Focus Loci - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 14:33, 19 January 2018

2018-01-19T14:33:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:33, 19 January 2018
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	=== Narrative Aspects ===		=== Narrative Aspects ===
	The specific choice of [[Focus Loci]] used in a game can affect which types of [[Narration Structures]] are suitable. For example, [[Detective Structures]] is difficult to use with [[God Fingers]] or [[Units]] since they allow players information from a non-diegetic perspective or from several different diegetic individuals.		The specific choice of [[Focus Loci]] used in a game can affect which types of [[Narration Structures]] are suitable. For example, [[Detective Structures]] is difficult to use with [[God Fingers]] or [[Units]] since they allow players information from a non-diegetic perspective or from several different diegetic individuals. In contrast, the type of [[Focus Loci]] chosen can affect how the specifics of [[Predetermined Story Structures]] can be designed.

	== Consequences ==		== Consequences ==

Staffan Björk: /* Can Modulate */

2018-01-19T14:32:21Z

Can Modulate

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 19 January 2018
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	[[Narration Structures]],		[[Narration Structures]],
	[[Parties]],		[[Parties]],
			[[Predetermined Story Structures]],
	[[Teams]]		[[Teams]]

Staffan Björk at 08:38, 2 September 2014

2014-09-02T08:38:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:38, 2 September 2014
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	[[Focus Loci]] can change through the [[Abstract Player Construct Development]] of being giving [[New Abilities]]. Although these are typically giving as immaterial [[Rewards]], it is worth mentioning that they sometimes are represented through tangible [[Cards]], [[Tiles]], or [[Bookkeeping Tokens]].		[[Focus Loci]] can change through the [[Abstract Player Construct Development]] of being giving [[New Abilities]]. Although these are typically giving as immaterial [[Rewards]], it is worth mentioning that they sometimes are represented through tangible [[Cards]], [[Tiles]], or [[Bookkeeping Tokens]].

			Making [[Focus Loci]] be [[Always Vulnerable]] is a simple way to focus players' attention more on these loci as well as their immediate surroundings.

	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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	=== Can Be Modulated By ===		=== Can Be Modulated By ===
	[[Abstract Player Construct Development]],		[[Abstract Player Construct Development]],
			[[Always Vulnerable]],
	[[Clickability]],		[[Clickability]],
	[[Game State Indicators]],		[[Game State Indicators]],

Staffan Björk at 08:24, 2 September 2014

2014-09-02T08:24:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:24, 2 September 2014
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	[[Focus Loci]] are game elements that provide methods for players to affect [[Game Worlds]], and are in many cases diegetically present in the [[Game Worlds]] themselves. These [[Focus Loci]] can support [[Engrossment]] in various ways depending on their specific characteristics, but very often [[Spatial Engrossment]] since they make players focus to specific parts of [[Game Worlds]] at a time and quite likely [[Movement]] or relations between parts of [[Game Worlds]]. They also create natural elements within games for players to [[Identification\|Identify]] their gameplay experiences and efforts with, and when present in the [[Game Worlds]] represent [[Agents]] in these.		[[Focus Loci]] are game elements that provide methods for players to affect [[Game Worlds]], and are in many cases diegetically present in the [[Game Worlds]] themselves. These [[Focus Loci]] can support [[Engrossment]] in various ways depending on their specific characteristics, but very often [[Spatial Engrossment]] since they make players focus to specific parts of [[Game Worlds]] at a time and quite likely [[Movement]] or relations between parts of [[Game Worlds]]. They also create natural elements within games for players to [[Identification\|Identify]] their gameplay experiences and efforts with, and when present in the [[Game Worlds]] represent [[Agents]] in these.

	Providing multiple [[Focus Loci]] can support [[Attention Swapping]] but may also create it by the individual [[Focus Loci]] ~~being~~ [[Attention Demanding]]. This may also affects [[Risk/Reward]] trade-offs that have to be made when initiating [[Extended Actions]].		Providing multiple [[Focus Loci]] can support [[Attention Swapping]] but may also create it by the individual [[Focus Loci]] having [[Attention Demanding Gameplay]]. This may also affects [[Risk/Reward]] trade-offs that have to be made when initiating [[Extended Actions]].

	The choice of [[Focus Loci]] in games dictate which game elements players have direct control over and which they have [[Indirect Control]] over.		The choice of [[Focus Loci]] in games dictate which game elements players have direct control over and which they have [[Indirect Control]] over.
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	=== Can Instantiate ===		=== Can Instantiate ===
	[[Agents]],		[[Agents]],
	[[Attention Demanding]],		[[Attention Demanding Gameplay]],
	[[Attention Swapping]],		[[Attention Swapping]],
	[[Engrossment]],		[[Engrossment]],

Staffan Björk at 11:13, 30 July 2014

2014-07-30T11:13:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:13, 30 July 2014
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	[[Attention Swapping]],		[[Attention Swapping]],
	[[Game Worlds]],		[[Game Worlds]],
			[[Narration Structures]],
	[[Parties]],		[[Parties]],
	[[Teams]]		[[Teams]]

Staffan Björk: /* Can Be Modulated By */

2014-07-26T08:08:41Z

Can Be Modulated By

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:08, 26 July 2014
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	[[Line of Sight]],		[[Line of Sight]],
	[[Mini-maps]],		[[Mini-maps]],
	[[New Abilities]],		[[New Abilities]]

	[[Third-Person Views]] in games with [[God Views]]		[[Third-Person Views]] in games with [[God Views]]

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2011-10-06T18:18:56Z

Using the pattern

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:18, 6 October 2011
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	[[Units]] naturally provide players with several [[Focus Loci]] but this can also be supported by allowing players to switch between different [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]]. [[God Fingers]] are quite often combined with these other types of [[Focus Loci]] in these situations since [[God Fingers]] provide a way easily switching between the other [[Focus Loci]]; they may also allow actions otherwise not possible (e.g. activating production of [[Units]] in buildings in [[:Category:Real-Time Strategy Games\|Real-Time Strategy Games]] such as the [[Starcraft series]]). Such use of several [[Focus Loci]] can allows single players to control [[Parties]] or [[Teams]] at high levels of granularity but requires [[Attention Swapping]]. This type of [[Attention Swapping]] can be removed by allowing players to activate actions for several [[Focus Loci]] at once - something present in both [[:Category:Real-Time Strategy Games\|Real-Time Strategy Games]] such the [[Starcraft series]] and other computer-based [[:Category:Strategy Games\|Strategy Games]] such as the [[Hearts of Iron series]]. This solution is however unlikely to remove [[Attention Swapping]] completely from games since those that have this type of gameplay are likely to create situations where the various [[Focus Loci]] cannot effectively be used by making them all perform the same actions.		[[Units]] naturally provide players with several [[Focus Loci]] but this can also be supported by allowing players to switch between different [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]]. [[God Fingers]] are quite often combined with these other types of [[Focus Loci]] in these situations since [[God Fingers]] provide a way easily switching between the other [[Focus Loci]]; they may also allow actions otherwise not possible (e.g. activating production of [[Units]] in buildings in [[:Category:Real-Time Strategy Games\|Real-Time Strategy Games]] such as the [[Starcraft series]]). Such use of several [[Focus Loci]] can allows single players to control [[Parties]] or [[Teams]] at high levels of granularity but requires [[Attention Swapping]]. This type of [[Attention Swapping]] can be removed by allowing players to activate actions for several [[Focus Loci]] at once - something present in both [[:Category:Real-Time Strategy Games\|Real-Time Strategy Games]] such the [[Starcraft series]] and other computer-based [[:Category:Strategy Games\|Strategy Games]] such as the [[Hearts of Iron series]]. This solution is however unlikely to remove [[Attention Swapping]] completely from games since those that have this type of gameplay are likely to create situations where the various [[Focus Loci]] cannot effectively be used by making them all perform the same actions.

	Although not as common as the four options mention above, [[Cards]] can, especially in [[Collectible Card Games]], be [[Focus Loci]] either when being played or by being in play and giving a player [[New Abilities]]. This of course assumes that [[Game Worlds]] that can be affected are at least implied, but examples of games that do this include [[Magic: The Gathering]], [[Dominion]], and [[Race for the Galaxy]]. [[Tiles]] offer the same design possibilities as [[Cards]] in this respect, but are also quite often used to create the actual [[Game Worlds]]. [[Bookkeeping Tokens]] whose presences indicate that a player has [[New Abilities]] are another form of more unusual [[Focus Loci]]. [[Dice]] are seldom [[Focus Loci]] except in pure dice games, since using them is not usually an activity affecting the game directly but rather a way of determining how actions are to be performed.		Although not as common as the four options mention above, [[Cards]] can, especially in [[Collectible Card Games]], be [[Focus Loci]] either when being played or by being in play and giving a player [[New Abilities]]. This of course assumes that [[Game Worlds]] that can be affected are at least implied, but examples of games that do this include [[Magic: The Gathering]], [[Dominion]], and [[Race for the Galaxy]]. [[Tiles]] offer the same design possibilities as [[Cards]] in this respect, but are also quite often used to create the actual [[Game Worlds]]. [[Bookkeeping Tokens]] whose presences indicate that a player has [[New Abilities]] are another form of more unusual [[Focus Loci]]. [[Dice]] are seldom [[Focus Loci]] except in pure dice games, since using them is not usually an activity affecting the game directly but rather a way of determining how actions are to be performed. [[Installations]] can become [[Focus Loci]] even if they are often found in games with [[Avatars]] and [[Units]] and play a lesser role than these. This most occurs in [[:Category:Real-Time Strategy Games\|Real-Time Strategy Games]].

	[[Installations]] can become [[Focus Loci]] even if they are often found in games with [[Avatars]] and [[Units]] and play a lesser role than these. This most occurs in [[:Category:Real-Time Strategy Games\|Real-Time Strategy Games]].

	While different [[Focus Loci]] can of course affect [[Game Worlds]] is vastly different ways, one way that most [[Focus Loci]] can affect [[Game Worlds]] is to give [[Area Control]] by being present in specific part of them ([[God Fingers]] are the typical exception). In contrast, [[Line of Sight]] is a general way in which [[Focus Loci]] powers of affecting [[Game Worlds]] can be changed. [[Clickability]] is a way of changing how affecting [[Game Worlds]] through [[Focus Loci]] is perceived and can be applied to most [[Focus Loci]] but works most easily with [[God Fingers]].		While different [[Focus Loci]] can of course affect [[Game Worlds]] is vastly different ways, one way that most [[Focus Loci]] can affect [[Game Worlds]] is to give [[Area Control]] by being present in specific part of them ([[God Fingers]] are the typical exception). In contrast, [[Line of Sight]] is a general way in which [[Focus Loci]] powers of affecting [[Game Worlds]] can be changed. [[Clickability]] is a way of changing how affecting [[Game Worlds]] through [[Focus Loci]] is perceived and can be applied to most [[Focus Loci]] but works most easily with [[God Fingers]].

Staffan Björk at 18:18, 6 October 2011

2011-10-06T18:18:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:18, 6 October 2011
Line 20:		Line 20:

	Although not as common as the four options mention above, [[Cards]] can, especially in [[Collectible Card Games]], be [[Focus Loci]] either when being played or by being in play and giving a player [[New Abilities]]. This of course assumes that [[Game Worlds]] that can be affected are at least implied, but examples of games that do this include [[Magic: The Gathering]], [[Dominion]], and [[Race for the Galaxy]]. [[Tiles]] offer the same design possibilities as [[Cards]] in this respect, but are also quite often used to create the actual [[Game Worlds]]. [[Bookkeeping Tokens]] whose presences indicate that a player has [[New Abilities]] are another form of more unusual [[Focus Loci]]. [[Dice]] are seldom [[Focus Loci]] except in pure dice games, since using them is not usually an activity affecting the game directly but rather a way of determining how actions are to be performed.		Although not as common as the four options mention above, [[Cards]] can, especially in [[Collectible Card Games]], be [[Focus Loci]] either when being played or by being in play and giving a player [[New Abilities]]. This of course assumes that [[Game Worlds]] that can be affected are at least implied, but examples of games that do this include [[Magic: The Gathering]], [[Dominion]], and [[Race for the Galaxy]]. [[Tiles]] offer the same design possibilities as [[Cards]] in this respect, but are also quite often used to create the actual [[Game Worlds]]. [[Bookkeeping Tokens]] whose presences indicate that a player has [[New Abilities]] are another form of more unusual [[Focus Loci]]. [[Dice]] are seldom [[Focus Loci]] except in pure dice games, since using them is not usually an activity affecting the game directly but rather a way of determining how actions are to be performed.

			[[Installations]] can become [[Focus Loci]] even if they are often found in games with [[Avatars]] and [[Units]] and play a lesser role than these. This most occurs in [[:Category:Real-Time Strategy Games\|Real-Time Strategy Games]].

	While different [[Focus Loci]] can of course affect [[Game Worlds]] is vastly different ways, one way that most [[Focus Loci]] can affect [[Game Worlds]] is to give [[Area Control]] by being present in specific part of them ([[God Fingers]] are the typical exception). In contrast, [[Line of Sight]] is a general way in which [[Focus Loci]] powers of affecting [[Game Worlds]] can be changed. [[Clickability]] is a way of changing how affecting [[Game Worlds]] through [[Focus Loci]] is perceived and can be applied to most [[Focus Loci]] but works most easily with [[God Fingers]].		While different [[Focus Loci]] can of course affect [[Game Worlds]] is vastly different ways, one way that most [[Focus Loci]] can affect [[Game Worlds]] is to give [[Area Control]] by being present in specific part of them ([[God Fingers]] are the typical exception). In contrast, [[Line of Sight]] is a general way in which [[Focus Loci]] powers of affecting [[Game Worlds]] can be changed. [[Clickability]] is a way of changing how affecting [[Game Worlds]] through [[Focus Loci]] is perceived and can be applied to most [[Focus Loci]] but works most easily with [[God Fingers]].
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	[[Dice]],		[[Dice]],
	[[God Fingers]],		[[God Fingers]],
			[[Installations]],
	[[Player Characters]],		[[Player Characters]],
	[[Tiles]],		[[Tiles]],

Staffan Björk: /* Can Be Instantiated By */

2011-10-05T15:31:59Z

Can Be Instantiated By

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:31, 5 October 2011
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	[[Cards]],		[[Cards]],
	[[Characters]],		[[Characters]],
			[[Dice]],
	[[God Fingers]],		[[God Fingers]],
	[[Player Characters]],		[[Player Characters]],

Staffan Björk at 13:23, 4 September 2011

2011-09-04T13:23:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:23, 4 September 2011
Line 23:		Line 23:
	While different [[Focus Loci]] can of course affect [[Game Worlds]] is vastly different ways, one way that most [[Focus Loci]] can affect [[Game Worlds]] is to give [[Area Control]] by being present in specific part of them ([[God Fingers]] are the typical exception). In contrast, [[Line of Sight]] is a general way in which [[Focus Loci]] powers of affecting [[Game Worlds]] can be changed. [[Clickability]] is a way of changing how affecting [[Game Worlds]] through [[Focus Loci]] is perceived and can be applied to most [[Focus Loci]] but works most easily with [[God Fingers]].		While different [[Focus Loci]] can of course affect [[Game Worlds]] is vastly different ways, one way that most [[Focus Loci]] can affect [[Game Worlds]] is to give [[Area Control]] by being present in specific part of them ([[God Fingers]] are the typical exception). In contrast, [[Line of Sight]] is a general way in which [[Focus Loci]] powers of affecting [[Game Worlds]] can be changed. [[Clickability]] is a way of changing how affecting [[Game Worlds]] through [[Focus Loci]] is perceived and can be applied to most [[Focus Loci]] but works most easily with [[God Fingers]].

	~~While the main types of~~ [[Focus Loci]] can ~~be modified by~~ giving ~~them~~ [[New Abilities]], [[Cards]], [[Tiles]], ~~and~~ [[Bookkeeping Tokens~~]] can as mentioned above be used to give players [[New Abilities~~]].		[[Focus Loci]] can change through the [[Abstract Player Construct Development]] of being giving [[New Abilities]]. Although these are typically giving as immaterial [[Rewards]], it is worth mentioning that they sometimes are represented through tangible [[Cards]], [[Tiles]], or [[Bookkeeping Tokens]].

	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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	=== Can Be Modulated By ===		=== Can Be Modulated By ===
			[[Abstract Player Construct Development]],
	[[Clickability]],		[[Clickability]],
	[[Game State Indicators]],		[[Game State Indicators]],