The world of eSports is more popular now than ever before, and this popularity and global adoption seem to be constantly on the rise. Many different aspects of competitive play appeal to both gamers themselves and fans, including the opportunity to earn money through gaming and placing bets. However, perhaps the greatest reason for the continuous success of the eSports world is the actual design of the games that are played in these tournaments. More specifically, the way they utilise feedback loops to engage both players and fans creates a sense of continuous momentum that reels people in. In this article, we’ll explore why fast feedback loops are so favoured in the competitive gaming scene.
What are Feedback Loops in Gaming?
Feedback loops refer to the way a game can react to the player’s actions, which can then lead the player to perform their next action based on the feedback loop received. Faster feedback loops are generally preferable to slower ones as they keep the momentum moving forward in games. There are also two distinct forms of feedback loops present in the eSports gaming world, both of which will be explored later in this article.
Why is Speed Important?
The speed of a feedback loop is an essential aspect of its success, especially when it comes to competitive play. As mentioned, fast feedback loops create a sense of momentum in the game and the player, but they also work to keep the player focused and engaged. This is because the speed of feedback loops actually speaks to the reward systems of our brains, and the neurotransmitter dopamine. When we receive immediate rewards, such as those provided by fast feedback loops in games, our brain internalises the positive feeling we experience and a habit is created, making the individual infinitely more likely to return to the activity.
Another way to think of this is to reflect on the online casino gaming world, especially casinos with quick payouts. Alongside desirable bonuses and incentives for players, these casinos use fast payouts as a way to encourage players to continue using the sites. The positive feedback loop of being able to win money and claim it instantly releases dopamine and helps bring people back for more in much the same way as eSports games do.
Positive and Negative Feedback Loops
An example of a negative feedback loop that most people recognise is present in Mario Kart. Anyone who has been in first place while playing this game will know that doing so makes you a target to just about every offensive item every other player and bot has. This is the game reacting to the fact you are first and attempting to give other players the chance to catch up by forcing you to slow down. However, many talented gamers have learnt to react to the warning icon and brake so that they are no longer in first place, effectively beating the feedback loop.
There are also positive feedback loops, like those seen in popular eSports games, Dota 2 and Apex Legends. In Dota 2, those who secure early kills are rewarded with a positive feedback loop that provides them with more gold, which can then be used to secure better items and consequently acquire more kills. Similarly, in Apex Legends, every time a player wins a fight, they are given access to better gear, which sets them up better for the next fight.
Cognitive Benefits
Alongside generating habits and bringing people back to games, fast feedback loops in the eSports world actually have proven cognitive benefits. The positive cognitive effects of gaming are well studied, but fast feedback loops add a cause-and-effect dynamic. In a fast-paced environment, players must develop effective pattern recognition skills and be able to remain in a state of significant concentration over a prolonged period of time. This can not only lead to an improvement within a game setting, for example, learning not to peek from a specific location in Valorent after getting head-shotted, but it can also have substantial benefits outside of the gaming world, improving focus and pattern recognition for every part of life.
