Community-controlled game

A community-controlled game (CCG), is any video game featuring a single avatar that is controlled by more than one person. As the definition of a CCG refers to the way a game is played, rather than aspects of the game itself, a CCG can be played in any genre. However, according to CCG-streamer Zach Gerlock, Role-Playing Games (RPGs) are the most compatible, because this genre generally does not require reaction-based input.^[1] A CCG will intake commands from multiple players and will issue them to the avatar. However, as players cannot predict what other players will input, the movements and actions of the avatar can be incredibly erratic depending on the game's input mode.

Styles of play

Anarchy

Anarchy-mode allows all commands by players to be issued in sequential order to the avatar. This method of gameplay allows all individuals the equal ability to influence the movement or actions of the avatar, but none the ability to control it with strategy or rationale. Anarchy-mode is very susceptible to Trolls, which makes narrative progress difficult with this style of gameplay. However, players of anarchy-based CCGs often play for the communal experience, rather than the game's story. These players will often collectively create a new narrative based on their unpredictable gameplay.^[2]

Democracy

Democracy-mode allows all commands within a set period of time to be collected, counted and subject to the majority rule. This method of gameplay will issue only the command that is voted for the most (within each block of time), allowing strategy and methodology to be used. While democracy-mode is effective in allowing narrative progress, it often requires planning, voting and agreement between the majority. Unlike anarchy-mode, democracy-mode is protected well against Trolls, unless the majority is made up of them.

Current examples

Twitch Plays Pokémon

On the 12th of February, 2014, an anonymous programmer from Australia streamed a game of Pokémon Red onto the game-streaming website Twitch. Rather than passively watching the streamer play, viewers of Twitch Plays Pokémon were able to actively participate by typing commands into the stream's chatbox. While the original Pokémon Red was a single-player role-playing game, the use of the streamer's code allowed the game to be re-mediated into a CCG. Community-controlled games may exist as either a remediated single-player game or as a game designed to be played by a community.

Categories of CCGs

Remediations

Currently, most CCGs exist as remediations of single-player games. To convert a single-player game into a CCG, the only requirement is for the controls to be opened up to multiple players. A remediation features changes solely to the gameplay mechanics, leaving everything else unchanged.

Dedicated CCGs

A dedicated CCG is a game made specifically to be a community-controlled game. These games will be developed with an awareness of their audience, and the narration will address the community as a whole during tutorials or throughout the game. These games will either feature a third-person plural narrative, or what Game Theorist Chris Milando calls a fourth-person narrative.^[3]

References

1. Gerlock, Zach. "A Thoughtful Gaming Podcast #5: What we can learn from Twitch Plays Pokemon". A Thoughtful Gaming Podcast. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
2. Milando, Chris. "Community-Controlled Games and the Advent of the Fourth-Person Narrative". Level Up Literature. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
3. Milando, Chris. "ibid". Level Up Literature. Retrieved 4 June 2014.