Chapter 7: The Engine's Heartbeat
Ten System Points. Brian stared at the number, a small pocket of warmth spreading through his chest against the chill of the room. It wasn't just a number; it was proof. Proof he could learn, proof he could create something, even something minuscule, from scratch. Proof this whole insane System thing might actually be his ticket out.
He navigated to his newly acquired 'Inventory' within the System interface on his phone. There they were: the [Simple 8x8 Icon Set]. Ten tiny pixelated images glowed softly on the screen – a miniature sword, a shield, a red potion flask, a key, a coin, basic stuff. Crude, blocky, yet undeniably game-like.
He could almost picture them on a screen, maybe moving. But how? His score-keeper program ran, waited for input, then ran again or quit. Games didn't just stop like that. They ran. Continuously. Pac-Man chomped dots constantly, space invaders marched relentlessly down the screen, his character in an RPG stood breathing idly, waiting for his command.
How did they do that?
His mind flashed back to the while True: loop in his score keeper. It repeated, sure, but only after he pressed Enter. Games needed something more dynamic, a core loop that handled everything – checking player input, moving enemies, updating graphics, playing sounds – over and over, dozens of times a second. An engine's heartbeat.
He quickly switched back to the System Store's 'Knowledge' section. There it was, practically calling to him:
[Introduction to Game Loops] - Cost: 10 SP
The description was brief: "Understand the fundamental structure that powers interactive applications and games. Covers basic input handling, updating state, and rendering concepts within a loop."
It cost exactly what he had. Ten SP for the key to understanding how games lived. It felt like a pivotal choice. Forget fancy assets or temporary boosts for now; he needed the core knowledge. His hand hovered over the purchase button. This was the next logical step, the blueprint for everything else.
Just as his finger descended, his phone vibrated with a new notification, overlaying the store.
[System detects Host contemplation on core game architecture.]
[Understanding the Game Loop is crucial for development.]
[New Mission Available: 'The Simplest Loop']
Brian blinked, a grin tugging at his lips. The System was practically reading his mind.
[Mission: The Simplest Loop]
[Objective: Create a Python script containing a basic game loop structure. The loop should continuously print an incrementing number to the console (simulating frame count) and check for a specific key press (e.g., 'q') to quit cleanly. Requires understanding of loops and conditional exit.]
[Prerequisite: Recommended acquisition of [Introduction to Game Loops] knowledge module.]
[Rewards: +15 SP, +1 Programming Skill Point (Python - Novice Level 5)]
[Failure Penalty: Loss of 3 SP (Minimum 0).]
[Accept Mission? Y/N]
Fifteen SP! A bigger reward again. And it directly tied into what he needed to learn. The prerequisite wasn't mandatory, but the hint was strong: buy the knowledge, then tackle the mission. It was perfect. Spend 10 SP to gain the understanding needed to earn 15 SP back, plus another skill point.
"Okay, System," Brian said, his voice filled with resolve. "Let's learn how to build an engine."
He tapped 'Y' on the store prompt, purchasing the [Introduction to Game Loops] module. His SP dropped to zero once more, but this time, it felt like a worthy investment. The knowledge module immediately appeared on his screen, ready to unlock the secrets of the game's heartbeat.