{"id":275,"date":"2024-11-16T22:09:02","date_gmt":"2024-11-16T22:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/?p=275"},"modified":"2025-02-20T23:54:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T23:54:24","slug":"week-6-game-loops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/2024\/11\/16\/week-6-game-loops\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 6: Game Loops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What is a game loop? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-5fb07882 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"756\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-26-1024x756.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-26-1024x756.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-26-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-26-768x567.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-26.png 1354w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In game design, a gameplay loop refers to a sequence of actions that players repeatedly engage in, forming the core of their gaming experience and encouraging continued play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These loops can range from simple actions, such as spotting and jumping to avoid obstacles, to more intricate processes like organizing a raid, defeating enemies, and distributing loot. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The core gameplay loop is fundamental, as it serves as the foundation for all other gameplay elements. For instance, in Super Mario, the loop consists of spotting, leaping, surviving, and repeating, while in first-person shooting games, it involves aiming, firing, advancing, and repeating<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Strong gameplay loops often develop organically rather than being meticulously planned from the outset, so it&#8217;s important not to overthink the simplicity of your initial game mechanics. Starting small, with game mechanics and content built in short increments, helps ensure players clearly understand their actions. It\u2019s typically more effective to create multiple loops independently before trying to interconnect them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"616\" data-id=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-27-1024x616.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-27-1024x616.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-27-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-27-768x462.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-27.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"635\" data-id=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-28-1024x635.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-28-1024x635.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-28-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-28-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-28.png 1334w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"602\" data-id=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-29-1024x602.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-29-1024x602.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-29-300x176.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-29-768x452.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-29-1536x903.png 1536w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image-29.png 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take Minecraft as an example of a self-directed game loop, which revolves around a simple three-stage process: Explore, Harvest, and Craft. This loop encapsulates the immediate actions players undertake within a single session while also reflecting larger gameplay patterns over time. Players explore their environment to find resources, harvest these materials, and then use them to craft tools or structures, all of which supports their progression within the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The loop resonates with both individual and group play; players collect resources together and refine them into useful items, fostering community building through gear and infrastructure. As players gain experience and familiarity with their surroundings, they expand their exploration into new biomes, setting self-directed goals that enrich their gameplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This gradual increase in comfort and understanding allows players to strategize their objectives and prioritize tasks, leading to nested core loops that enhance long-term engagement\u2014an attribute shared by many successful survival games, including Subnautica. Such dynamics contribute to the enduring appeal and legendary status of these games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image14-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image14-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image14-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image14-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image14-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/11\/image14.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a game loop? In game design, a gameplay loop refers to a sequence of actions that players repeatedly engage in, forming the core of their gaming experience and encouraging continued play. These loops can range from simple actions, such as spotting and jumping to avoid obstacles, to more intricate processes like organizing a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-term-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=275"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":282,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275\/revisions\/282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/jb19g23\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}