Game Outcome
The goal of a game is to produce a
measurable outcome.
Game Outcome
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Most games will have a measurable outcome and
the results will be unequal – there will be
winners and losers.
Many massively multiplayer online worlds do not
have the concept of winner.
Simulation games may not have a predetermined
win condition.
Games without winners reward players in other
ways than by winning.
Game Outcome
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For most games, producing a winner or winners
is the end goal.
At defined intervals either the players (or the
system in digital games), checks to see if a
winning state has been achieved.
If a winning state has been achieved, gameplay
is resolved and the game is over.
Game Outcome
Ways to Determine Outcome
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The structure of the final outcome will always
be related to both the player interaction patterns
and the objectives of the game.
Single Player vs Single Player – the player may
either win or lose, or the player may score a
certain amount of points before ultimately
losing (Solitaire and Pinball).
Ways to Determine Outcome
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Some games define its objective based on
capture. Chess does not have a scoring system,
rather chess is won or lost based solely on
meeting the primary objective, capturing the
king.
Chess is an example of a “Zero-Sum” game, we
count a win a +1 and a loss as a -1, the sum of
any outcome is “ZERO”. No matter which
player wins, the sum is always zero.
Ways to Determine Outcome
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Games other than Zero-Sum systems create outcome
without cutthroat competition. These game might use
any of the following to achieve an outcome:
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Ranking system
Statistics
Multiple objectives
Players usually have preferences for a specific type of
game outcome:
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Social Game vs Sporting Event
Single Player vs Massively Multiplayer Online FPS