Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURe b.5
The production
mechanism in
Power
Grid.
The converter
engine is in blue.
related Patterns
n
A converter engine is well suited to be combined with the
engine building
pattern
because there are many opportunities to change the settings of the engine: the con-
version rate of two converters and possibly the setting of a limiter.
n
The positive feedback a converter engine creates is best balanced by introducing
some sort of friction.
n
A
converter engine
elaborates the
static engine
pattern.
n
A
converter engine
can be elaborated by the
engine building
and the
worker place-
ment
pattern.
n
Type:
Engine
n
Intent:
A significant portion of gameplay is dedicated to building up and tuning
an engine to create a steady flow of resources.
n
Motivation:
A
dynamic engine, converter engine
, or a combination of different
engines form a complex and dynamic core of the game. The game includes at least
one, but preferably multiple, mechanics to improve the engine. These mechanics
can involve multiple steps. For the engine building pattern to generate interesting
gameplay, it should not be trivial for the player to assess the state of the engine.
applicability
Use engine building when:
n
You want to create a game that has a strong focus on building and construction.
n
You want to create a game that focuses on long-term strategy and planning.
