A really weird site I found... its kinda interesting.

[Zero]

http://civ.idc.cs.chalmers.se/projects/gamepatterns/db/PlayDisplay.psp?signal-1524=1587link

I have no idea what site this is, but it seems to talk about game design theory.

It has bunch of links with words and defines and analyzes them. Some of them are really obvious terms, but some are quite interesting. i figured since we got on the topic of game designs on my last thread anyway, it would be good to post this link. (im sure pg will find the link interesting)

Anyways the link above talks about player balance. I decided to post that one cause it gives Civ3 as an example of player imbalance.

[Kuciwalker]

[Zero]

if u click on the link u'll know wat i mean

[joncha]

No.

[Kuciwalker]

I did click the link.

[Spaced Cowboy]

timeout city

[pg]

other than almost not seeing this thread i'm supposed to find interesting i couldn't get that site to load. you could cut and paste it if you think it's good.

[Dis]

DL!

[Zero]

well it looks like this. Its a text site

10. Asymmetrical Abilities

DESCRIPTION



Not all players, or characters, in the game have the same set of possible actions, abilities, or information. This means that people had to develop different play styles if competing or take certain roles if cooperating.

Examples
A typical party in a fantasy RPG is a perfect example: a Magician that is good at spell-casting, a Warrior that is good at fighting, a Thief that is good at stealing, spying and bribing, etc. All these characters have to cooperate to solve a quest and usually have opportunity to show their individual skills in different situations. Another example is the board game Ursuppe where each player controls a species of amoeba and evolves it by buying different sets of genes to it. Typical for RPG:s like Final Fantasy or MMORPG:s like EverQuest. Can also be found within Sport games as Icehockey for NES.


CONSEQUENCES



Making use of this pattern allows for a more varied game play (3) (thus promoting replayability (1) since the game can be played in different ways with different abilities), is a means to create more complex problems or games, and can promote cooperation.

By having different abilities in games with Avatars (6), the characters are easier to perceive as being different individuals which may help in creating a sense of community or strengthen the believability of the social structure in the game world. Further, it can let players feel a greater sense of purpose as characters can have different responsibilities and areas of expertise.



USING THE PATTERN



The difference in possible actions or abilities may develop during the game.


RELATIONS



Superior patterns
2109 Paper Rock Scissors
14 Asymmetrical Goals
2025 Team Play
3 Varied Game Play


Subpatterns
23 Privileged Action
1006 Red Queen Dilemma
2030 Research
2031 Character Development


Potentially conflicting patterns
2009 Symmetrical Goals
2010 Symmetry

all those numbers are links to other definitions so i cant copy and paste all those vocabularies....

[Zero]

another one.... If you REALLY wanna see the site ( i cant access it anymore either.... strange) you can google the number and the vocabulary and take a look at the cached text. Thats how i managed to get these two quotes.

1006. Red Queen Dilemma 1006.


DESCRIPTION



Based on the concept with the same name used in evolutionary theory, this pattern used the description from Alice in Wonderland by C.S. Lewis (?) to illustrate the need of players to become competitively better in absolute terms in order to maintain their relative competitiveness with other players.

Examples
Real-time Strategy games – especially those that allow research (Civilization, Stracraft, Warcraft, Dune). Also found in other genres like racing in Supercars 2 (Amiga 500)


CONSEQUENCES



Requiring development can raise Tension () in a game as players feel forced to improve in case other players do so. However, the red queen dilemma can be the basis for Team Play () if players can agree to not compete with each other in order to be able to focus resources on other activities.


USING THE PATTERN



What do players compete about? Is their positions public? If the answer to the latter question is yes, the game probably encourages Blockades () against leading players.

How do they compete? Are the resources finite or limited? If the resources are finite the competition between players are probably increased as players losing may not have chances to regain that lost later. If resources are limited the Tension () decreases and the choice of development may become focused on what is tactically most advantageous.

If there are several different options of how players can become more competitive it is possible that the Complexity () of the game increases as well as the Tension ().



RELATIONS



Superior patterns
10 Asymmetrical Abilities
1002 Constant Player Activity
2011 Tension
2030 Research
2031 Character Development


Subpatterns


Potentially conflicting patterns



MISCELLANEOUS








References:

Contributors:

Version:
Revision date: 2003-7-28 13:16:53
Revised by: Tobias Rydenhag

[Zero]

This is text of the original link i provided.

26. Player Balance 26.
Game Mastery & Balance

DESCRIPTION



Players should have equal chances of winning the game at the begining of the game. Player Balance contains the aspects of "equal opportunity" and "equality" mentioned by Kramer, W in "What Makes a Game Good?" and "What is a Game?" respectively.

Examples
Most games...


CONSEQUENCES



Games that have balanced rules so that no player has a significant advantage allow players to prove their skills or luck.


USING THE PATTERN



The most common way of achieving balance in a game between players is to make it symmetrical in all relevant aspects.

Games that randomize the resources in the beginning of the game can give unequal starting conditions. For examples, Sid Meier’s Civilization gives benefits to players or agents with lucky starting points. Although this problem can in games often easily be corrected by players in single-players by restarting it may create strategies of restarting until one has a better than average starting points. Restarting is a possibility in multiplayer games as well but takes more time due to synchronization issues between players. Randomization effects on player balance are partly mitigated by having Team Play () which evens the statistical distribution.



RELATIONS



Superior patterns
2011 Tension
27 Perceived Chance to Succeed


Subpatterns
2039 Balancing Effects
2010 Symmetry
4 Meta Game
2015 Team Balance
2109 Paper Rock Scissors


Potentially conflicting patterns
1010 Power-Ups
20 Randomness
2017 Overcoming Adversary Closure
2022 Strategic Locations
2024 Asymmetrical Player Relations
2036 Geometric Rewards for Investments
2058 Advantage of Memorization
2119 Pervasive Games
2125 Flip Flop Events
2140 Dexterity-Based Actions



MISCELLANEOUS








References:

Contributors:

Version:
Revision date: 2004-2-20 13:11:26
Revised by: Tobias Rydenhag

[pg]

that's kinda cool actually because they aren't clueless like some of the schools teaching game theory/etc. i do wonder if they have a better understanding than some of the people at this forum though? games are art. fun can't just be simply reduced to academics! you have to learn fun for yourself.

[Felch]

That is pretty cool stuff. It's the sort of thing that gamers already know (concepts at least, if not terminology), but seeing it put in a more academic format makes you feel like you haven't been wasting your life playing games.

[Felch]

http://civ.idc.cs.chalmers.se/projects/gamepatterns/index.html

Hopefully that link is more practical. I can't find a way to what Zero had though. I'll leave that as an excercise for y'all.