Defining Rules 3 rule levels Complexity and Emergence in Games Information theory in Games Games as Information Systems Games as Cybernetic Systems Games as Game Theory Systems Games as Systems of Conflict

Breaking the Rules (Ch. 21) Prof. Hector Munoz-Avila

Introduction Goldstein suggests two kinds of rules: ideal versus actual rules of play – Examples: einee-meenie-minee-moe no attack for 10-minutes rule in an RTS DeKoven: to win, players may violate rules We now examine: how and why players cheat or bend the rules

Categories of Player versus Dimensions Dimensions – Adherence to the rules – Interest in winning – Degree of lusory attitude Types of player – Standard player – Dedicated player – Unsportmanslike player – Cheater – Spoil-sport Cheating to win its obvious, but examples of cheating for fun in the game? What about having fun at the expense of possibly loosing?

Standard Players Follow the rules of the game (explicit and implicit) Has a lusory attitude He/she tries to win the game Typically game designer is thinking about this kind of players as their target population Book asserts that the majority of players are in this class

Dedicated Players Master rules Master High-level of lusory attitude Winning is very important Standard players might not find enjoyable level of commitment to play the game that dedicated players exhibit

Unsportmanlike Players Tries to exploit the rules – Even violate implicit rules – Follow operational rules but in a way that violate intend of the rules – Example Example Lusory attitude – High as long as it serves to win the game – Low if it serves to win the game Winning is very important Try to find Degenerate Strategies

Degenerate Strategies Exploits due to loopholes in the rules – Or bad implementation of the rules (e.g., in digital games) – Example Example May result (emergence) as a result of complex system (Games as complex systems) May be a saddle points in space of possible game states (Games as Game Theory systems) – Sometimes it is needed because of game design (flaw) flaw

Cheater Breaks operational rules But trying not to be caught Because he/she still wants to win the game – So it does not destroy the game (unless caught) – Example Example

Spoil-Sport Denies the operational rules Doesnt really care about winning No lusory attitude Considered more destructive/disruptive than even the cheater Look at thisthis

Some Games are Build around Rule- Breaking Some team sports Tactical foulsfouls – Strategic decision to break the rules of the game Rule-breaking is part of the game

Digital Rule-Breaking Easter Eggs (Goro)Goro Cheat codes Work around True cheating: hackshacks Spoil-sport hacks Game design rule-breaking: – test limits of system – Change rules of game and see what happens

Virtual Economies Original topic by: Scott Woodward Chris Addy Adjusted by: Prof. Hector Munoz-Avila

Currency as Meaningful Play Element We observed in previous lectures that in-game currency is an integrated element of game design integrated as in meaningful play: – Currency allows players to get in game items for their avatars – They can these items from other players or from NPCs – These items can be used to progress in the game towards its final objective E.g., defeat BMM (Big Mean Monster)

Economies Economy refers to the human activities related with the production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of goods and services A virtual economy is an economy existing in a virtual persistent world, usually in the context of a game

Virtual Economies Consist of 5 parts – Persistence – Scarcity – Specialization – Trade – Property Rights

Persistence The gaming system keeps track of – State of the world – Resources – Possessions Possessions The gaming system maintains these possessions permanently

Scarcity More needs than available resources Users must expend resources – Time – Real money Real money – Virtual money and resources To obtain goods, resources, or services (another) in the virtual environmentservicesanother

Specialization Availability to players must vary – Limit players ability to obtain resources based either upon skills, class, or other factorsresources – This creates conflict in the environment for available resourcesconflict – Other forms of obtaining resources?

Trade Users must be able to transfer goods and services to and from other userstransfer – Virtual objects only have meaning in context of the game – Worthless if unable to trade goods between players and the environment Trade modalities: – Direct player versus player – Player versus NPC (NPC sellers) – Indirect player versus player: Auction House

Auction House

Players can buy/sell their goods Operates in the same way than real market: – Inflation – The rarity of a good influences its price Can be strongly influenced by the government (i.e., the game developer): – Example of designer decision affecting the value of goods? – Example of the real government affecting the value of goods?

Property Rights The game must record which goods and services belong to which users avatar – The user may dispose of the goods or services at any time via destruction, exchange or use. – Property not limited to individual users Guilds might also have property An EVE Online storystory

Games Genres and Their Economies – Strategy (RTS, TBS) – RPG – FPS – Board Games (Monopoly etc) – MMO inflation

Meaningful Play & Lusory Attitude Integrated outcome – By interacting with the economy you obtain resources that will further your own goals further down the road Player is willing to spend significant amounts of time or even real money to get those neat items

Lusory Attitude Player is willing to spend significant amounts of time or even real money to get those neat items

Virtual Economies in the News Online vendors sell currency, services or items in many online games – World of Warcraft – Everquest I & II Arguably, Norrath was 77 th economy in the world in 2005Norrath – Second Life EBay bans the selling of virtual goods and servicesbans Virtual Taxation (separate from developers owntaxation) Virtual Taxationtaxation – Becomes a game in itself – developers concernsdevelopers concerns