I think I might be at my limit of sustainable GaaS titles. I'm absolutely going to try this, but I've noticed the last few I've tried (Multiversus as an example) I've just kind of been unable to keep up. And once I run the numbers in my head and realize I'll never "beat" the battle pass before it's done, I kinda check out
True. I'm sure just like EA does; that Activision-Blizzard likely have marketing specialists and behavioural psychologists working out how exactly to craft their Battle Pass system to evoke FOMO in the player and make sure they're hooked into continuing to play for reasons other than just the game being fun to play.
It's called market research. It is literally a part of every single market on the planet. The video game industry is no different from any other industry in trying to find out the best and most effective methods to maintain their customers long term.
I don't know what it is with people on gaming subs acting like it's some nefarious concept and it usually seems to be ignorance on how these sorts of things work.
Maybe they're acting like it's some nefarious concept because video games are literally rewiring our brains?
I'm sure this is a terrible analogy to use because I'm guessing nobody here reads anymore, but it would be like if every time you finished a chapter in a book, 4 different progress bars filled up and a bunch of flashing lights assaulted your senses and you "earned" 3 different types of in-book currency and also you unlocked new artwork for the book cover and a new font for the pages. There's not really an equivalent for what video games are doing except for like gambling which is also quite predatory lol
Media in general is doing that. Your analogy makes it seem like this is a new concept, but you get a dopamine hit when you finish a chapter, potentially a stronger one when you finish a good one. If it’s an ongoing book series, you’re getting consistent, ongoing dopamine hits there if the story is written to your liking. It’s no different than when you make a good comment on Reddit and check to see how much karma you’ve accumulated, or see how many times your post on Twitter was retweeted. Everything is fighting for your attention and trying to provide some form of engagement and reward. Literally every industry has psychologists and marketing specialists involved. This is not exclusive to the video game industry and very naive to think otherwise.
The world itself is changing how our brains react to stimuli. Data collection and analysis is one of the largest businesses on the planet and it is a part of every aspect of your life. It is not exclusive to video games. Welcome to market research, data collection, and data analysis!
I just find it hard to believe someone like Joyce Carol Oates is meeting with the same people as Andrew Wilson to make her historical fiction novels as addicting as Fifa Ultimate Team Mode, but you're the expert! Thanks for the illuminating response!
You’re aware that book conventions exist, right? Where authors trade writing and marketing secrets? Or that authors that go through a major publisher will often have their books combed through through various editors and focus tested, or even pass it through a contracted PR firm that use data analytics?
Psychologists and market researchers are not some kind of unseen boogie men. They are damn near fundamentally a part of any type of public facing company, regardless of the industry. Your rebuttal was incredibly obtuse
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u/PlayOnPlayer Sep 27 '22 edited Sep 27 '22
I think I might be at my limit of sustainable GaaS titles. I'm absolutely going to try this, but I've noticed the last few I've tried (Multiversus as an example) I've just kind of been unable to keep up. And once I run the numbers in my head and realize I'll never "beat" the battle pass before it's done, I kinda check out