week 5

In this journal I want to talk about pleasure of rewards in the computer games. As stated by Hallford & Hallford in games and in life, we all have preferences of outcome. We will engage in choice making so long as we believe one choice provides more benefit to us than another (2001, p.157). In computer games , ‘the player goes to a predetermined place or person in order to receive a reward for their efforts.’(2001, p.181) Hallford et al present 4 different types of rewards (2001, 157-160):
Reward of Glory: ‘Glory rewards are all the things you are going to give to player that have absolutely no impact on the gameplay itself but will be things thy end up taking away from experience’’ (2001, p.158). It can include, for example winning the game by getting all the way to the end.
Reward of Sustenance: This kind of reward is given to players to keep all these things they have gained in the game so far. It can include, for example robot that remove curses or diseases.
Reward of Access: This reward allows a player to access new locations or resources that were previously inaccessible. The typical examples of this kind of rewards are: keys, passwords.
Reward of Facility: Reward of facility enable a players to do things they could not do before or enhance abilities they already posses. Rewards of facility can be new weapons or magic items.
Let us have a look how ‘Age of Empires’ apply to pleasure of rewards. ‘Age of Empires’ is an epic real-time strategy game in which players are challenged to build tribes into great civilizations. In this game players can choose from one of several ways to win the game. Reward of Glory can be: world domination by conquering enemy civilizations, explanation of the known world and economic victory through the accumulation of wealth. What about Reward of Sustenance? These reward include sources of gold, wood, iron and food. These all things make it possible for the player to keep playing. Thanks this reward the player can produce ,build and maintain units, like buildings, builders and soldiers. Reward of Access is here entering new territories, which previously were blocked by enemy nations. Lastly, we have Reward of Facilities, which is conected witch technology. It includes :economic upgrades ( increasing the rate of gathering resources), military upgrades( better armed and armoured units) and infrastructure upgrades ( for example: stronger fortification).

Bibliography:

1. Hallford, N. and Hallford, J. (2001) SWORDS, CIRCUITRY: A Designer’s Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games , United States of America: Prima Publishing.