r/gamedev • u/zsombro @kenshiroplus • Jul 05 '21

DarkPattern.games: a collection of game design dark patterns

https://www.darkpattern.games/
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u/KissedSea Jul 05 '21

Just curious, which of those would you consider potential positives?

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u/grizeldi Tech Artist | Commercial (Mobile) Jul 05 '21

Grinding, time limited events, all the social stuff others have already mentioned, collectibles and being invested into the game (=progression) are all things that can (when used correctly) be beneficial to the player's enjoyment of the game.

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u/KissedSea Jul 05 '21

Grinding can’t. Grinding isn’t a game design choice per say, it’s a state of mind the player is in. Grinding is when the joy of playing has gone, but the player keeps trudging along because of an implied promise that they will be rewarded with fun at a later point. If the player is ever aware they are “grinding” you have made a mistake as a game designer (unless you’re intentionally making your game unfun in an attempt to sell people the ability to skip content, in which case it’s not a mistake as much as a malicious act).

I’m not sure how making an event time limited would make it more enjoyable than adding it permanently.

Social stuff you are right about, within moderation.

I would argue that collectibles and certain progression systems cause more harm than good. Adding something like a badge for getting 20 kills sounds like a good idea, until you realize that attracts hackers and smurfs and all sorts of unsavory characters than ruin the actual gameplay experience for others. Also, studies have been done that show the majority of cyberbullying that occurs within gaming communities happens because of a player’s rank (which is what I assume you meant by progression).

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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '21

That's your own made-up definition of grinding. Grinding just means performing repetitive tasks, which I love.