The 4-Step Player Loop Explained

Key Takeaways

Hi and welcome back. In this video, we'll be taking a look at the player engagement loop. Now, one of the many loops that you'll encounter when working in game development is the player engagement loop or player loop, which is simply the process a player goes through when approaching a challenge, which as we know is a fundamental part of game design. The player loop is in four steps. The first step is the observe step. This is when the player uses their senses to collect information upon which they can then make their decisions. So, it's important as a level designer to make sure that you're showing all the relevant information to the player so that they can make good decisions. The next step is the planning step, and this is where the player takes that information and makes decisions about how to act. This is the point of player creativity and is very important. There must be multiple choices or the player might feel railroaded. They need to be able to use their creativity in coming up with a solution that feels unique and amazing to them. The third step is the execute step. This is where the player puts that plan into action. And it relies upon the mechanical ability of the player, how well they can use the controller to be able to execute their plan. Now, from my own personal experience, this is probably the point at which I fail the most because I don't necessarily have the quickest reactions or know which buttons to push all the time. The fourth step is the react step. After completing or failing in their plan, the player then takes a moment to assess. Have things changed? Did my plan work? Was I able to execute it effectively? What might I need to do differently if I need to do it again? This is very different from observing which is passive. Reacting is the active synthesis of information plan and execution all together and to figure out what has happened and what you can do better. It provides a context to start the loop again. Did I not observe something correctly? Was my plan not appropriate? Or was my mechanical ability not up to the task? Now, each one of these steps might only take a few milliseconds to complete, but they're each important, and different types of games emphasize different steps. So, for example, in a turn-based role playing game, there might be a lot of observing and planning and not a lot in terms of executing. In a Guitar Hero style game, there might be a lot of observing and executing, but not necessarily a lot of planning and reacting and so on. We'll be taking a look at how to visualize and document these steps a little bit later. But for now, as we go forward with our level design, consider how you might give different weights to these steps, how you might emphasize one in one aspect or in one stage of your level, and then switch it around and change it up as you progress.