Giving players reasons to continue.
WHAT PROGRESSION PROVIDES
A sense of advancement, and access to new content.
WHAT THE TYPES ARE
Player skill, which improves without the game changing Character power, granted by the game Content unlocking Narrative advancement Cosmetic accumulation
WHAT SKILL-BASED PROGRESSION PROVIDES
Achievement that feels earned.
WHAT POWER-BASED PROGRESSION PROVIDES
Advancement available to every player, regardless of skill.
WHAT THE RISK OF POWER PROGRESSION IS
Early content becoming trivial, and difficulty tuning becoming impossible.
WHAT REWARD SCHEDULES AFFECT
How compelling repetition feels.
WHAT VARIABLE REWARDS DO
Increase engagement, by making the next attempt uncertain.
WHY THAT DESERVES CAUTION
It is the same mechanism underlying gambling, and it can be used exploitatively.
WHAT TO AVOID
Systems designed to compel rather than reward Progression that requires time rather than engagement Rewards that are meaningless but frequent
WHAT MAKES A REWARD MEANINGFUL
It changes what the player can do, or how they express themselves.
WHAT TO PACE
Rewards, so they neither overwhelm nor dry up.
WHAT TO TEST
Whether players continue for the right reasons.
