In most videogames a player is not the same player at the beginning, middle or end of the game. It is not solely based on the progression of the narrative or story in the game, but in strict terms of gameplay, a player learns the rules of the game and exploits them to his or her advantage. The player is immediately on a quest for more power in a game, be it in terms of skill sets, specific items, knowledge or the ultimate defeat of the enemy of the main character if there is one. At the beginning, the player is usually in a familiar situation where the character is powerless or weak to do any incredible feats that are sometimes displayed in forms of exploration, other generated enemies or allies, etc. The player is more cautious at the beginning of a videogame because the player lacks the knowledge of his or her immediate environment, the player does not possess the right tools to solve the problem that is directly ahead or the player does not know the rules and punishments of the game. As the game progresses, the player is forced to progress to in order to deal with new problems or issues that lie ahead and there are several ways to track a player’s progression in a videogame. For example, skill trees are often used to track a player’s progression by measuring the amount of experience points gained by the player for solving puzzles or defeating enemies. The skill tree is given so that every single player can decide what to focus on and what type of skills the player is most adept at using. Although every player is given a skill tree, each player is given options to different paths to power be it in a more tactical or straightforward way. Another method of tracking a player’s progression is through the use of items and equipment should a game incorporate the use of these tools. If a player at the beginning obtains an item that he or she cannot immediately use, it is often because the progression of the player is not yet sufficient enough to meet the requirements of the item that the player has acquired.

(Haas, September 8, 2012)

A good example of a game that has been able to incorporate both of these forms of player progression is Borderlands 2. In Borderlands 2, the player has the primary option to pick an established character of the game and who possess different skill sets and personalities. Once the player decides which character is the best choice for them, the player is able to progress with that specific character. In the game, the player embarks on a journey to reach an ultimate goal which is to defeat the main enemy in this fictitious world. In order to achieve this goal, the player is thrown into an open world with several quests and objectives that give the player more insight into what will be the final outcome as well as gives the player better tools and equipment in order to defeat any enemy he or she comes or across.

References

Haas, P. (2012, September 8). Borderlands 2 Skill Trees Released | CINEMABLEND. Retrieved from http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Borderlands-2-Skill-Trees-Released-46675.html