WaltSee wrote on Oct 2, 2022, 12:41:
Looks like another back-door attack on computer gaming.

If you don't think that most if not ALL mobile games are designed to feed on and encourage addictive behavior you are either A) living under a rock B) living in your echo chamber.

Hi, I build games that psychologically exploit most children and some adults into dark gambling patterns.

And boy do I love my job, I bring so much joy to the world!

*own children get exploited*

Oh No! You're not hurting the right people!

It's OK, I'll just censor it from my children and pivot to educational games to teach Critical Gambling Theory.

I'm doing my part!

This comment was edited on Oct 4, 2022, 02:17.

time times and their editorial board fucking hates video games and generally comes across as technology skeptical.

reminded me of this gem from the early pandemic days about teenagers using computers and game consoles to stay in touch more.

The day after New Year’s, John Reichert of Boulder, Colo., had a heated argument with his 14-year-old son, James. “I’ve failed you as a father,” he told the boy despairingly.
...
During their argument, he pleaded with his father not to restrict access, calling his phone his “whole life.” “That was the tipping point. His whole life?” said Mr. Reichert, a technical administrator in the local sheriff’s office. “I’m not losing my son to this.”

hahaha i still think about this sometimes. what a stunning lack of empathy or insight. yeah, his whole life. how else are you supposed to stay in touch with everyone you know during a fucking lockdown.

MindStalker3 wrote on Oct 2, 2022, 14:05:

WaltSee wrote on Oct 2, 2022, 12:41:
Looks like another back-door attack on computer gaming. "Knowing all the techniques with which we tried to bring about addiction..." You mean like making it entertaining--fun to play--like that?

Its pretty clear he is talking about pay to win casual mobile games. Which are essentially just gambling with additional labels. Fun game you get addicted to. Fun game that's addicting and empties your wallet are different things.

EA Sports titles are the same. There's a reason loot boxes are in so many big games now, and it isn't for our benefit.

Don't worry your daughters will get their bank accounts drained by P2W mobile trash when they are adults, and if they are married, their spouses money too!

WaltSee wrote on Oct 2, 2022, 12:41:
Looks like another back-door attack on computer gaming. "Knowing all the techniques with which we tried to bring about addiction..." You mean like making it entertaining--fun to play--like that?

Its pretty clear he is talking about pay to win casual mobile games. Which are essentially just gambling with additional labels. Fun game you get addicted to. Fun game that's addicting and empties your wallet are different things.

My biggest gaming addiction was being a day 1 WoW player. I made a lot of virtual friends that I still keep in touch with. I had a lot of fun, even though the time could have been spent more productively, but I don't regret it. When I was done with the game, I simply stopped playing it. Not sure what the game designer's point is. Human's are designed to form habits.

WaltSee wrote on Oct 2, 2022, 12:41:
food is addictive

He thought he was 'just' making delicious cookies that anyone can enjoy. Tweaking the ingredients of taste, feeding the desire to eat more. Now he realizes that leaving a child alone within a room filled with cookies is a bad idea.

Not that you can read this, you're addicted to blocking people.

Looks like another back-door attack on computer gaming. "Knowing all the techniques with which we tried to bring about addiction..." You mean like making it entertaining--fun to play--like that? When his 3 & 4-year-old daughters learn how to read and get a few years older and begin to comprehend the world around them--then maybe they might be able to comprehend something about his games--maybe. Along with TV, books, and movies, and all of the things their creators do to make them "addicting."

People need to get over this "addicting" phobia--air is addictive, food is addictive; entertaining TV, books, and movies are addictive. Reading is addictive, as I'm sure his daughters will appreciate one day in the future, when they can read and become literate in English, of course.

Some people even think the NYT is addictive, if you can believe that...;)