4 ms·

I somewhat have to disagree in that the popularity of Diablo is similar to that of WoW - the underpinnings in pure addiction. Random positive reinforcers are re

I somewhat have to disagree in that the popularity of Diablo is similar to that of WoW - the underpinnings in pure addiction. Random positive reinforcers are really, really powerful.

kup0 11y ago
Yeah and it doesn't seem that knowing about them makes any difference. I actively know that Diablo and other similar games are doing this and yet I find that I like it. The games do lose replay value over time a bit (I'm worn out on D3) but if you wait a while and go back it's fun again. For now, I'm playing similar games (Path of Exile, Grim Dawn) and finding I'm enjoying the different styles of art, even though it's essentially the same exact gameplay. Maybe what I think is fun is more addiction than fun? Hard to tell. Obtaining random loot sure is addictive.
- mbrock 11y ago
  There's a hymn in the ancient Rigveda scriptures, known as "Gambler's Lament." > The trembling hazelnut eardrops of the great tree, born in a hurricane, intoxicate me as they roll on the furrowed board. The dice seem to me like a drink of Soma from Mount Mujavant, keeping me awake and excited. > [...] > The dice goad like hooks and sting like whips; they enslave, deceive, and torment. They give presents as children do, striking back at the winners. They are coated with honey - an irresistible power over the gambler. http://www-personal.umich.edu/~pehook/226.gambler.html http://www-personal.umich.edu/~pehook/226.gambler.html
barbs 11y ago
I would agree with you in the case of Diablo 2 (and probably 3, though I haven't played that one). But the first Diablo holds a special place in my heart precisely because of the atmosphere. Gameplay-wise it was actually pretty broken. Gold takes up space in your inventory, and there was no concept of a stash, so you'd just dump your gold on the ground in town. The best strategy was to fight through the dungeon until your inventory fills up, then go back to town, sell off everything, buy the best stuff you can see, rinse and repeat. Online multiplayer wasn't much better, mostly because of the "duping" bug which allowed players to easily duplicate items. That said, it's still a fun game to play through, because of the atmosphere of it. Multiplayer is also great with friends so long as you don't break the game. And you can set challenges for yourself to make it more fun (e.g. "Ironman" mode, where you can't buy items or go back to town without dying). Diablo 2 and 3 are great games in their own way, but as you say, they rely on that addictive random loot-fest, which I never really liked.

I somewhat have to disagree in that the popularity of Diablo is similar to that of WoW - the underpinnings in pure addiction. Random positive reinforcers are really, really powerful.

kup0 11y ago

Yeah and it doesn't seem that knowing about them makes any difference. I actively know that Diablo and other similar games are doing this and yet I find that I like it. The games do lose replay value over time a bit (I'm worn out on D3) but if you wait a while and go back it's fun again. For now, I'm playing similar games (Path of Exile, Grim Dawn) and finding I'm enjoying the different styles of art, even though it's essentially the same exact gameplay. Maybe what I think is fun is more addiction than fun? Hard to tell. Obtaining random loot sure is addictive.

mbrock 11y ago
There's a hymn in the ancient Rigveda scriptures, known as "Gambler's Lament." > The trembling hazelnut eardrops of the great tree, born in a hurricane, intoxicate me as they roll on the furrowed board. The dice seem to me like a drink of Soma from Mount Mujavant, keeping me awake and excited. > [...] > The dice goad like hooks and sting like whips; they enslave, deceive, and torment. They give presents as children do, striking back at the winners. They are coated with honey - an irresistible power over the gambler. http://www-personal.umich.edu/~pehook/226.gambler.html http://www-personal.umich.edu/~pehook/226.gambler.html

barbs 11y ago

I would agree with you in the case of Diablo 2 (and probably 3, though I haven't played that one). But the first Diablo holds a special place in my heart precisely because of the atmosphere. Gameplay-wise it was actually pretty broken. Gold takes up space in your inventory, and there was no concept of a stash, so you'd just dump your gold on the ground in town. The best strategy was to fight through the dungeon until your inventory fills up, then go back to town, sell off everything, buy the best stuff you can see, rinse and repeat. Online multiplayer wasn't much better, mostly because of the "duping" bug which allowed players to easily duplicate items. That said, it's still a fun game to play through, because of the atmosphere of it. Multiplayer is also great with friends so long as you don't break the game. And you can set challenges for yourself to make it more fun (e.g. "Ironman" mode, where you can't buy items or go back to town without dying). Diablo 2 and 3 are great games in their own way, but as you say, they rely on that addictive random loot-fest, which I never really liked.