3 ms·

The thing that sets video games (and social media) apart from these other things that you mention is that they are far more updatable, and not surprisingly this

The thing that sets video games (and social media) apart from these other things that you mention is that they are far more updatable, and not surprisingly this attribute is taken advantage of for good and for ill. The ill of course being that they are able to be updated in such a way that they hack your attention / biology ever more efficiently over time. This doesn't happen with chess, reading, or running. At least, not without these activities becoming intermediated by updatable technology. Which IS happening, but still, not as much.

manfredo 8y ago
I think this may be one of the reasons why I've trended away from many internet-connected games as of late. I get the feeling that they're really just Skinner boxes under the hood. Maybe I'm just a curmudgeoney old man (though I'm only 26), but older games just have this more genuine feel. They play the way they play, and while they often have rough edges, I don't get the same sense that they're trying hard to keep the player engaged. I get this nagging feeling that modern "games as a service" have this relationship with the player where they keep them engaged enough to be sucked in but refuse to have a cathartic conclusion. I've grown to appreciate games that end and say "that's all folks".
- rujuladanh 8y ago
  Indeed, AAA games are designed like you explained on purpose. However, let's not put every game in the same bag. A shootout to all indie games that simply make games that start and end.
- layoric 8y ago
  I’ve felt the same and I grew up with those older games (I’m 35). There are still some greats coming out but you have to seek them out and filter out a lot of games these days to find them. If you are interested in game design and more on what makes a great “that’s all folks” game, check out “Theory of Fun” by Raph Koster.

3 ms·

The thing that sets video games (and social media) apart from these other things that you mention is that they are far more updatable, and not surprisingly this

by dnissley 8y ago

manfredo 8y ago
I think this may be one of the reasons why I've trended away from many internet-connected games as of late. I get the feeling that they're really just Skinner boxes under the hood. Maybe I'm just a curmudgeoney old man (though I'm only 26), but older games just have this more genuine feel. They play the way they play, and while they often have rough edges, I don't get the same sense that they're trying hard to keep the player engaged. I get this nagging feeling that modern "games as a service" have this relationship with the player where they keep them engaged enough to be sucked in but refuse to have a cathartic conclusion. I've grown to appreciate games that end and say "that's all folks".
- rujuladanh 8y ago
  Indeed, AAA games are designed like you explained on purpose. However, let's not put every game in the same bag. A shootout to all indie games that simply make games that start and end.
- layoric 8y ago
  I’ve felt the same and I grew up with those older games (I’m 35). There are still some greats coming out but you have to seek them out and filter out a lot of games these days to find them. If you are interested in game design and more on what makes a great “that’s all folks” game, check out “Theory of Fun” by Raph Koster.