patterns:soft_gate [2011/06/12 08:38] Gillian Smith [Related Patterns] |
patterns:soft_gate [2011/06/12 08:53] (current) Gillian Smith [Acknowledgments] |
======Soft Gate====== | ======Soft Gate====== |
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{{:patterns:badass_corrosive_skag.png?300}} | {{:patterns:badass_corrosive_skag.png?direct&}} |
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[[org:citations|Borderlands]] | [[games:borderlands|Borderlands]] |
=====Description===== | =====Description===== |
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Soft gates are a method of directing the player's movement in a "soft" manner. Rather than relying on physical [[patterns:blockade|blockade]]s or [[patterns:abstract_wall|abstract wall]]s such as the environment, invisible barriers, or literal gates, a soft gate exploits the player's expected statistics or abilities. Soft gates often take the form of areas guarded by impossibly difficult monsters for a low-level character. By placing such difficult enemies at end of game areas, the player can be forced to follow a more controlled path through the game. | Soft gates are a method of directing the player's movement in a "soft" manner. Rather than relying on physical [[patterns:blockade|blockade]]s or [[patterns:abstract_wall|abstract wall]]s such as the environment, invisible barriers, or literal gates, a soft gate exploits the player's expected statistics or abilities. Soft gates often take the form of areas guarded by impossibly difficult monsters for a low-level character. By placing such difficult enemies at end of game areas, the player can be forced to follow a more controlled path through the game. |
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Another purpose for a soft gate may be to slow down the pace of an RPG to flesh out the storyline. These types of gates often occur within [[patterns:hub|hubs]] or [[patterns:city|cities]] where there are a lot of opportunities to find story-related quests. | Another purpose for a soft gate may be to slow down the pace of an RPG to flesh out the storyline by requiring the player to complete [[patterns:sidequest|sidequests]]. These types of gates often occur within [[patterns:hub|hubs]] or [[patterns:city|cities]] where there are a lot of opportunities to find story-related quests. |
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=====Variables and Affordances===== | =====Variables and Affordances===== |
=====Related Patterns===== | =====Related Patterns===== |
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* [[patterns:unwinnable_fight|Unwinnable Fight]]: instances where the player is below the intended level of soft gates can turn into unwinnable fights. | * [[patterns:unwinnable_fight|Unwinnable Fight]]. Instances where the player is below the intended level of soft gates can turn into unwinnable fights. |
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=====Quest-Level Relationship===== | =====Quest-Level Relationship===== |
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* [[patterns:linear_hub_pattern|Linear Hub Pattern]] - Soft gates can turn a diamond superstructure into a linear hub pattern, without ever having to hard code limits on which quests you can complete at any time. Soft gates instead persuade the player with threat of death to follow a linear path in an open world. | * [[patterns:linear_hub_pattern|Linear Hub Pattern]]. Soft gates can turn a diamond superstructure into a linear hub pattern while retaining some emergent qualities and without the designer needing to hard-code quest restrictions. Soft gates instead persuade the player with threat of death to follow a linear path in an open world. |
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{{tag>level:PhysicalElement}} | ===== Acknowledgments ===== |
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| The inspiration for identifying this pattern came from TV Tropes's [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BeefGate|Beef Gate]]. |
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| {{tag>level:PhysicalElement games:fallout3 games:borderlands}} |