Open world games gives players freedom to move through a virtual world. There’s a lot more
freedom for players around how they approach the objective of the game. These games usually have large settings with different areas and structures to explore as well as a non-linear game play. This kind of freedom and space tend to make players feel a lot more “in control” compared to many games that have linear structures and story lines to follow. ‘Astroneer’ is an open world game that was released as an early access pre-alpha game in December 2016. It’s described as a “game of aerospace and interplanetary exploration” and set in the 25th century. The aim of the game is to explore a new planet in outer space and survive by collecting resources (oxygen/power, resin, compound, laterite, etc) using a terrain tool, which they can use to create tools and expand bases for different modules (printer, storage, research, smelter, vehicle bay, etc.). A game begins by being launched into outer space in a habitat pod - which is used as the first base that can be expanded from.The player lands onto a planet which has randomly generated terrain for every game and from there they can explore the planet as they please. They begin tethered to the habitat which gives them oxygen and power to use the terrain tool (E). If they venture too far they run on their own stored oxygen and power, so to explore further they have to find and collect oxygen and power to stay alive when not attached to a base or tether that feeds it to them. The game play in Astroneer is unique in the sense that the player may do as they please, you can collect resources and roam to a new starting area, create your own houses and many more things. Players can also be accompanied by three other players making for a multiplayer free roam game, although if you chose so another player may live on another planet while two others are on another. In addition to the free roaming aspects Astroneer is in early access so what you can do in this multiverse is somewhat limited to those mechanics. I would compare Astroneer to games such as MineCraft for their building system. Like MineCraft, Astroneer uses real time geometry manipulation tools similar to 3d sculpting softwares like Sculptris where the geometry can be explored more. With these tools players, in any case create structures or cities, villages and have a sort of role play aspect within the game. Using the given mechanics players can build their own ecosystem or play families by having roles of only have one driver, one builder, one collector and maybe one surveying. I Think the point to open world games is to enable players to explore their creativity, their imagination should be built upon and grow as more tools/mechanics become available and the open space of which you can explore be opened up by a multitude of possibilities. |
World design theory (WDT)DevelopersThe goal of this blog is to relate current and past attempts at world design to further improve our understanding. Archives
October 2017
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