3 ms·

Are slot machines fun? I think it's pretty clear the answer is yes. Diablo 2 is a glorified slot machine, most RPG mechanics are slot machine-y. Play the slot m

Are slot machines fun? I think it's pretty clear the answer is yes. Diablo 2 is a glorified slot machine, most RPG mechanics are slot machine-y. Play the slot machine while you upgrade the slot machine (via gear) which reduces your chance of losing is a clearly popular gaming category that is able to gather entire conventions of fans. Is there strategy? Kinda, I guess, but not at a core mechanic level. There is a spectrum between slot machine (try until you get a lucky roll) and chess (pure strategy) for what losing means. The idea of fun is just dopamine manipulation: Creating a state of wanting and then playing with a person's ability to get there. Here is a classic of game design: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartle_taxonomy_of_player_types https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartle_taxonomy_of_player_type... Some people enjoy the chat room. Some people enjoy the feeling of dominance. Some people enjoy uncovering the story. Some people enjoy checking every box or getting the best gear. The fact that you don't find exploration fun doesn't mean other people can't find exploration style play fun. The problem of modern gaming is much less about the strategy vs slot machine continuum, but about the motivation of game companies to monetize micro transactions or reduce production costs (namely by minimizing novelty or quality). Games are less of an artistic endeavor and more of a money endeavor. Are games born out of an idea to make a game and ultimately make money to support the life style of game creation or are games born first out of an idea to make money and the desire to promote fun secondary? Are games art or are they cigarettes? What you feel in modern game is the corrosive and corrupting force of "next quarters profits" culture. What you feel is games being built for shareholders first and gamers second.

prohobo 4y ago
That's a very postmodern take on the art of gaming. So, supposedly slot machines are on par with chess? "Just dopamine manipulation" and "glorified slot machine" are overly deconstructive and cynical beliefs, to the point where I doubt having this mindset could ever lead to creating a good game like Diablo 2. You could deconstruct all of human behaviour to dopamine spikes, but that kind of thinking usually leads to a race to the bottom; like what you're not necessarily defending but excusing. Most of the games we love were at the very least heavily influenced by game design developed by naive artists and programmers who wanted to "make something cool". Doom is the perfect example, in terms of both game design and tech. id Software wanted to blow everyone out of the water with that game, and so they focused on making it as fun and impressive as possible. There was no mentality of skinner boxes there, just inspired ambition and love of play. Yes, almost all games are made to make money. That doesn't preclude artistic ambition, and good games are primarily about making something fun.

prohobo 4y ago

That's a very postmodern take on the art of gaming. So, supposedly slot machines are on par with chess? "Just dopamine manipulation" and "glorified slot machine" are overly deconstructive and cynical beliefs, to the point where I doubt having this mindset could ever lead to creating a good game like Diablo 2. You could deconstruct all of human behaviour to dopamine spikes, but that kind of thinking usually leads to a race to the bottom; like what you're not necessarily defending but excusing. Most of the games we love were at the very least heavily influenced by game design developed by naive artists and programmers who wanted to "make something cool". Doom is the perfect example, in terms of both game design and tech. id Software wanted to blow everyone out of the water with that game, and so they focused on making it as fun and impressive as possible. There was no mentality of skinner boxes there, just inspired ambition and love of play. Yes, almost all games are made to make money. That doesn't preclude artistic ambition, and good games are primarily about making something fun.