ABSTRACT
The Core Loop is “play hidden object levels to earn stars to progress the story to unlock new hidden object levels.” The core loop is a much-used and ill-defined term in the games industry. The Retention Layer aims to drive people through the Base Layer, creating the Core Loop. The Superfan Layer gives players more reason to repeat the Core Loop to achieve their long-term goals. The game can transmit all sorts of information between a strategic map and a tactical mission without the player needing to know about it. But for the Core Loop to work effectively, players must see, experience and understand the connections between the Base and Retention Layers. The player has inherited a house from a long-lost uncle. The house is in good shape, but butler Austin is sad to report the that garden is a complete mess.
