Chapter 1
The anatomy of a loop: Action, feedback, and reward
Chapter 2
The psychological triggers: Dopamine and the brain
Chapter 3
The history of hook mechanics: From arcades to modern screens
Chapter 4
The dark side and ethical design: Compulsion vs. play
Ch 3 · The history of hook mechanics: From arcades to modern screens
nintendo Late 1970s arcades measured success in quarters per hour, requiring games like Space Invaders to be easy to learn but hard to survive.
Quiz
Why did the aliens in the 1978 arcade game Space Invaders move faster as their numbers decreased?
Quiz
What was the primary business goal that shaped the design of early 1980s arcade games?
nintendo Predictable enemy AI in Pac-Man allowed players to learn and master arcade patterns.
Quiz
Which ghost in the 1980 classic Pac-Man is programmed to head directly for the player's position?
Quiz
Why did Pac-Man designer Toru Iwatani give each of the four ghosts a unique behavioral program?
Fun Fact
Pizza inspiration: The iconic shape of Pac-Man was famously inspired by designer Toru Iwatani looking at a whole pizza with a single slice removed.
Glossary
hook (noun)
A curved piece of metal or other material used for catching, holding, or pulling something. In 1978, Space Invaders utilized a persistent high score display to keep players chasing the top spot.
A curved piece of metal or other material used for catching, holding, or pulling something. In 1978, Space Invaders utilized a persistent high score display to keep players chasing the top spot.
Quiz
How does Sid Meier's Civilization series prevent players from finding a natural stopping point?