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A language question

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Fri, 03/13/2015 - 17:29
Grixx
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I'm not quite sure that this question belongs here, but the question is kind of stupid, so I suppose it doesn't belong in any forum 'exactly', so...

Is there an official/accepted term for the effect, that is the opposite of the 'snowball' effect?

I'm almost sure there is one and that I've just forgotten it. I'm drafting some rules at the moment and I need this and it's driving me crazy!

Is there such a term?

P.S. And if there isn't - any suggestions? I tried substituting until I find the correct word, but it has been disappointing (if you know that in your situation you could have the snowball effect, you can guess what is the 'glueball effect' that you actually have, but it doesn't work by itself).

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Fri, 03/13/2015 - 17:52
#1
DifferentName
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Catch-up?

Catch-up maybe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_mechanics#Catch-up

A snowball effect makes it so if you start winning, you get advantages that help you to continue winning. The opposite would be a catch-up effect, that penalizes the player in the lead, or gives a boost to players that are falling behind.

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Fri, 03/13/2015 - 17:54
#2
Sliverik
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If you want to create an

If you want to create an effect that gets weaker and weaker as time goes on (or as you play it, etc...), why not simply "Exhaustion"?
You may find other terms, more suited to your idea, but I didn't get much context, so that's why I only give you this one.

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Sat, 03/14/2015 - 00:43
#3
kos
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Formal terms

By "snowball" effect, do you mean what is formally referred to as a "positive feedback loop"?

If so, the opposite is a "negative feedback loop". However, depending on the context / audience of the text, such a formal term may not be appropriate.

Regards
kos

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Tue, 03/17/2015 - 15:10
#4
Zag24
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Dampening.

Dampening.

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Tue, 03/17/2015 - 20:23
#5
Leeton
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A snowball effect can be

A snowball effect can be positive or negative, as it's when things build together towards a larger result.

So the only opposites that would really exist is one large thing falling apart into small parts; or little bits that don't add together at all.

The first of those two is the only real plausible one, so I'm guessing you mean that. (Like others, a clearer context might help us to understand and provide clearer answers.)

If it is that case, I'd agree with the terms mentioned such as Exhaustion, Fatigue, etc.

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Thu, 03/19/2015 - 17:19
#6
Grixx
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Thank you all!

Thank you all!

I was wandering if there was an accepted term that I just don't know, but judging by your answers, may be there is none. However, 'snowball effect' is not a dictionary example also, so it all levels up.

'Catch-up' sounds great, even though it's kind the other side of the coin, compared to what I was going for.

If the 'snowball effect' means that the father ahead you get, the easier it becomes to go even further, then I was looking for the word for "the farther you get, the harder it becomes to go further". So I suppose 'Dampening' and 'Exhaustion' fit nicely.

And if in a game you have a naturally emerging snowball effect that you want to counteract, you can either introduce an exhaustion effect for the same player or catching-up mechanics for the other players.

Thanks a lot! This is even more that I looked for :)

P.S. The positive and negative feedback describe these effects perfectly! I'm just looking for terms I could use in more casual way in a rulebook. Besides that - thanks about that too.

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