Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2016 5:50:04 GMT
The other week I blew well over a dozen hours playing a free PC game called Hearthstone and it got me to thinking: I want to play more; and what is it that makes games-- or anything else for that matter-- addicting? I tried a similar FTP mobile game, Yugioh, but didn't like it; so what makes a something the opposite of addicting? Please note that from a medical standpoint, addiction means physiological symptoms exist during withdrawal...I'm simply using the word as a common euphemism for 'strong affinity for.'
As far as games (including the non-video kind such as board games, CCGs/TCGs like Magic: The Gathering and pen-and-paper RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons) go, I believe that the following elements have a role to play in making an engaging experience:
- low barrier to entry (cost, time commitment to learn)
- complexity in the mechanics
- random 'luck' element (to help even the odds between players of dissimilar skill/experience levels)
- adequate (but not completely impossible) challenge to accomplishment of objectives/win condition
- strategy and tactics!
- direct player affect over outcomes and the ability to express oneself through creation
- customizable/upgradable/expandable/variable components
- upgrade/reward system
- ability to improve individual player skill over time
- opportunity to interact with other human players
- appealing characters, artistic designs, story
- variable experience (i.e. no two games are exactly the same) including surprises, comebacks and upset wins
- replay value
This of course neglects to address the human side of the equation. I believe that some people, through nature and/or nuture, simply possess personalities more prone to addictions of all types-- be that to gambling, television or chocolate. But that's a whole other topic altogether...
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Cervantes
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Post by Cervantes on Feb 20, 2016 6:42:51 GMT
I would only disagree with the "low barrier to entry" point. I mean, pen & paper RPGs have actually a very high barrier, both financial and intelectual - those games have many, many rules, and you have to actually read them (which takes time and dedication), and the books are quite expensive. I also think about successful MMOs like EVE Online, which demands a lot of dedication from its players.
I think it sometimes goes almost the other way around: if you have much invested in the game (time, money, intellectual investment), then it's more likely you'll keep attached to it. But it may work on both "barrier" levels: a game with a high barrier (pen-and-paper rpgs, most competitive strategy games, flying simulators and spaceship simulation games) usually won't have a very expansive player base, but that base will surely be very dedicated, and their main draw will be having dominated the highly demanding mechanics of the game over a very long, dedicated time. On the other hand, on games with a low barrier, the "random luck element" that you mentioned will, at first, act as a substitute for complexity (the player won't feel like he/she has exhausted the game yet, as it will still be giving different results every turn); over time, there may be some kind of investment, be it time itself, money (with microtransactions, done either to expand the game or to beat the odds), or even a social investment, especially common in MMOs as the players make friends inside the game.
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Post by teddykongcountry on Feb 20, 2016 8:15:36 GMT
Key word: sometimes.
I invested an ungodly amount of hours into Pokémon X simply because of the exhilaration factor of destroying online competition via my well though out team and the sense of achievement of building it myself from the ground up rather than rely on some cheap 'mon generator service as so many seemed to do. In the end, it was pretty worthless but at least I came out knowing I wasn't some little cheat. I also know I won't play another mainline Pokémon game in about EVER.
But let's take more recently. I played Sonic Generations on the 3DS and I consider that game "Addicting." Why? Because I constantly strive to beat my times on the levels that I know I can do better on and the experience invites me to do so, a.k.a. open level of entry. It's not that getting those high scores is easy because it's not: they frequently require a high level of attention to course layouts and a demand in dexterity but the thrill of doing so correctly far compensates the level of frustration in doing so wrong time and time again.
But you're right on many fronts here, good player, and even a genre such as the roguelike that steals back every material gains the player makes still rewards players with the knowledge of how to tackle the experience better the next time; it's still all the more understandable that many players face a mental gap in playing such games because they know the experience is beyond them.
So like Cervantes said, the quality of addiction lies in the eyes of the beholder. Just because one person loves the fact that they can readily master a certain format doesn't mean the next person won't revel in the knowledge that they successfully worked or are working to conquer one of the greatest challenges of their recent history.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2016 8:34:35 GMT
I just think that addiction tends to often feature an easy 'gateway' of sorts. I had a family member play Bejeweled for months on end because it was free, readily available on her phone, and extremely easy to pick up and play. Hearthstone is free, doesn't force me to look at ads or buy DLC, and hooked me with its simplified version of Magic: The Gathering-style gameplay. Think about it this way: how many people get addicted to crack cocaine (which is much cheaper than the powdered form) and how many get addicted to collecting expensive automobiles? How many skilled Street Fighter players are there compared to the number of Warhammer 40,000 miniatures collectors? Price and accessibility determine whether something reaches the broader masses, or just an elite few aficionados.
On a side note, I wouldn't call pen-and-paper RPGs overly complex-- they are far less so in fact than many video game RPGs I've played (Yggdra Union or Disgaea anyone?) and the price is actually much less than brand new video games. The latest (5th Edition) of the D&D game has 3 major rulebooks that cost less than $40 US each on Amazon. If you don't want to invest even that, the Starter Set is less than $25. If you don't want to pay anything at all and just try it out, the basic rules are completely free to download (http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules). Which means that you can invest $145 or nothing at all and still get endless hours of engagement...which you can't say about maybe 2 or 3 new pieces of game software. What most people don't realize is that video games are limited by technology, the developer's efforts and available resources. TTRPGs are only limited by your imagination and willingness to create.
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Post by spidershinobi on Feb 20, 2016 9:50:09 GMT
Don't worry, from a medical point of view addiction may occur with psychologically altering activities too, so it's not just drugs that can get someone there.
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Dan E. Kool
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 28, 2017 18:47:04 GMT
Great posts, @player1.
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Post by winnersdontusedrugs on Sept 28, 2017 19:54:26 GMT
On a side note, I wouldn't call pen-and-paper RPGs overly complex-- they are far less so in fact than many video game RPGs I've played (Yggdra Union or Disgaea anyone?) Boi |
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Balder
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Post by Balder on Sept 28, 2017 20:34:01 GMT
I thought player1 had come back to haunt me, but then I realized it was just you again. |
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Dan E. Kool
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Now With Extra Pulp!
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 28, 2017 21:51:12 GMT
I thought player1 had come back to haunt me, but then I realized it was just you again. Just realizing my passion in life, Balder. Having a blast. |
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Balder
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Post by Balder on Sept 28, 2017 22:20:02 GMT
I thought player1 had come back to haunt me, but then I realized it was just you again. Just realizing my passion in life, Balder. Having a blast. That's totally a legit answer. |
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Balder
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Post by Balder on Sept 28, 2017 22:20:27 GMT
I thought player1 had come back to haunt me, but then I realized it was just you again. Just realizing my passion in life, Balder. Having a blast. But liking your own post is a little bit too much. |
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Dan E. Kool
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Now With Extra Pulp!
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 29, 2017 7:53:23 GMT
Just realizing my passion in life, Balder . Having a blast. But liking your own post is a little bit too much. Liking posts is my other passion. |
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stratogustav
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Post by stratogustav on Sept 30, 2017 22:23:30 GMT
I almost forgot that @player1 left because of Balder, they had a heavy discussion of something I don't remember. It is a shame we love to have the whole collection of the classic forum users here.
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Balder
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Post by Balder on Oct 1, 2017 0:19:10 GMT
I almost forgot that @player1 left because of Balder, they had a heavy discussion of something I don't remember. It is a shame we love to have the whole collection of the classic forum users here. He was incredible negative towards modern gaming and committed digital suicide because of an internet discussion. It wasn't the most civil discussion ever, but that doesn't justify deleting his profile. |
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Dan E. Kool
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Now With Extra Pulp!
Posts: 3,325
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Oct 1, 2017 8:05:58 GMT
I almost forgot that @player1 left because of Balder, they had a heavy discussion of something I don't remember. It is a shame we love to have the whole collection of the classic forum users here. He was incredible negative towards modern gaming and committed digital suicide because of an internet discussion. It wasn't the most civil discussion ever, but that doesn't justify deleting his profile. That's your side of the story. I remember things quite differently. |
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