limited Resources]], 
[[Tradeoffs]], 
[[Upgrading]]

==== with [[Irreversible Events]] ====
[[Risk/Reward]]

=== Can Modulate ===
[[Armor]], 
[[Game Items]], 
[[Upgrades]]

=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
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=== Can Be Modulated By ===
[[Equipable Items]], 
[[Irreversible Events]], 
[[Upgrades]]

=== Possible Closure Effects ===
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=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
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== History ==
New pattern created in this wiki.

== References ==
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== Acknowledgements ==
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