Difference between revisions of "Positive Feedback Loops"

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(Using the pattern)
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updating the names of the Arithmetic and Geometric patterns, and Rules of Play; farms in CityVille and Empires & Allies
 
updating the names of the Arithmetic and Geometric patterns, and Rules of Play; farms in CityVille and Empires & Allies
  
A general approach to creating [[Positive Feedback Loops]] is to make use of [[Geometric Progression]] for [[Rewards]] or effects of player actions where the [[Rewards]] and effects also make the actions easier to do in the future. Since such [[Rewards]] often take the form of [[Resources]] (or access to [[Units]]), the use of [[Positive Feedback Loops]] heavily affect how these work in a game. Quite naturally, [[Resource Caps]] work against the pattern if applied to [[Resources]] affecting the relevant player actions (by definition [[Negative Feedback Loops]] related to the same parts of the game state also work against the pattern).
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Providing players with the possibility to create [[Gameplay Engines]] is a typical reason to have [[Positive Feedback Loops]] in games. Another is to the wish that the game should have certain systemic properties as part of a
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[[Critical Gameplay Design]].
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A general approach to creating [[Positive Feedback Loops]] is to make use of [[Geometric Progression]] for [[Rewards]] or effects of player actions where the [[Rewards]] and effects also make the actions easier to do in the future. Since such [[Rewards]] often take the form of [[Resources]] (or access to [[Units]]), the use of [[Positive Feedback Loops]] heavily affect how these work in a game.  
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Quite naturally, [[Resource Caps]] work against the pattern if applied to [[Resources]] affecting the relevant player actions (by definition [[Negative Feedback Loops]] related to the same parts of the game state also work against the pattern).
  
 
Several different [[Positive Feedback Loops]] can exist in a game. For example, in [[Dominion]] players can have [[Positive Feedback Loops]] related to gaining [[Cards]] with actions or purchase ability or those related to gaining [[Cards]] that increase their [[Scores]]. Knowing when to start focusing on the latter due to the game being about to end is a skill in this game, and shows how the presence of the [[Construction/Scoring Phase Shift]]
 
Several different [[Positive Feedback Loops]] can exist in a game. For example, in [[Dominion]] players can have [[Positive Feedback Loops]] related to gaining [[Cards]] with actions or purchase ability or those related to gaining [[Cards]] that increase their [[Scores]]. Knowing when to start focusing on the latter due to the game being about to end is a skill in this game, and shows how the presence of the [[Construction/Scoring Phase Shift]]
 
pattern can affect [[Positive Feedback Loops]].
 
pattern can affect [[Positive Feedback Loops]].
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
 
[[Critical Gameplay Design]],
 
[[Gameplay Engines]],
 
 
==== with [[Geometric Progression]] ====
 
[[Combos]],
 
[[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]],
 
[[Value of Effort]]
 
  
 
==== with [[Geometric Progression]] and [[Investments]] ====
 
==== with [[Geometric Progression]] and [[Investments]] ====

Revision as of 13:08, 14 September 2016

The one-sentence "definition" that should be in italics.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Examples

Anti-Examples

optional

Using the pattern

updating the names of the Arithmetic and Geometric patterns, and Rules of Play; farms in CityVille and Empires & Allies

Providing players with the possibility to create Gameplay Engines is a typical reason to have Positive Feedback Loops in games. Another is to the wish that the game should have certain systemic properties as part of a Critical Gameplay Design. A general approach to creating Positive Feedback Loops is to make use of Geometric Progression for Rewards or effects of player actions where the Rewards and effects also make the actions easier to do in the future. Since such Rewards often take the form of Resources (or access to Units), the use of Positive Feedback Loops heavily affect how these work in a game.

Quite naturally, Resource Caps work against the pattern if applied to Resources affecting the relevant player actions (by definition Negative Feedback Loops related to the same parts of the game state also work against the pattern).

Several different Positive Feedback Loops can exist in a game. For example, in Dominion players can have Positive Feedback Loops related to gaining Cards with actions or purchase ability or those related to gaining Cards that increase their Scores. Knowing when to start focusing on the latter due to the game being about to end is a skill in this game, and shows how the presence of the Construction/Scoring Phase Shift pattern can affect Positive Feedback Loops.

with Geometric Progression and Investments

Tension, Timing

Consequences

Positive Feedback Loops can create a Runaway Leader and thereby also Predictable Winner. For this reason, Positive Feedback Loops work against Player Balance and Team Balance (while Negative Feedback Loops can work for them). However, such situations also promote Predictable Gameplay Time since one of the players may be likely to be able to exploit the Positive Feedback Loop before certain amount of gameplay time has occurred.

When the Positive Feedback Loops are focused upon the challenges players met (rather than players' Abilities, Gameplay Engines, Scores, etc. that lead to a Runaway Leader), the pattern can create Ever Increasing Difficulty in a game.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Critical Gameplay Design, Ever Increasing Difficulty, Gameplay Engines, Predictable Gameplay Time, Predictable Winner, Runaway Leader

with Geometric Progression

Combos, Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses, Value of Effort

with Geometric Progression and Investments

Tension, Timing

Can Modulate

Resources, Units

Can Be Instantiated By

Geometric Progression

Can Be Modulated By

Construction/Scoring Phase Shift

Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

Negative Feedback Loops, Player Balance, Resource Caps, Team Balance

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

References

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Acknowledgements

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