Reconfigurable Game Worlds - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 11:13, 30 July 2014

2014-07-30T11:13:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:13, 30 July 2014
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	While many games have game worlds, only some of them allow changes to their structures. These changes can be between game instances to provide players with new gameplay experiences or occur during gameplay as the effect of player actions. Games that have either one of these two types of changes - or both - have [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]].		While many games have game worlds, only some of them allow changes to their structures. These changes can be between game instances to provide players with new gameplay experiences or occur during gameplay as the effect of player actions. Games that have either one of these two types of changes - or both - have [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]].

	''Note:'' this pattern describes changes in [[Game Worlds]] related to gameplay functionality rather than those related to narratives (for this see [[Narration Structures]]). Further, although their difference can sometimes be blurry, this pattern looks at changes to [[Game Worlds]] rather that the contents in them. For patterns dealing more with changes in the contents of [[Game Worlds]], see for example [[Avatars]], [[Controllers]], [[Destructible Objects]], [[Environmental Effects]], and [[Obstacles]].		''Note:'' this pattern describes changes in [[Game Worlds]] related to gameplay functionality rather than those related to narratives (for this see [[Narration Structures]] or [[Predetermined Story Structures]]). Further, although their difference can sometimes be blurry, this pattern looks at changes to [[Game Worlds]] rather that the contents in them. For patterns dealing more with changes in the contents of [[Game Worlds]], see for example [[Avatars]], [[Controllers]], [[Destructible Objects]], [[Environmental Effects]], and [[Obstacles]].

	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===

Staffan Björk at 13:24, 30 June 2014

2014-06-30T13:24:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:24, 30 June 2014
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	[[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] quite naturally require the presence of a [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] to configure. Beyond this, the primary design choice for using the pattern is to decide whether the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] will be reconfigurable between or within game instances, or in a combination of both. [[Configurable Gameplay Areas]] details the special case of reconfiguring [[Game Worlds]] before gameplay begins.		[[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] quite naturally require the presence of a [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] to configure. Beyond this, the primary design choice for using the pattern is to decide whether the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] will be reconfigurable between or within game instances, or in a combination of both. [[Configurable Gameplay Areas]] details the special case of reconfiguring [[Game Worlds]] before gameplay begins.

	Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]). [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can also be used for these solutions to having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] but can handle less mechanically defined [[Game Worlds]] as well, e.g. those used in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Expansions]], e.g. those available as downloadable content for the [[Elder Scrolls series]] and the [[Fallout series]], show one such way that [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can change [[Game Worlds]]. [[Mods]] can in this perspective be seen as the player equivalent.		Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]). [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can also be used for these solutions to having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] but can handle less mechanically defined [[Game Worlds]] as well, e.g. those used in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Expansions]], e.g. those available as downloadable content for the [[Elder Scrolls series]] and the [[Fallout series]], show one such way that [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can change [[Game Worlds]]. [[Mods]] can in this perspective be seen as the player equivalent. [[Kingdoms]] and [[DragonMud]] show that players can also perform more complex expansions and reconfigurations of [[Game Worlds]] if the game systems provided the appropriate tools.

	[[~~Kingdoms~~]] ~~and [[DragonMud]] show that players can also perform more complex expansions and reconfigurations~~ of [[Game Worlds]] ~~if the game systems provided the appropriate tools~~.		[[Scenes]] provide a way of having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] without having to specify more details than are necessary for gameplay actually taking place.

	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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	[[Mods]],		[[Mods]],
	[[Moveable Tiles]],		[[Moveable Tiles]],
			[[Scenes]],
	[[Shrinking Game Worlds]],		[[Shrinking Game Worlds]],
	[[Tiles]],		[[Tiles]],

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2012-08-24T09:21:21Z

Using the pattern

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:21, 24 August 2012
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	== Using the pattern ==		== Using the pattern ==
	[[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] quite naturally require the presence of a [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] to configure. Beyond this, the primary design choice for using the pattern is to decide whether the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] will be reconfigurable between or within game instances, or in a combination of both.		[[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] quite naturally require the presence of a [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] to configure. Beyond this, the primary design choice for using the pattern is to decide whether the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] will be reconfigurable between or within game instances, or in a combination of both. [[Configurable Gameplay Areas]] details the special case of reconfiguring [[Game Worlds]] before gameplay begins.

	Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]). [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can also be used for these solutions to having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] but can handle less mechanically defined [[Game Worlds]] as well, e.g. those used in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Expansions]], e.g. those available as downloadable content for the [[Elder Scrolls series]] and the [[Fallout series]], show one such way that [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can change [[Game Worlds]]. [[Mods]] can in this perspective be seen as the player equivalent.		Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]). [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can also be used for these solutions to having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] but can handle less mechanically defined [[Game Worlds]] as well, e.g. those used in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Expansions]], e.g. those available as downloadable content for the [[Elder Scrolls series]] and the [[Fallout series]], show one such way that [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can change [[Game Worlds]]. [[Mods]] can in this perspective be seen as the player equivalent.

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2012-08-24T09:20:07Z

Relations

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	=== Can Be Instantiated By ===		=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
			[[Configurable Gameplay Areas]],
	[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]],		[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]],
	[[Expansions]],		[[Expansions]],

Staffan Björk at 12:36, 4 September 2011

2011-09-04T12:36:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:36, 4 September 2011
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	While changing the layout of [[Game Worlds]] between game instances supports [[Game World Exploration]], it can cause problems with having [[Player Balance]] since players may have [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]].		While changing the layout of [[Game Worlds]] between game instances supports [[Game World Exploration]], it can cause problems with having [[Player Balance]] since players may have [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]].

	~~When players can reconfigure the~~ [[Game ~~Worlds~~]] ~~and~~ these events are [[Irreversible Events]]~~, this makes [[Persistent Game World Changes]] present in that game~~.		[[Persistent Game World Changes]] are possible in that game where reconfiguration last do not automatically revert after some time; this pattern is even more present if these events are [[Irreversible Events]].

	== Relations ==		== Relations ==
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	==== with [[Fog of War]] ====		==== with [[Fog of War]] ====
	[[Memorizing]]		[[Memorizing]]

	~~==== with [[Irreversible Events]] ====~~
	~~[[Persistent Game World Changes]]~~

	=== Can Modulate ===		=== Can Modulate ===

Staffan Björk at 09:35, 4 September 2011

2011-09-04T09:35:16Z

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	~~[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]~~
	[[Category:Patterns]]		[[Category:Patterns]]
	[[Category:Level Design Patterns]]		[[Category:Level Design Patterns]]

Staffan Björk at 10:13, 3 September 2011

2011-09-03T10:13:19Z

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	[[Category:Patterns]]		[[Category:Patterns]]
	[[Category:Level Design Patterns]]		[[Category:Level Design Patterns]]
	~~[[Category:Needs work]]~~
	[[Category:Needs revision]]		[[Category:Needs revision]]
	[[Category:Needs examples]]		[[Category:Needs examples]]
	[[Category:Needs references]]		[[Category:Needs references]]
	~~[[Category:Stub]]~~
	''Game worlds whose fundamental structures can change during gameplay or between game instances.''		''Game worlds whose fundamental structures can change during gameplay or between game instances.''

	While many games have game worlds only some of them allow changes to their structures. These changes can be between game instances to provide players with new gameplay experiences or occur during gameplay as the effect of player actions. Games that have either of these two types of changes - or both - have [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]].		While many games have game worlds, only some of them allow changes to their structures. These changes can be between game instances to provide players with new gameplay experiences or occur during gameplay as the effect of player actions. Games that have either one of these two types of changes - or both - have [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]].

	''Note:'' this pattern describes changes in [[Game Worlds]] related to gameplay functionality rather than those related to narratives (for this see [[Narration Structures]]). Further, although their difference can sometimes be blurry, this pattern looks at changes to [[Game Worlds]] rather that the contents in them. For ~~pattern~~ more ~~dealing~~ with changes in the contents of [[Game Worlds]], see ~~patterns such as~~ [[Avatars]], [[Controllers]], [[Destructible Objects]], [[Environmental Effects]], and [[Obstacles]].		''Note:'' this pattern describes changes in [[Game Worlds]] related to gameplay functionality rather than those related to narratives (for this see [[Narration Structures]]). Further, although their difference can sometimes be blurry, this pattern looks at changes to [[Game Worlds]] rather that the contents in them. For patterns dealing more with changes in the contents of [[Game Worlds]], see for example [[Avatars]], [[Controllers]], [[Destructible Objects]], [[Environmental Effects]], and [[Obstacles]].

	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
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	Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]). [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can also be used for these solutions to having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] but can handle less mechanically defined [[Game Worlds]] as well, e.g. those used in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Expansions]], e.g. those available as downloadable content for the [[Elder Scrolls series]] and the [[Fallout series]], show one such way that [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can change [[Game Worlds]]. [[Mods]] can in this perspective be seen as the player equivalent.		Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]). [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can also be used for these solutions to having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] but can handle less mechanically defined [[Game Worlds]] as well, e.g. those used in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Expansions]], e.g. those available as downloadable content for the [[Elder Scrolls series]] and the [[Fallout series]], show one such way that [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can change [[Game Worlds]]. [[Mods]] can in this perspective be seen as the player equivalent.

	[[Kingdoms]] and [[DragonMud]] show that players can also perform more complex ~~expansion~~ and ~~reconfiguring~~ of [[Game Worlds]] if the game systems provided the appropriate tools.		[[Kingdoms]] and [[DragonMud]] show that players can also perform more complex expansions and reconfigurations of [[Game Worlds]] if the game systems provided the appropriate tools.

	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===

Staffan Björk at 10:10, 3 September 2011

2011-09-03T10:10:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:10, 3 September 2011
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	[[Portal 2]] has a [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds\|Reconfigurable Game World]] both in how the players' current nemesis can remodel the environment and in how players by their actions can activate machinery that lowers barriers, creates bridges and stairs, or otherwise changes the environment.		[[Portal 2]] has a [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds\|Reconfigurable Game World]] both in how the players' current nemesis can remodel the environment and in how players by their actions can activate machinery that lowers barriers, creates bridges and stairs, or otherwise changes the environment.

			Entrusted players of text-based [[:Category:Massively Multiplayer Online Games\|Massively Multiplayer Online Games]] such as [[Kingdoms]] and [[DragonMud]] can expand or reconfigure game worlds by more or less complex programming.

	== Using the pattern ==		== Using the pattern ==
	[[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] quite naturally require the presence of a [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] to configure. Beyond this, the primary design choice for using the pattern is to decide whether the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] will be reconfigurable between or within game instances, or in a combination of both.		[[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] quite naturally require the presence of a [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] to configure. Beyond this, the primary design choice for using the pattern is to decide whether the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] will be reconfigurable between or within game instances, or in a combination of both.

	Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]).		Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]). [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can also be used for these solutions to having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] but can handle less mechanically defined [[Game Worlds]] as well, e.g. those used in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Expansions]], e.g. those available as downloadable content for the [[Elder Scrolls series]] and the [[Fallout series]], show one such way that [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can change [[Game Worlds]]. [[Mods]] can in this perspective be seen as the player equivalent.

	~~Kingdoms~~
	~~DragonMud~~

	[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can also be used for these solutions to having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] but can handle less mechanically defined [[Game Worlds]] as well, e.g. those used in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Expansions]], e.g. those available as downloadable content for the [[Elder Scrolls series]] and ~~the~~ [[~~Fallout series~~]], show ~~one such way~~ that ~~[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]]~~ can ~~change~~ [[Game Worlds]]~~. [[Mods]] can in this perspective be seen as~~ the ~~player equivalent~~.		[[Kingdoms]] and [[DragonMud]] show that players can also perform more complex expansion and reconfiguring of [[Game Worlds]] if the game systems provided the appropriate tools.

	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===

Staffan Björk at 10:03, 3 September 2011

2011-09-03T10:03:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:03, 3 September 2011
Line 25:		Line 25:
	Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]).		Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]).

			Kingdoms
			DragonMud

	~~The changes in the laws of nature within the game may~~ be ~~universal or applied~~ to ~~only certain game elements~~, e. g., those ~~under the control of the players or of a particular player. This can be~~ used as ~~a player-decided Balancing Effect to create Player Balance or Right Level of Difficulty~~. ~~For example~~, ~~changing the difficulty level in a flight simulator can change the flight characteristics of the planes drastically~~. ~~Changing~~ the ~~relative strengths~~ and ~~weaknesses of different Units of~~ the ~~game~~, such ~~as modifying attack and defense strengths in strategy games, is another common~~ way ~~to allow Reconfigurable~~ Game Worlds.		[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can also be used for these solutions to having [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] but can handle less mechanically defined [[Game Worlds]] as well, e.g. those used in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games\|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Expansions]], e.g. those available as downloadable content for the [[Elder Scrolls series]] and the [[Fallout series]], show one such way that [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]] can change [[Game Worlds]]. [[Mods]] can in this perspective be seen as the player equivalent.

	[[~~Expansions~~]]

	=== Diegetic Aspects ===		=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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	=== Can Be Instantiated By ===		=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
			[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]],
	[[Expansions]],		[[Expansions]],
			[[Mods]],
	[[Moveable Tiles]],		[[Moveable Tiles]],
	[[Shrinking Game Worlds]],		[[Shrinking Game Worlds]],

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2011-09-03T09:57:04Z

Using the pattern

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:57, 3 September 2011
Line 23:		Line 23:
	[[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] quite naturally require the presence of a [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] to configure. Beyond this, the primary design choice for using the pattern is to decide whether the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] will be reconfigurable between or within game instances, or in a combination of both.		[[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] quite naturally require the presence of a [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] to configure. Beyond this, the primary design choice for using the pattern is to decide whether the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] will be reconfigurable between or within game instances, or in a combination of both.

	Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[~~Carcarssonne~~]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! ~~Where~~'s My Fish!]]).		Reconfiguration of the [[Game Worlds\|Game World]] itself is often done by having it consist of [[Tiles]], and then either use [[Randomness]] to create the world (as in e.g. [[NetHack]] and [[Settlers of Catan]]) or by letting players do [[Tile-Laying]] as part of their actions (as in e.g. [[Carcassonne]] or [[Dominant Species]]). Variations of this include having [[Moveable Tiles]] (which can represent the changeable environment in [[Portal 2]]) or [[Shrinking Game Worlds]] (as in [[Hey! That's My Fish!]]).