Pattern
Catch-up mechanism
You might say: rubber banding, negative feedback for the leader
A negative feedback rule helps players behind or holds back the leader, so the game stays close.
- Ask
- Does it close the gap without making being ahead pointless?
Sources
- Ian Schreiber, Level 5: Mechanics and Dynamics, Feedback Loops
This particular feedback loop is sometimes referred to as “rubber-banding” because the cars behave as if they are connected by rubber bands, pulling the leaders and losers back to the center of the pack.
- Machinations.io, Game systems: Feedback loops and how they help craft player experiences, Mario Kart
The addition of these mechanics gives everyone a chance to participate in the race, no matter their skill level.
- Ian Schreiber and Brenda Romero, Game Balance, ch. 2, p. 76
Negative feedback loops bring all players together in standing, making sure that no one gets too far ahead or behind… Used well, negative feedback loops stop the game from ending too early, and keep all players feeling like they still have a chance…
Use it on your project
teardown-apply: hold "Catch-up mechanism" (pattern-catch-up) from the teardown at https://teardownatlas.com/4x-strategy/ against my project
Paste it into a coding agent that has the teardown skills.
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