A game is a simplified economy. In Doom, you collect power by killing demons, which you can use to power weapons to kill more demons. etc... It can be looked in terms of:<ul><li>Taps: The generation of resources. Some taps generate resources on a timer (health) others have to be harvested by the user (gold).</li><li>Inventory: Holds the resources the player has gathered.</li></ul>The game can have 2 feedback loops: positive & negative: <ul><li>Converter: exchange one resource into another. Gold for swords.</li><li>Drain: removing resources from the economy</li></ul>Lastly, a trader can act like other players, buying&selling resources at will.

Game Economy 101

In a positive feedback loop, aka the converter, the output is fed into the input to reinforce the output. The more money you collect, the better weapons you can get, so you can kill more monsters and make more money. This process can be a mindless grind or some sort of a puzzle. Making this process fun.A negative loop, aka a drain, is removing resources from the economy. Units die, resources rot etc... Drains can become an element of frustration: like when you die and loose all progress.

Positive & Negative Feedback Loops

GMTK is powered by Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GameMakersToolkit In this video, I’ll show you how a typical video game economy is designed - and how resources flow around the system. As we go, I’ll show you how these economic entities can be used to create interesting gameplay for the player. === Before you watch === Content warning: Combat, mild blood. === Sources and Resources === - Sources [1] The Living World of 'The Witcher' https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023867/The-Living-World-of-The [2] Patch 1.05 for PC out now! https://en.cdprojektred.com/news/patch-1-05-for-pc-out-now/ - Additional resources The Pillars of Internal Economy — An Introduction to Game Economics https://yvensserpa.medium.com/the-pillars-of-internal-economy-an-introduction-to-game-economics-38d8e73d5afa Feedback Loops in Game Economics https://medium.com/super-jump/feedback-loops-in-game-economics-7327f740d2e8 Keys to Economic Systems https://gdkeys.com/keys-to-economic-systems/?utm_source=pocket_mylist The Economy of EVE Online https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrW6p5ns8K8 === Chapters === 00:00 - Intro 01:23 - What is an economy? 01:53 - Entity 1: The Tap 03:04 - Entity 2: The Inventory 03:46 - Entity 3: The Convertor 05:58 - Dealing with grind 09:48 - Entity 4: The Drain 12:09 - Entity 5: The Trader 14:22 - Conclusion 15:31 - Patreon Credits === Games Shown === The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) Frostpunk (2018) Destiny 2 (2017) Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020) Diablo III (2012) Horizon Forbidden West (2022) Metro Exodus (2019) Factorio (2020) Far Cry 4 (2014) Detroit: Become Human (2018) The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) Ghost of Tsushima (2020) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (2016) DOOM Eternal (2020) Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) Stardew Valley (2016) Elden Ring (2022) Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022) Anno 1800 (2019) Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) Minecraft (2011) Borderlands 3 (2019) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) DOOM (2016) Life is Strange (2015) Resident Evil Village (2021) Shadow Warrior 2 (2016) The Last of Us Part II (2020) The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) Resident Evil 4 (2005) Octopath Traveler (2018) Dying Light 2: Stay Human (2022) Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021) Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (2017) Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) Hades (2020) Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (2018) Cookie Clicker (2013) Rogue Legacy (2013) Forager (2019) Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (2020) No Man's Sky (2016) Satisfactory (In Early Access) Fallout 3 (2008) Darkest Dungeon (2016) Civilization V (2010) Deathloop (2021) Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) Subnautica (2018) Death Stranding (2019) Don't Starve (2013) Monopoly Plus (2014) XCOM 2 (2016) Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017) Offworld Trading Company (2016) Kirby and the Forgotten Land (2022) Stellaris (2016) AdVenture Capitalist (2014) Moonlighter (2018) The Ascent (2021) EVE Online (2003) === Credits === Music provided by Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vtdu5y (Referral Link) The Loot Cave | JB3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glFY8Z1uLjk Getting Started In Satisfactory! Satisfactory Gameplay Episode 1 | Broadbent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IB4NBkxgP4 Simple, Tileable Early Smelting Designs | Factorio 0.18 Tutorial/Guide/How-to | Nilaus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb4JAX9QWuA Monopoly Plus | PC Gameplay | 1080p HD | Max Settings | ZephyrMantis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbyvtfIu0YQ === Subtitles === Contribute translated subtitles - https://amara.org/en-gb/videos/owmxO7Rw8KQ0/

product

Product & Design

GMTK is powered by Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GameMakersToolkit

In this video, I’ll show you how a typical video game economy is designed - and how resources flow around the system. As we go, I’ll show you how these economic entities can be used to create interesting gameplay for the player.

=== Before you watch === 

Content warning: Combat, mild blood.

=== Sources and Resources ===

- Sources

[1] The Living World of 'The Witcher'
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023867/The-Living-World-of-The

[2] Patch 1.05 for PC out now!
https://en.cdprojektred.com/news/patch-1-05-for-pc-out-now/

- Additional resources

The Pillars of Internal Economy — An Introduction to Game Economics
https://yvensserpa.medium.com/the-pillars-of-internal-economy-an-introduction-to-game-economics-38d8e73d5afa

Feedback Loops in Game Economics
https://medium.com/super-jump/feedback-loops-in-game-economics-7327f740d2e8

Keys to Economic Systems
https://gdkeys.com/keys-to-economic-systems/

The Economy of EVE Online
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrW6p5ns8K8

=== Chapters ===

00:00 - Intro
01:23 - What is an economy?
01:53 - Entity 1: The Tap
03:04 - Entity 2: The Inventory
03:46 - Entity 3: The Convertor
05:58 - Dealing with grind
09:48 - Entity 4: The Drain
12:09 - Entity 5: The Trader
14:22 - Conclusion
15:31 - Patreon Credits

=== Games Shown ===

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
Frostpunk (2018)
Destiny 2 (2017)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
Diablo III (2012)
Horizon Forbidden West (2022)
Metro Exodus (2019)
Factorio (2020)
Far Cry 4 (2014)
Detroit: Become Human (2018)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)
Ghost of Tsushima (2020)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (2016)
DOOM Eternal (2020)
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) 
Stardew Valley (2016)
Elden Ring (2022)
Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022)
Anno 1800 (2019)
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
Minecraft (2011)
Borderlands 3 (2019)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
DOOM (2016)
Life is Strange (2015)
Resident Evil Village (2021)
Shadow Warrior 2 (2016)
The Last of Us Part II (2020)
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Octopath Traveler (2018)
Dying Light 2: Stay Human (2022)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021)
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (2017)
Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
Hades (2020)
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (2018)
Cookie Clicker (2013)
Rogue Legacy (2013)
Forager (2019)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (2020)
No Man's Sky (2016)
Satisfactory (In Early Access)
Fallout 3 (2008)
Darkest Dungeon (2016)
Civilization V (2010)
Deathloop (2021)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020)
Subnautica (2018)
Death Stranding (2019)
Don't Starve (2013)
Monopoly Plus (2014)
XCOM 2 (2016)
Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017)
Offworld Trading Company (2016)
Kirby and the Forgotten Land (2022) 
Stellaris (2016)
AdVenture Capitalist (2014)
Moonlighter (2018)
The Ascent (2021)
EVE Online (2003)

=== Credits ===

Music provided by Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vtdu5y (Referral Link)

Icons provided by The Noun Project - https://thenounproject.com

The Loot Cave | JB3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glFY8Z1uLjk

Getting Started In Satisfactory! Satisfactory Gameplay Episode 1 | Broadbent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IB4NBkxgP4

Simple, Tileable Early Smelting Designs | Factorio 0.18 Tutorial/Guide/How-to | Nilaus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb4JAX9QWuA

Monopoly Plus | PC Gameplay | 1080p HD | Max Settings | ZephyrMantis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbyvtfIu0YQ

=== Subtitles ===

Contribute translated subtitles - https://amara.org/en-gb/videos/owmxO7Rw8KQ0/

Game Maker's Toolkit is a deep dive into game design, level design, and game production, hosted by Mark Brown.

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- I do not do sponsored videos, ad reads, or paid integrations on GMTK.
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Game Economy 101

Positive & Negative Feedback Loops

How Video Game Economies are Designed