{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05","type":"mechanic","id":"engagement-retention--family-05","lang":"en","title":"Reward schedules and structure","summary":"Rewards depend on time, action counts or reset periods. These rules shape expectations and the rhythm of returning.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05.md","aliases":["Reward timing and schedules"],"tags":["Engagement, retention and addictive patterns","Mechanics catalog"],"sourceIds":["source-ec81ae3b15929ea5"],"sources":[{"id":"source-ec81ae3b15929ea5","title":"Final Fantasy XIV","url":"https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/currency/currency-ats/ats_number.html","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"Timing and reward rules change the player's expectations and the rhythm of the return."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants and applications\n\n<a id=\"family-05-variants\"></a>\n\n- A reward for every action: a useful result accompanies almost every repetition <a id=\"variant-engagement-retention-05-01\"></a>\n- Reward for a fixed number of actions: for example, a chest after several victories <a id=\"variant-engagement-retention-05-02\"></a>\n- Reward at a fixed interval: receipt is tied to the elapsed time <a id=\"variant-engagement-retention-05-03\"></a>\n- Reward after an unpredictable number of attempts: it is unknown which repetition will be successful <a id=\"variant-engagement-retention-05-04\"></a>\n- Reward after an unpredictable wait: the player periodically checks to see if the opportunity has appeared <a id=\"variant-engagement-retention-05-05\"></a>\n- Increasing rewards: continuing a streak increases the value of the next result <a id=\"variant-engagement-retention-05-06\"></a>\n- Simultaneous promotion of multiple rewards: one match fills multiple bars <a id=\"variant-engagement-retention-05-07\"></a>\n- A reward that triggers a new activity: the received key, ticket or resource immediately opens the next cycle <a id=\"variant-engagement-retention-05-08\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"A map of 160 techniques for analyzing interest, returns, costs and pressure on the player. Involvement in itself does not mean dependence; the presence of separate mechanics does not determine the diagnosis or prove causation. This is the author's classification for critical analysis of design, and not a scientifically established list of the causes of gaming disorder. Assess context, audience, voluntariness of participation, and opportunity to stop."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"engagement-retention","id":"family-05","title":"Engagement, retention and addictive patterns","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/engagement-retention/#family-05","categoryIds":["section-1"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Reward timing and schedules","description":"Rewards depend on time, action counts or reset periods. These rules shape expectations and the rhythm of returning.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/rpg-ffxiv-currency-13.webp","width":896,"height":544,"game":"Final Fantasy XIV","sourceUrl":"https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/currency/currency-ats/ats_number.html","originalUrl":"https://lds-img.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/na/6a/da90fc8309d4f3b790a3b4ddfef806ef91b0bb.jpg","credit":"Square Enix; official guide screenshot","rights":"Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Official game guide or publisher-distributed screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.","caption":"The weekly allowance is full while total storage has room","alt":"The weekly allowance is full while total storage has room","markers":[{"x":67,"y":88,"label":"This week’s 450-token allowance has been fully earned"}]},"tips":["Show reward conditions and reset timing in advance."],"examples":[{"title":"Final Fantasy XIV","url":"https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/currency/currency-ats/ats_number.html"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/engagement-retention"}}