Game play spatial patterns

Character dialog is another tool used in video game to convey story, to communicate game rules, or to

set information about quests player will face or to collaborate with other players. Dialogues can be

presented to the player either with text or voice-over. Dialogue can be used directly from characters

(players or non-players or through cut-scenes along the game. Dialogue can be performed in different

ways from the simplest form of option and choice to the ore complex branching dialogue.

 Simple Choice. The first form of dialogue provides player with options which player has to select.

 Linear Dialogue. This is the simplest form of interactive dialogue, usually with NPC who respond

with a scripted dialogue from his side. It is a linear bidirectional dialogue and it is limited in the

field of response and quantity of information revealed and consequently the player does not

always have choice. Nevertheless, although it is not highly interactive, it is easy and simple to be

implemented. Linear dialogue can happen also between two NPC advancing the story flow.

 Branching Dialogue. This is a more advanced dialogue tool. It offers tree options and therefore

provides the possibility for more in depth information. Players acknowledge additional

information by selecting step by step a set of option. Tree dialogue structures are more

interactive and give the player the feeling of action.

Dialogue is usually a game to player communication or a player to player communication. Technically

this can happen through option choose, chat or voice over.

Game play spatial patterns

The basic propriety of video game is spatiality (Murray 1997). Video game space is a virtual, navigable

space which the player is invited to exploration and where game activities take place. It is an essential

element of the virtual environment. In video games, space does not have a material dimension, although

it’s a space build in 3D. Similarly, to the real space of architecture game space is defined by objects and their reciprocal relationship and rules. Moreover, video games create space (virtual environments to

navigate, explore, and manipulate for the sake of the game or in the perspective of storytelling. In this

sense space is structured into stages or levels which are explored step by step as player progress through

the game world. Hence game space is revealed in its shape while player move within it.

Narrative shape game space influence player’s engagement. King and Krzywinska (2003) classify games in

relation to the dimension of game space exploration, highlighting three spatial configurations related to

player’s degree of freedom to perform movement along X, Y and Z axes.

 One-Dimensional,

 Two-Dimensional,

 Three-Dimensional game play

In Architecture this kind of exploration is possible only in the virtual word.

Player movement in 3D space.

3d Space gameplay can be one, two, or three dimensional, which means that player can move within

these constrains.

Figure 127 One, two and three dimensional space patterns indicating the level of constrains in space movement.

One-Dimensional gameplay in 3D space.

One-Dimensional gameplay space scroll in one direction. Typical examples are race video games such as

Gran Turismo 7(2021, which have a focused point of view of the player. Players moves along a rail or

track represented through a 2D map which is shown to him continuously as navigation bar in the screen.

It is used to facilitate players orientation and to show him its real time location.

Figure 128 One dimentional play in Gran Turismo 7 (2021). View from avatar and map of the path in which player navigates.

Two-Dimensional game play in 3D space

Player moves at least in two directions within the 3D real time environment. This spatial configuration is

typical in first-person shooter game genre such as Myst III: Exile (2001, Wolfenstein (2009). In this games

player can move back and forth and right and left shooting enemies, which do similar movements in the

3D space. In this type of game configuration movement is bidirectional.