| { |
| "pattern_name": "Alignment", |
| "description": "This goal consists of forming a linear alignment of game elements.", |
| "content": [ |
| "Many games make use of the spatial relationship of game elements to cause effects in the game state. When the pieces have to form a line (typically defined by three game elements) for an effect to occur, this can be described as giving players the goal of[[Alignment]]. The goal usually requires the aligned elements to be next to each other. There are, however, games where this is not required but the [[Alignment]] can also be determined by the movement paths of game elements such as leaping in Droughts." |
| ], |
| "using_the_pattern": [ |
| "The requirements for using [[Alignment]] are to have a [[Game World]] that allows spatial arrangements and to have a [[Game State Overview]] for players of the whole area which is to be used. The prime challenges that can be designed for [[Alignment]] goals consist of how players can move the necessary game elements into the correct position and how game elements can be removed in order to hinder the completion of the [[Alignment]]. The difficulty of the goal can easily be increased by making the game elements move on their own or making them moveable by other players and introducing [[Preventing Goals]].", |
| "[[Alignment]] is used in many ways in board games to create [[Capture]], with approach and withdrawal as two specific cases [Parlett, p.232-233]. In approach the piece is captured by moving towards it in a straight line and stopping right next to it. Withdrawal is, obviously, the reverse of approach: the piece is captured by moving an adjacent piece away from it in a straight line. Intervention and custodianship are other methods of [[Capture]] listed by Parlett, also using [[Alignment]] as the base pattern. Intervention involves capturing enemy pieces by moving a piece between them to form a line. The captured piece in custodianship is flanked by friendly pieces in such a way that the pieces form a line, as for example is the case in Hnefatafl or Othello where several pieces can be captured by flanking." |
| ], |
| "consequences": [ |
| "[[Alignment]] is a form of [[Configuration]], and offers one of the strongest possibilities for [[Hovering Closures]] by offering players clear visual [[Progress Indicators]] using the gestalt law of connectivity. [[Alignment]] can be a case of [[Connection]], but does not have to be so, since the game elements involved in the [[Alignment]] do not necessarily need to have [[Connection]] between each other.", |
| "In games where shots move instantaneously to the target, or the target is stationary, the action of [[Aim & Shoot]] has [[Alignment]] as a goal." |
| ], |
| "relations": { |
| "Instantiates": [ |
| "Configuration", |
| "Aim & Shoot", |
| "Hovering Closures", |
| "Progress Indicators" |
| ], |
| "Modulates": [ |
| "Capture", |
| "King of the Hill" |
| ], |
| "Instantiated by": [], |
| "Modulated by": [ |
| "Connection" |
| ], |
| "Potentially conflicting with": [] |
| }, |
| "examples": [ |
| "A well known, and perhaps the simplest, game of [[Alignment]] is Tic-Tac-Toe where the winner is the first to have three markers in horizontal, vertical or diagonal [[Alignment]] in a three by three board.", |
| "Tetris uses the horizontal [[Alignment]] of blocks to remove them from the screen and increase the player's score.", |
| "Bejeweled lets players swap game elements which are neighbors, removing them and rewarding the player with points if three or more game elements become aligned." |
| ], |
| "label": "11. Game Design Patterns for Goals", |
| "pattern_links": [ |
| { |
| "name": "Capture", |
| "file": "Capture" |
| }, |
| { |
| "name": "Progress Indicators", |
| "file": "ProgressIndicators" |
| }, |
| { |
| "name": "King of the Hill", |
| "file": "KingoftheHill" |
| }, |
| { |
| "name": "Hovering Closures", |
| "file": "HoveringClosures" |
| }, |
| { |
| "name": "Connection", |
| "file": "Connection" |
| }, |
| { |
| "name": "Aim & Shoot", |
| "file": "Aim&Shoot" |
| }, |
| { |
| "name": "Configuration", |
| "file": "Configuration" |
| } |
| ], |
| "pattern_id": "Alignment", |
| "playable_concept": "https://itch.io/queue/c/3720943/goal-playable-concepts?game_id=1780311", |
| "metadata": { |
| "version": "1.2.2.2", |
| "date_processed": "2025-04-26", |
| "source_file": "Alignment.htm", |
| "converter_version": "1.2.2.2" |
| } |
| } |
