Game Loop Basics
What is a repeating cycle that keeps the game running every frame?
A game loop.
What does FPS stand for?
Frames Per Second.
Name the three core stages of a game loop.
Input, Process, Output
What do we call it when the game loop slows down or stutters?
Lag.
A game loop only runs while the player is pressing a button.
False, it runs continuously as long as the game is open.
What does a game loop often compared to in a human body?
A heartbeat.
Name a common FPS target for smooth gameplay.
60, 120
Which stage checks for keyboard or controller input?
Input
What happens visually when the game loop stops entirely?
Screen freeze / Game crash
Higher FPS always means a faster game loop.
True, more frames per second means more loop per second.
What happens to the game loop when you pause the game?
It keeps running but in a different way.
What is delta time?
The time elapsed between the current frame and the previous frame.
Which stage draws the result to the screen?
Output
If a character moves twice as fast on a powerful PC, what is likely missing?
Delta time.
The render stage happens before the input stage.
False, input comes first.
Does a main menu screen run a game loop?
Yes, it does.
Why do games use delta time?
To make movement consistent regardless of frame rate or machine speed.
Which stage handles physics, AI, and collision detection?
Process
What is the term for a loop that never ends and locks up your program?
Infinite loop.
Delta time makes games run faster on slow machines.
False, it makes movement consistent, not faster.
What programming structure is the game loop built on?
A while loop.
What could go wrong if you let the loop run freely with no time control?
Everything breaks and become inconsistent.
In Unity, which function runs every frame for input and logic?
Update()
A game runs at 15 FPS on a slow PC and 60 FPS on a fast PC. Without delta time, how does character speed differ?
The character moves 4x faster on the fast PC.
Every game engine like Unity and Unreal hides the game loop from the developer.
True, they call your functions each frame on your behalf.