Game ObjectivesGame Objectives

Provide ChallengesProvide ChallengesSet the tone of the gameSet the tone of the game

Affects formal game systemAffects formal game systemAffects game dramaticsAffects game dramatics

Consider the following:Consider the following:

What are some of the objectives What are some of the objectives of gamesof games you you have played?have played?

What What impact impact do these objectives have on the do these objectives have on the tone of the game?tone of the game?

Do certain Do certain genres genres of play lend themselves to of play lend themselves to certain objectives?certain objectives?

What are player-determined What are player-determined

objectives?objectives?

What is an Objective?What is an Objective?The objective of the game is The objective of the game is what players strive for. what players strive for.

They define what players They define what players are trying to accomplish with are trying to accomplish with the game. the game.

In the best games, In the best games, objectives are challenging objectives are challenging just obtainable.just obtainable.

Examples of Game ObjectivesExamples of Game Objectives

Clue: Be the first Clue: Be the first player to deduce player to deduce who, where, and who, where, and how a how a murder was murder was committed.committed.

Examples of Game ObjectivesExamples of Game Objectives

Battleship: Be Battleship: Be the first player the first player to to sink sink all five of all five of your opponent’s your opponent’s battleships.battleships.

Examples of Game ObjectivesExamples of Game Objectives

Connect Four: Be Connect Four: Be the first player to the first player to place four units in place four units in a a contiguous contiguous line line on the playing on the playing grid.grid.

Examples of Game ObjectivesExamples of Game Objectives

Chess: Chess: CheckmateCheckmate your opponent’s your opponent’s king.king.

Examples of Game ObjectivesExamples of Game Objectives

Super Mario Brothers:Super Mario Brothers:Rescue Princess Rescue Princess

Toadstool Toadstool from the evil from the evil Bowser by completing Bowser by completing all eight worlds.all eight worlds.

Examples of Game ObjectivesExamples of Game Objectives

Civilization: Civilization: ConquerConquer all other all other civilizations on the board.civilizations on the board.

Categories of Game ObjectivesCategories of Game Objectives

CaptureCaptureChaseChaseRaceRaceAlignmentAlignmentRescue or EscapeRescue or EscapeForbidden ActForbidden ActConstructionConstructionExplorationExplorationSolutionSolutionOutwitOutwit

Capture Game ObjectiveCapture Game Objective

The objective is to take or The objective is to take or capture something of the capture something of the opponent’s while avoiding being opponent’s while avoiding being captured or killed.captured or killed.

Real-time strategy games.Real-time strategy games.

Examples: checkers and chess.Examples: checkers and chess.

Also in this category are real-Also in this category are real-time strategy games.time strategy games.

The concept of capturing or The concept of capturing or killing the opponent’s forces in killing the opponent’s forces in one ingrained in games.one ingrained in games.

Capture Game Examples:Capture Game Examples:

Battleship

Capture the Flag

Civilization

Chase Game ObjectiveChase Game Objective

Catch or elude an opponentCatch or elude an opponentCan be single-player vs game, player vs Can be single-player vs game, player vs player, or unilateral competition.player, or unilateral competition.Determined by:Determined by:– Speed or physical dexteritySpeed or physical dexterity– Stealth and strategyStealth and strategy– Logic and deductionLogic and deduction

Chase Game ExamplesChase Game Examples

TagTag

Laser TagLaser Tag

Fox and GeeseFox and Geese

Maximum ChaseMaximum Chase

Race Game ObjectiveRace Game Objective

Reach a goal – Reach a goal – physical or conceptual physical or conceptual –Examples could be a –Examples could be a footrace, a board game footrace, a board game like like Uncle WigglyUncle Wiggly or or ParcheesiParcheesi..

Determined by physical Determined by physical dexterity, or by a mix of dexterity, or by a mix of strategy and chance – strategy and chance – like like BackgammonBackgammon..

Race Game ExamplesRace Game Examples

Uncle WiggilyUncle Wiggily

BackgammonBackgammon

SorrySorry

Chinese ChickersChinese Chickers

Alignment Game ObjectiveAlignment Game Objective

Arrange your game is to Arrange your game is to arrange your game pieces in a arrange your game pieces in a certain configuration or create certain configuration or create conceptual alignment between conceptual alignment between categories of pieces.categories of pieces.

Often puzzle-like because they Often puzzle-like because they require “solving” spatial or require “solving” spatial or organizational problems.organizational problems.

Determined by:Determined by:– logic and calculationlogic and calculation– Chance opportunityChance opportunity

Alignment Game ExamplesAlignment Game Examples

BejeweledBejeweled

Connct 4Connct 4

JengaJenga

Tic Tac ToeTic Tac Toe

TetrisTetris

Rescue or Escape Game ObjectiveRescue or Escape Game Objective

Get a defined unit or units Get a defined unit or units to safety or escape from a to safety or escape from a boundary or mental boundary or mental challenge.challenge.

Can be combined with Can be combined with other partial-objectives.other partial-objectives.

Rescue or Escape Game ObjectiveRescue or Escape Game Objective

Super Mario brothersSuper Mario brothers

Great Dinosaur Great Dinosaur RescueRescue

Turtix Rescue Turtix Rescue AdventureAdventure

Forbidden Act Game ObjectiveForbidden Act Game Objective

Get competition to “break Get competition to “break the rules” by laughing, the rules” by laughing, talking, letting go, making talking, letting go, making wrong moves, or doing wrong moves, or doing something they shouldn’t.something they shouldn’t.

Not often found in digital Not often found in digital games.games.

Sometimes involves Sometimes involves stamina or flexibility.stamina or flexibility.

Forbidden Act Game ExamplesForbidden Act Game Examples

TwisterTwister

Ker PlunkKer Plunk

OperationOperation

Pick up sticksPick up sticks

Construction Game ObjectiveConstruction Game Objective

Build, maintain, or manage Build, maintain, or manage objectsobjects

May be directly competitive May be directly competitive or indirectly competitive.or indirectly competitive.

Often make use of resource Often make use of resource management or trading as management or trading as a game element.a game element.

Construction Game ExamplesConstruction Game Examples

SimCitySimCity

CivilizationCivilization

Animal CrossingAnimal Crossing

Second LifeSecond Life

MagnextMagnext

Exploration Game ObjectiveExploration Game Objective

Explore game areas – Explore game areas – usually combined with a usually combined with a competitive objective.competitive objective.

Sometimes multiple Sometimes multiple objectives such as objectives such as exploration, puzzle solving, exploration, puzzle solving, and combat intertwine to and combat intertwine to form multifaceted form multifaceted gameplay.gameplay.

Exploration Game ExamplesExploration Game Examples

ZeldaZelda

EverQuestEverQuest

GoldlandGoldland

Solution Game ObjectiveSolution Game Objective

Solve a problem or Solve a problem or puzzle before your puzzle before your opponents or against opponents or against the computerthe computer

Solution Game ExamplesSolution Game Examples

MystMyst

World of GooWorld of Goo

PipesPipes

Outwit Game ObjectiveOutwit Game Objective

Gain and use Gain and use knowledge in a way that knowledge in a way that defeats the other defeats the other players.players.Sometimes “extra-Sometimes “extra-game” knowledge game” knowledge comes into gameplay comes into gameplay ((JeopardyJeopardy or or TrivialTrivial PursuitPursuit).).May provoke interesting May provoke interesting social dynamics.social dynamics.

Outwit Game ExamplesOutwit Game Examples

Trivial PursuitTrivial Pursuit

SurvivorSurvivor

Win Lose or DrawWin Lose or Draw

JeopardyJeopardy

Turn the TideTurn the Tide