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patterns:soft_gate [2011/06/12 08:40] Gillian Smith [Quest-Level Relationship] |
patterns:soft_gate [2011/06/12 08:53] (current) Gillian Smith [Acknowledgments] |
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| ======Soft Gate====== | ======Soft Gate====== | ||
| - | {{:patterns:badass_corrosive_skag.png?300}} | + | {{:patterns:badass_corrosive_skag.png?direct&}} |
| - | [[org:citations|Borderlands]] | + | [[games:borderlands|Borderlands]] |
| =====Description===== | =====Description===== | ||
| 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. | ||
| - | 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. |
| =====Variables and Affordances===== | =====Variables and Affordances===== | ||
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| * [[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. | * [[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. | ||
| - | {{tag>level:PhysicalElement games:fallout3}} | + | ===== 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}} | ||
