Game designers have a difficult job in continually designing games that meet the growing expectations of players. iGaming trends and player preferences are changing at rapid pace and game designers have to be creative with their ideas to keep players interested in playing their games for regular sessions.

The iGaming industry is notoriously competitive and player acquisition and retention are the key measures of success. As well as looking at new ways to create engaging animations and adding a variety of gameplay options within games, game designers can take insights from other principles of different games that have a proven formula.

For example, insights from chance-based games can provide inspiration for game design, including the psychological effects of feedback loops.

How Does the Feedback Loop Work in Chance-Based Games?

A feedback loop in chance-based games is a cycle that continually repeats:

Player action > outcome determined by chance > feedback sent to player > player reacts > cycle starts again

The feedback element involves the player receiving an instant result which might be conveyed through sounds, visual effects or animations. The reaction aspect is how the player responds to the feedback, for example, in slots if a player feels like the feedback they received puts them closer to a win, they will often decide to spin again.

Without the added effects of sounds and animations, they might decide to stop playing, so providing a constant feedback loop keeps the player engaged in the game. The anticipation of what could happen next is the motivation to keep playing for longer.

This is why chance-based games like the slots on Tikal are so popular, with skill-based games a player is more likely to get disheartened if they hit a losing streak because other players might have a higher skill level. With chance-based games, the next result is completely unpredictable.

How Game Design Can Incorporate the Feedback Loop

Feedback loops are essential in video games, slot games and other types of casino games. A player wants to receive consistent feedback of how they are doing, whether that is from sounds, numbers or animations. It helps them to understand what they are doing wrong and what they need to repeat to improve their performance or results.

In casino game design, visual and audio feedback help to build up anticipation which provides players with a dopamine spike. If they get a near miss, such as slot reels coming agonizingly close to a matching line, their brain is programmed to think the result that was so close is possible and is achievable by continuing to play.

Feedback loops also help players to learn the rules of games, for example, playing a move in online chess that is not allowed is often flagged with a negative sound that is associated with something that is not allowed. Game shows have incorporated these types of sounds for decades, the players and the audience receive audio feedback immediately, often accompanied by a red cross or similar symbol to show that the answer they have given is incorrect.

Rewards for Improvement

Players feel like they are making progress if they receive rewards for improving on previous scores or reaching a new level. Game designers who build in features based around rewarding improvement are more likely to see success in terms of longer player sessions and repeat plays.

These types of rewards might include unlocking a different part of the game, upgrading a car in racing games or being awarded a new type of weapon in combat games. Receiving these rewards not only gives the player a sense of achievement, it also helps them to understand which patterns of their play are working well and how to avoid unwanted outcomes.

Why Responsible Design is Important

Game designers also need to consider how they apply feedback loops and make it clear when a positive outcome has occurred and when a negative one has played out. Sounds and animations that do not match the outcome can be misleading and casinos have strict regulations to comply with.

If operators are found to provide games that do not meet the requirements set out by regulators, for example, misleading players into thinking the outcome is a better one than they received could be deemed as a compliance breach. Therefore, game designers need to be careful not to incorporate overly emphasized sounds and visuals that celebrate small wins, such as a smaller win than the stake itself.

When game designers are looking at ways to improve existing games or develop completely new game concepts, feedback loops used in chance-based games can be a useful form of inspiration but how they apply them has to be aligned to the regulatory restrictions.