How can you use game genres to create effective feedback and rewards?

Game genres categorize games based on gameplay interactions, mechanics, and thematic elements, providing a framework for setting player expectations and designing experiences. Each genre, be it action, strategy, RPG, or puzzle, appeals to different player motivations and preferences. Tailoring feedback and rewards to the specific genre, designers can enhance player engagement and satisfaction. Recognizing the fundamental appeal of each genre allows designers to implement feedback and reward systems that resonate with the players, motivating continued play and exploration within the game's world.

Genres are not fixed and can evolve over time. New genres can be created by mixing different elements together. Combining genres can lead to more interesting and immersive experiences. Subgenres provide more specific categories within larger genres. Genres are not just for players but also serve as useful marketing tools. Identifying your target audience through genre helps in customizing marketing strategies and reaching players looking for specific types of games. It's important to experiment and think outside the box when it comes to genres. By understanding the key elements of a genre, you can innovate and create something new, potentially leading to the birth of a new subgenre or even an entirely new genre.

You must understand that the players for each genre expect completely different things from each genre. A souls-like player will expect that your game has difficult challenges that once completed give a big reward, and it expects those challenges to be VERY difficult but also FAIR. By contrast, a player of a Life Sim game will expect your game to have tons of content, and to be able to either purchase all those pieces of content by playing the game, or have all the content available in a "creative" mode. So understanding the expectations of each genre will allow you to better design your core loop as well as what to include and what not to include in your game.

Make sure feedback and rewards match the genre's themes and mechanics. Remember to balance intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. While extrinsic rewards are common in genres (like points), make sure the gameplay itself is satisfying and gives players a sense of control.

When defining your game, use the OCR framework - Objective, Challenge and Reward. Objective - What do I need to do? Challenge - How do I do it? Rewards - What do I get in return? The most important thing is the rewards and feedback should be proportional to the challenge and the importance of the objective. We take shooters as an example: The objective is to dominate over other players and the challenge is to kill as many players as possible. To ensure the player feels rewarded every kill has a satisfying animation, announcement effects and you get rewards in the form of loot and XP as well. There are also special feedback messages and extra rewards for kill streaks, headshots and use of unconventional means.

Consider player psychology when designing rewards. Implement adaptive feedback and rewards based on individual player performance. This caters to different skill levels and prevents frustration or boredom. Offer alternative solutions within the game's core loop, rewarding creative problem-solving and experimentation beyond the "intended" solutions. Strategically use feedback and rewards to build anticipation for upcoming challenges or plot points. Design rewards that evoke emotional responses, aligning with the intended mood of the game genre.

A way to innovate is to combine genres. We could give a ton of XP and new Weapons by defeating challenging bosses in Action RPG games, this would be a common trope of the genre. Or we could instead combine it with a Building genre and make it so new building types are unlocked by defeating the bosses. And then by interacting and fulfilling quests for those NPCs in those buildings we get XP and Weapons. Suddenly we have created a new reward loop in which we need to take some extra steps to get form boss to actual reward, but now players are eager to see what new building they will unlock with each boss they defeat and which NPCs will it have. By combining genre ideas we can create something unique and innovative.

Consider incorporating social feedback and rewards, especially in online games. Implement competitive leaderboards or reward structures based on specific achievements that break genre boundaries. Design experiential rewards that go beyond in-game elements. Implement dynamic reward systems that change based on the player's choices, actions, and performance throughout the game. This can encourage experimentation and create a sense of ever-evolving consequences. Design feedback and rewards that blur the boundaries between the player and their character. Experiment with feedback mechanisms that reflect the character's emotional state, allowing players to experience the game world through the character's perspective.

Consider data and player feedback within their specific context. Analyze performance metrics and qualitative observations together to understand why players behave the way they do. Adapt your testing methods to suit the genre you're working with. Use A/B testing to compare different feedback and reward systems within the same game and genre. This helps you pinpoint significant differences and refine your approach based on player behavior and performance data.eep an eye on player retention rates and engagement over time to assess the lasting impact of your feedback and reward systems.

Genres are an artificial framework. They are an analysis of what currently exists in an attempt to label things. What this means is that new genres can be created, so sometimes you will need to open your mind to new possibilities. For example if you combine Zelda + Monster Hunter stamina system + Old School Games Difficulty suddenly you have the Souls-Like genre. This does not mean that every new genre needs to be a combination of old things, but more than in the end genres allows us to see what currently exists, but not what we will be able to create. So use game genres as a framework to understand games but do not be constrained by it.