Game Loop Design

Game Loop Design

Core Loop Template

# Core Loop Specification v[X.X]
**Last Updated:** YYYY-MM-DD
**Owners:** [Designers]

## Loop Overview

[PRE-GAME] → [SESSION] → [POST-GAME] → [LOOP BACK]

## Session Structure

### Pre-Game Phase
**Duration:** [Target time]

**Player Actions:**
1. [Action 1]
2. [Action 2]
3. [Action 3]

**Emotional Beat:** [Feeling player has]

**Objectives:**
- [Goal 1]
- [Goal 2]

---

### Session Start (0:00 - [X:XX])

**State:** Players [enter spawn/​start]
**Objectives:** [Initial goals]
**Threats:** [What can hurt players]
**Emotional Beat:** [Feeling]

**Key Events:**
- [X:XX] - [Event 1]
- [Y:YY] - [Event 2]

---

### Early Game ([X:XX] - [Y:YY])

**State:** [Game state description]
**Objectives:** [What players should do]
**Threats:** [What challenges exist]
**Emotional Beat:** [Feeling]

---

### Mid Game ([Y:YY] - [Z:ZZ])

**State:** [Game state description]
**Objectives:** [What players should do]
**Threats:** [What challenges exist]
**Emotional Beat:** [Feeling]

---

### Late Game ([Z:ZZ] - [End])

**State:** [Game state description]
**Objectives:** [Final objectives]
**Threats:** [Maximum challenges]
**Emotional Beat:** [Feeling]

---

### End Game

**Victory Conditions:**
- [Condition 1]
- [Condition 2]

**Defeat Conditions:**
- [Condition 1]
- [Condition 2]

**Rewards:**
- [What players earn]
- [Progression updates]

---

## Post-Game Phase

**Duration:** [Target time]

**Player Actions:**
1. [Action 1]
2. [Action 2]

**Emotional Beat:** [Feeling]

**Session Loop:** [What brings players back]

Loop Design Principles

Engagement

Keep players engaged by:

• Immediate action - Something to do right away
• Clear goals - Know what to do next
• Meaningful choices - Decisions that matter
• Feedback - See results of actions

Pacing

Create tension through:

• Buildup - Escalate towards climax
• Variation - Mix fast/​slow moments
• Surprises - Unexpected events
• Release - Tension breaks

Progression

Enable growth through:

• Learning - Skills improve over time
• Unlocking - New content available
• Building - Accumulate resources
• Advancing - Move through content

Session Flow Diagrams

Text-Based Flow

┌─────────┐
│ LOBBY   │
└────┬────┘
     │
     ▼
┌─────────┐
│ MATCH   │◄──────────────────────┐
└────┬────┘                        │
     │                            │
     ├──────────┬─────────┐      │
     │          │         │      │
     ▼          ▼         ▼      ▼
┌────────┐ ┌───────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐
│EXPLORE│ │FIGHT  │ │LOOT  │ │OBJ   │
└────────┘ └───────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘
     │          │         │      │
     └──────────┴─────────┴──────┘
                    │
                    ▼
              ┌─────────┐
              │EXTRACT  │
              └─────────┘
                    │
                    ▼
              ┌─────────┐
              │ SUMMARY │
              └────┬────┘
                   │
                   ▼
              ┌─────────┐
              │  LOBBY  │
              └─────────┘

Common Loop Patterns

Round-Based

Discrete turns with planning phases:

1. Plan phase
2. Execution phase
3. Resolution phase
4. Reward phase

Real-Time

Continuous action with moments:

1. Constant engagement
2. Peaks and valleys
3. No pausing
4. Immediate feedback

Session-Based

Complete matches with:

1. Preparation phase
2. Main gameplay
3. Conclusion phase
4. Summary/​rewards

Loop Review Checklist

Before finalizing the core loop:

• Minute-by-minute flow documented
• Session phases defined
• Emotional beats mapped
• Pacing is appropriate
• Engagement maintained
• Goals are clear
• Feedback is immediate
• Win/​lose conditions defined
• Progression tied to loop
• Technical feasibility confirmed

---

Multiplayer State Synchronization (NEW - 2026-01-28)

Design considerations for server-authoritative multiplayer games.

State Authority Model

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      SERVER AUTHORITATIVE                     │
│  ┌─────────────┐    ┌─────────────┐    ┌─────────────┐     │
│  │  Game State │◄───│   Physics   │◄───│   Player    │     │
│  │   (Truth)   │    │  Simulation │    │   Inputs    │     │
│  └─────────────┘    └─────────────┘    └─────────────┘     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
         │                                          │
         │ State sync (20Hz)                        │ Input (client)
         ▼                                          ▼
┌─────────────────┐                     ┌─────────────────────┐
│  CLIENT STATE   │                     │   PREDICTED STATE   │
│  (Display only) │                     │   (Immediate feedback)│
└─────────────────┘                     └─────────────────────┘

State Design Principles

Server State (Authoritative):

• Player positions (x, y, z, rotation)
• Health, armor, weapon state
• Match state (lobby, playing, ended)
• Projectile positions and velocities

Client State (Predicted):

• Local player position (client-side prediction)
• Visual effects (immediate feedback)
• UI state (local only)

Shared State (Synced):

• Match scores
• Leaderboard
• Player alive/​dead status

State Update Categories

Prediction vs Reconciliation

Client sends input → Client predicts result → Display immediately
                      ↓
                      Server processes input → Sends correction
                      ↓
                      Client reconciles (smooth correction)

Design Checklist for Multiplayer Features

Before adding gameplay features:

• Is this feature server-authoritative or client-authoritative?
• What happens if state sync is delayed (100ms+ latency)?
• Can this feature exploit prediction/​reconciliation?
• What visual feedback is needed during network delays?
• Does this feature need rollback support?

State Management for Multiplayer

Store Structure:

src/​store/
├── connectionStore.ts  - Server connection status
├── playerStore.ts      - Local player state (predicted)
├── matchStore.ts       - Match/​server state (authoritative)
└── uiStore.ts          - UI state (local only)

Integration Points:

• connectionStore.sessionId - Unique player identifier
• playerStore.position - Predicted local position
• matchStore.players - Server-authoritative player list
• matchStore.leaderboard - Synced match state

Sources:

• https://docs.colyseus.io/state
• https://docs.colyseus.io/state/best-practices
• Learned from arch-002 retrospective (2026-01-28)