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I find it kind of weird that programmers seem to like this game. I tried playing it for a bit and all I could think of was how much more efficient things would

by safog 6y ago

I find it kind of weird that programmers seem to like this game. I tried playing it for a bit and all I could think of was how much more efficient things would be if I could just write code instead of running around on a map to achieve the same thing. The whole game seemed like a forced distillation of programming into a form that can be consumed by the masses.

_jjkk 6y ago
Despite programming-adjacent elements it's just a sandbox game. If you don't enjoy the core idea of playing in a souped-up sandbox you probably won't enjoy it.
MinusGix 6y ago
For example with Zachtronics games (very programming-puzzle-esque games), I doubt I could play it for long. It would be similar to messing about with an Esolang, but more structured. While I enjoy using Esolangs, I can only ever do it in short bursts, and I imagine the same would hold if I started playing a Zachtronics game. For Factorio, it is just barely different enough from regular programming (due to various parts, such as the grid based nature of reality, etc) that if I am in the right mood I could play it quite easily for several hours. Yet, if I am in the wrong mood/state-of-mind, then I will constantly compare it to what I am coding and likely stop playing after an hour. I will say that Factorio is far more distilled in it's problem solving nature than you'll usually get with programming, which can make it scratch that itch of solving something. While I still enjoy Factorio after playing it for some hours, I'm more likely to code now than I am to play it. Still quite enjoyable and worth the money and possibly the time, though.
avalys 6y ago
Do you like games at all? Almost any game would be “more efficient” if you could just write code to declare yourself the victor. Games - for that matter, pretty much any leisure pursuit whatsoever - are not about efficiency.
- safog 6y ago
  Oh I do play a bunch of games. I have no problem enjoying strategy games like Civ, EU4 or base builders like RimWorld. Factorio is just too much like programming for me to find joy in it.
- discardable_dan 6y ago
  Zachtronics aren't even hiding it---just write some microcontroller code!
- XorNot 6y ago
  I think it's the difference between what feels like work and what feels like an emotional resonance. Or I guess, whether you end up enjoying the process, or the outcome. For example Doom Eternal is basically, IMO, one of the best games ever made, because it's one of the only games where the combat loop gets a physiological response from me. I can't play it at all if I'm in the wrong headspace, but it's amazing when I'm in the right one. Factorio really has to hit the same sort of "zing!" feel. Programming-wise for me, it's the feeling of unbridled power at just tearing things apart to refactor. Because that's a hell of a different feel to the day job.

by safog 6y ago

_jjkk 6y ago

Despite programming-adjacent elements it's just a sandbox game. If you don't enjoy the core idea of playing in a souped-up sandbox you probably won't enjoy it.

MinusGix 6y ago

For example with Zachtronics games (very programming-puzzle-esque games), I doubt I could play it for long. It would be similar to messing about with an Esolang, but more structured. While I enjoy using Esolangs, I can only ever do it in short bursts, and I imagine the same would hold if I started playing a Zachtronics game. For Factorio, it is just barely different enough from regular programming (due to various parts, such as the grid based nature of reality, etc) that if I am in the right mood I could play it quite easily for several hours. Yet, if I am in the wrong mood/state-of-mind, then I will constantly compare it to what I am coding and likely stop playing after an hour. I will say that Factorio is far more distilled in it's problem solving nature than you'll usually get with programming, which can make it scratch that itch of solving something. While I still enjoy Factorio after playing it for some hours, I'm more likely to code now than I am to play it. Still quite enjoyable and worth the money and possibly the time, though.

avalys 6y ago

Do you like games at all? Almost any game would be “more efficient” if you could just write code to declare yourself the victor. Games - for that matter, pretty much any leisure pursuit whatsoever - are not about efficiency.

safog 6y ago
Oh I do play a bunch of games. I have no problem enjoying strategy games like Civ, EU4 or base builders like RimWorld. Factorio is just too much like programming for me to find joy in it.
discardable_dan 6y ago
Zachtronics aren't even hiding it---just write some microcontroller code!
XorNot 6y ago
I think it's the difference between what feels like work and what feels like an emotional resonance. Or I guess, whether you end up enjoying the process, or the outcome. For example Doom Eternal is basically, IMO, one of the best games ever made, because it's one of the only games where the combat loop gets a physiological response from me. I can't play it at all if I'm in the wrong headspace, but it's amazing when I'm in the right one. Factorio really has to hit the same sort of "zing!" feel. Programming-wise for me, it's the feeling of unbridled power at just tearing things apart to refactor. Because that's a hell of a different feel to the day job.