© Ben Gonshaw 2011
LOOPS & LUDOLOGYWhy great game design is all about the loop
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
LOOPS & LUDOLOGYWhy great game design is all about the loop
GAME:A competitive activity involving skill, chance,or endurance played according to a set of rules.
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
LOOPS & LUDOLOGYWhy great game design is all about the loop&What the evolution of game design can tell us
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
It started with a loop
Videogames started with a simple Feedback loop.
Press Button
Character moves
Game World
Updates
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
It started with a loop
I FEEL GREAT BECAUSE:IT’S INSTANTLY RESPONSIVE TO ME
Spacewar1962
Tennis for Two1958
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Press Button
Ship Responds
Bullets Drop
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
I FEEL GREAT BECAUSE:I’M BEING CHALLENGED, BUT I’M WINNING
Press Button
Ship Responds
Bullets Drop
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
I FEEL GREAT BECAUSE:I’M BEING CHALLENGED, BUT I’M WINNING
Press Button
Ship Responds
Bullets Drop
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Press Direction
Ship Moves
Bullets Drop
Kill Enemies
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
KillEnemies
KillEnemies
KillEnemies
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Kill Enemies
Enemies Get
Harder
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© Ben Gonshaw 2011
I FEEL BAD BECAUSE:MY FAILURE IS AN INEVITABILITY
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
A loop within a loop
Ramping the player’s abilities as well as the enemies’ is psychologically powerful. Kill
Enemies
Collect Power-
Ups
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Rank Up!
Power-Ups increase the player’s strength
I FEEL GREAT BECAUSE:I CAN CRUSH PREVIOUSLY TOUGH OPPONENTS EASILY
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Loopin’ makes me feel good
The key to that payoff lies in the interplay between the player ranking up and the enemies becoming harder.
Kill Enemies
Collect Power-
Ups
Game Becomes Harder
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Loopin’ makes me feel good
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Difficulty
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Loopin’ makes me feel good
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© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Loopin’ makes me feel good
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© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Loopin’ makes me feel good
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© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Loopin’ makes me feel good
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© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Loopin’ makes me feel good
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© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Loopin’ makes me feel good
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0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 360 375 420 435 465Seconds
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© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Loopin’ makes me feel good
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0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 360 375 420 435 465Seconds
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© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Loopin’ makes me feel good
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© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Get there faster
Games then added a further layer – a meta-game on top of the core mechanics.
Combos = Accelerated Progress
Kill Enemies
Collect Power-
Ups
Game Becomes Harder
COMBO
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Get there faster
I FEEL GREAT BECAUSE:I’VE REVEALED THE HIDDENI’M SKILLED ENOUGH TO USE ITI FEEL LIKE I’M BEATING THE SYSTEM
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
It started with a loop
It turns out that feedback loops are the fundamental driver at many levels of game design.
Moment to Moment
Control Feedback Loop
Hitting Targets
Game Progression Loop
Reward & Reinforcement
Enticement Loop
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
It started with a loop
Press Button
Character moves
Game World
Updates
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The User is Intelligent
The Player makes decisions about what to do.
Press Button
Charactermoves
Game World
Updates
Player Decision
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The Loop is Intelligent
The Player makes decisions
So does the AI.
Press Button
Charactermoves
AI Decision
Game World
Updates
Player Decision
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The Loop is Goal DrivenPress
Button
Charactermoves
AI Decision
Game World
Updates
Player DecisionThe decision is only about
how to reach the goal in a satisfying way.
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The Loop is Goal DrivenPress
Button
Charactermoves
AI Decision
Game World
Updates
Player DecisionThe decision is only about
how to reach the goal in a satisfying way.
Quickest / Highest Scoring / Most Lives
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The Loop is IntelligentPress
Button
Charactermoves
AI Decision
Game World
Updates
Player Decision REWARD
The rewards reinforcesuccessful behaviours.
• Earning points• Visual excitement• Ranking Up
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The Loop is IntelligentPress
Button
Charactermoves
AI Decision
Game World
Updates
Player Decision REWARD
The rewards make it more pleasurable to perform the tasks required.
I FEEL GREAT BECAUSE:REWARDS ARE USEFULREWARDS = EASIER PROGRESSION
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
LOOPS & LUDOLOGYMaking a great reward
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Transparent
Progress towards gaining primary rewards should be clear.
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Meaningful
If the reward has a purpose it becomes powerful.
A pat on the back is nice, but if it makes my life easier then it’s truly appreciated.
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Layered
Additional reward tiers bring richness to the system.
It can be advantageous to have the progress towards these lower tiers more opaque.
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Layered
Skinner’s operant conditioning shows how simple it is to create compulsive behaviours.
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
BalancedExternally
The rewards have to be built into the overall system so that it is not unbalanced when they are won.
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
BalancedInternally
The rewards have to be equitable, giving no great advantage for one over another.
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
What is our Loop?
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
A Game Loop/Press
Button
Charactermoves
AI Decision
Game World
Updates
Player Decision
REWARD
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
What is our loop?Consumer Behaviour
Charactermoves
AI Decision
Game World
Updates
Player Decision
REWARD
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
What is our loop?Consumer Behaviour
Real world Results
AI Decision
Game World
Updates
Player Decision
REWARD
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Consumer Behaviour
Real world Results
Agency Business
Rules
Game World
Updates
Player Decision
REWARD
What is our loop?
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Consumer Behaviour
Real world Results
Agency Business
Rules
*Web *Mobile *Real life
Affected
Player Decision
REWARD
What is our loop?
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Consumer Behaviour
Real world Results
Agency Business
Rules
*Web *Mobile *Real life
Affected
Consumer Decision
REWARD
What is our loop?
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
How the pros did it...
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
There’s a clear consumer goal:Get from A to B.
The loop
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
There’s a simple thing to answer:How do I get there...
The loop
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The loop
Press Button
Character moves
Game World
Updates
This was the space invaders loop.
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The loop
Visit
Location
Check-In
Increases
Become
Mayor
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The loop
Clear Progress to the Goal
2 more check-ins this week to be Mayor
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The loop
2 more check-ins this week to be Mayor
Mayor gets free Coffee
Transparent, REAL WORLD reward
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
The loop
You are the Mayor of Mr. Coffee
YOU get free Coffee
Transparent, REAL WORLD reward
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Consumer Behaviour
Real world Results
Agency Business
Rules
*Web *Mobile *Real life
Affected
Consumer Decision
REWARD
The loop
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
Walk to work via
Mr. Coffee
Check In to Mr. Coffee
Check in=
Mayor=
Reward
Mayor of Mr. Coffee Updates
Find Coffee with
42 Free coffee
The loop
Goal:Get to workWith a Coffee
© Ben Gonshaw 2011
THANK YOU