Action Loop y Meta Loop

What are Game Loops in video game development?

Game Loops are an essential part of video game design, representing repetitive cycles that capture players' attention. Each video game has its own loop, which determines how actions, results and rewards are meshed during the game. Although it may seem monotonous to some, good loop design is what keeps players engaged, allowing for smooth and engaging gameplay.

How are Game Loops structured?

Game Loops generally consist of three basic elements:

1. Action: What the player does during the game.
2. Outcome: The consequences of the player's actions.
3. Reward: Incentives that are awarded upon successful completion of actions.

Depending on the type of game, these elements can be modified and combined in various ways to keep players interested.

What is an Action Loop?

The Action Loop focuses on what happens during a game. For example, in card games, an Action Loop would lead the player to draw a card, summon it, and engage in attack or defense phases. These steps are intertwined with microloops, which are small repetitive actions within the big loop, such as combos activated during an attack phase.

Example of Action Loop in card games:

• Take cards:

  • Increases turn.
  • Increases mana.
  • Take a card from the deck.
  • Add card to hand.

• Summon:

  • Subtracts card in hand.
  • Decreases mana.
  • Add creature in field.

• Attack/defense phase:

  • Activate combos.
  • Adjust number of creatures.
  • Calculate extra damage.

What is a Meta-Loop?

The Meta-Loop goes beyond the simple game moment, as it encompasses all the elements that happen outside of a specific game. This concept includes card upgrades, temporary events, stores and social elements. Meta-Loop is crucial to creating a cohesive game experience that incentivizes players to continue interacting with the game.

Meta-Loop elements:

1. Time-limited events:

   • They can award basic or rare currency.
   • They expend player energy.

2. Store:

   • Allows to obtain consumables, energy and card parts.

3. Social (clans):

   • Facilitates the obtaining or gift of card pieces.
   • Provides resources such as energy to continue playing.

4. Card upgrades:

   • Requires basic currency and card pieces.
   • Increases the capabilities of the cards.

How to design effective Game Loops for different game genres?

Game Loop design should be tailored to the specific type of game being developed. Instead of a card game, it could be a First Person Shooter (FPS), where the action sequences differ significantly. The essential thing is to determine the key interactions between game elements and adjust the design to make it engaging and keep players engaged.

Tips for creating successful Game Loops:

• Identify the core elements of your game.
• Establish dynamic interactions between game components.
• Ensure there is progression and consistent rewards for each player action.

By applying concepts such as Bartle's taxonomy and Design Thinking, you can visualize how to make a game more engaging, emphasizing player retention, a crucial aspect for the success of any modern video game.

In the end, the development of Game Loops, as well as Action Loops and Meta-Loops, is an art that requires creativity and innovation. Game designers must strategically decide which elements are most appealing to capture and retain their audience. All in all, the key is to maintain the essence of the game and motivate players to follow the experience, an effort that really makes the difference in game development.