20. Cooperative Games

TL;DR

Cooperative game design involves creating a game where players work together towards a common goal, and it is important to balance player skills and difficulty levels to avoid boredom or anxiety.

Transcript

The following content is provided under a Creative Commons license. Your support will help MIT OpenCourseWare continue to offer high quality educational resources for free. To make a donation or view additional materials from hundreds of MIT courses, visit MIT OpenCourseWare at ocw.mit.edu. PROFESSOR: All right, so this weekend's reading was met be... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Cooperative games often involve players working together towards a common goal, fostering teamwork and collaboration.
• 👾 Difficulty levels in cooperative games can be adjusted by changing starting conditions or adding extra options, allowing players of different skill levels to enjoy the game.
• 👾 Player immersion in cooperative games is important for engagement and enjoyment. Designers should provide elements that allow players to identify with the game and its characters or narrative.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is an example of a cooperative game?

One example is Pandemic, where players work together as a team of disease-fighting specialists to contain and cure four deadly diseases spreading across the globe.

Q: How can difficulty levels be adjusted in cooperative games?

Difficulty can be adjusted by changing starting conditions, such as increasing the level of challenge or the number of obstacles or by giving players extra options or resources.

Q: Why is it important for players to identify with the game?

Player immersion is important for engagement and enjoyment. Providing elements that allow players to identify with the game, such as relatable characters or a compelling narrative, can enhance the gaming experience.

Q: What are some strategies for creating a balanced cooperative game?

Balancing player skills and difficulty levels is crucial for avoiding boredom or anxiety. Game designers can achieve this balance by testing the game with different groups of players and adjusting the game mechanics accordingly.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Cooperative games allow players to work together towards a common goal, rather than competing against each other.

• Difficulty levels in cooperative games can be adjusted by changing starting conditions or adding extra options.

• Game designers should consider the player's ability to identify with the game and provide elements that allow them to immerse themselves in the experience.