The Gameplay Loop

While playing a game, you might notice that some things happen repeatedly, both on a basic level (jumping, using a weapon, opening chests) and on a higher level (quests, puzzle types, boss battles). Both for the sake of creating a cohesive game, and to avoid manually scripting out every event that occurs within a game, some parts of almost any game behave similarly to other parts.  The result of these repeating elements is called a gameplay loop. 

Gameplay Loops are a necessary part of game design. They are the core of a game, defining the basic mechanics and cycles that players repeat throughout the game. Although they are essential to the design and development of a game, not every game uses them in the same way. From hardline rule set, like in many RPG games, to mechanics designed specifically to be broken in games like Portal, gameplay loops have been used by game developers in countless ways. 

Written-Out Version of our Player Journey. Our Main Gameplay Loop is the part outlined in Yellow

However, some genres have more ability to manipulate the game mode than others. In particular, sports games often have a rigid gameplay loop, as many of them try to faithfully follow the rules of the games they are based on. This is not bad, of course. But it isn't a restriction we have with Buggy Bogey. Due to our unique premise and mechanics, we adjust the loop to add a sense of chaos and variety. 

Because of the number of interesting and unique interactions players can have with objects around the map, there is a lot more going on than players would expect based on the idea of a “golf game.” Maybe they’ll run into an object that randomly explodes; maybe they’ll wander near a giant clown head and get gnomes shot at them. By adding these chaotic elements, players will initially feel like they are in a world they can’t understand. By the time they start to see what’s going on, even more chaotic elements will be added, called “catastrophes,” which will be explained in more detail by another member of our group.  

Some of the interactive items in Buggy Bogey

By manipulating the gameplay loop, games like Buggy Bogey can add unique elements to the player experience by changing the DNA of how the game. When they encounter an element that they haven’t seen before. While working through methods like this, we hope to make Buggy Bogey as interesting yet simple enough that anyone can play it. 

• Dyani