Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
n
Type:
Friction
n
Intent:
A drain automatically consumes resources produced by the player.
n
Motivation:
The static friction pattern counters a production mechanism by
periodically consuming resources. The rate of consumption can be constant or sub-
jected to randomness.
applicability
Use static friction when:
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You want to create a mechanism that counters production but can eventually be
overcome by the players.
n
You want to exaggerate the long-term benefits from investing in upgrades for a
dynamic engine
.
structure
Participants
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A resource:
energy
n
A
static drain
that consumes energy
n
A
production mechanism
that pro-
duces energy
n
Other
actions
that consume energy
collaborations
The production mechanism produces energy that players need to use to perform
actions. The static drain consumes energy outside players' direct control.
consequences
The static friction pattern is a relatively simple way to counter positive feedback
created by engine patterns. However, it tends to emphasize the long-term strategy
inherent to the
dynamic engine
because it reduces the initial output of the dynamic
engine but does not affect any upgrades.
implementation
An important consideration when implementing static friction is whether the con-
sumption rate is constant or subject to some sort of randomness. Constant static
friction is the easiest to understand and most predictable, whereas random static
friction can cause more noise in the dynamic behavior of the game. The latter can
