Getting player attention today is tough in digital entertainment. So many options exist that users feel overwhelmed constantly. Video games solve this problem better than other media. They have found ways to attract attention and take up the time of even the busiest fans. This has been made possible by technological advances, audience engagement and, of course, gamification tricks. These baits have become so popular outside the industry that even platforms offering 200 free spins no deposit are trying to adopt them. Let’s see what exactly video game tricks make the buzz around.
Loot Boxes and Their Impact on Player Perception
Rewards have always attracted players, but no one thought that cash rewards could become such a magnet for users. Loot boxes are one of the most controversial mechanics in modern game development. Their essence is that participants receive in-game currency for victories and failures. This currency can be used to buy loot boxes, and with a certain chance, after opening them, receive even more valuable rewards. The secret here is that loot boxes can be bought not only with game currency, but the random RNG algorithm decides what item the player gets.
Counter Strike 2 – the Progenitor of Loot Boxes
Although loot box mechanics have been around for years, they made their biggest splash in CS2. Opening cases in the hope of getting legendary skins became a separate genre of streams. Titles such as Call of Duty also tried to replicate this success. Ultimately, EA even faced sanctions in several countries. However, EA failed to surpass the success of CS2.
Perfect Parries as the Path to Victory
Souls-like require maximum attention, precision of movement, and the right build from the player. The progenitor of this “genre” was the game and company From Software. The Dark Souls series showed what real difficulty is. However, a completely different project made a second revolution in game development, rewarding players for timely reactions.
The principle of parrying is in many ways similar to the mechanics of timing-based games. The gamer must press the button in time to dodge the enemy’s attack and use its force against it. Today, most new games, from Lies of P to Ghost of Yotei, use this mechanic. However, one particular project made it hugely popular and in demand. We are, of course, paying reader attention to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Where Parrying Takes Its Roots
Sekiro’s parrying mechanic showcases Miyazaki’s brilliance in game design evolution. He dismantled his own proven system from two two-game series. This bold move created something entirely fresh and innovative. Parrying in Sekiro relies on precise timing and visual cues. Players watch indicators and attack colours to make split-second decisions. To seize victory, one should “calculate” a perfect moment and push the proper buttons, and Bob’s your uncle. This is quite challenging: even the skillest enemies fall to well-timed parries and blocks. Mistimed inputs lead to swift defeat, just like poor timing. The system rewards precision and punishes hesitation with immediate consequences.
Leaderboards on the Server & the Pursuit of Leadership
Despite the fact that the heyday of MMO games is over, the mechanics of leaderboards are still alive. Such tables can be found in Dark Souls 2 and even in Steam achievements. The desire to prove to everyone that ‘I am the best’ encourages hundreds of gamers to return to the games. The same system is used in e-sports disciplines such as Dota 2 and CS2. They have refined them, making them more complex. At the same time, the roots of this mechanic go back to Cataclysm and Pandaria, i.e. World of Warcraft.
World Of Warcraft – A Place for Leaderboard System Inspiration
WoW stands as one of the oldest MMO games ever. It’s also probably the most successful one in history. The project has seen many updates over the decades. Dozens of books were written based on this game. Legendary memes were created inspired by WoW’s universe and lore. A film was even made about this iconic game. Many games end when you reach the maximum level. In WoW, everything is only just beginning at that point.
Players need to improve their skills to achieve greatness. They must participate in PvP competitions on the server. Winning these competitions earns users valuable points for ranking. Players move up in the rankings with each victory. This system created a trend that spread beyond gaming. Leaderboards can now be found on many gaming and entertainment platforms.
Key Gamification Tools: What Awaits Video Game Players
The video game industry has used many tools to keep players engaged. Not all gamification tools perform well. The ability to leave messages on the map and clans adds excitement, but does not always keep players coming back. At the same time, thanks to decades of development, game developers have invented several reliable tools, namely:
- Loot boxes – trigger the release of endorphins when a valuable reward is received
- Parrying – a fair reward mechanic where everything depends on the reaction
- Leaderboards – good old competition between players
These gamification elements work well in video games. Tournaments with rankings bring out people’s competitive nature, and sometimes punters can even share their score on social media.
Video game developers keep looking for new engagement methods, and other industries are looking forward to borrowing new tricks. They have many tools but want more innovative approaches. We must wait to see what they discover next. Your ideas?
