Poll of the Day > Why are mobile games advertised as "addictive"

(+) Yeah! (+)

I mean, can you imagine smokes or booze being advertised as ... "This is the most popular product of the year and the most consumed of 2019 and the best part is it's highly addictive"

...

Mental

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because people like things that are addictive?

and games are not (generally) associated with the negative health consequences of abusing alcohol or nicotine

They can point to it as a warning if they are ever sued while at the same time spinning the word like a good thing.

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Fam_Fam posted...

because people like things that are addictive?

this.

The only reason something like cigarettes doesnt market themselves as being addictive is because of the stigma of the possible health problems that can be caused by picking up smoking.

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It's how seriously we take mental health.
Addiction is a disease and we either laugh at it or stigmatize it. I know there's a lot to learn, but we should take it way more seriously

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That buzz word just does it for some people. Like how hardcore whisky drinkers go for stuff in extreme cases like Islay that have notes like "bandaids", "sea water", "extreme smoke". Those words would sound gross to anyone except to those who love whisky.

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I would openly describe one of my favorite newer games, Risk of Rain 2 as addictive. It's a roguelike with a large element of luck involved in your runs that makes you feel like you could always do better if only you had found better items or whatever. I love it even though it isn't super deep and has no story to speak of which is usually my main thing.

That said when I say "addictive" I don't mean I play it so much it negatively impacts my life or anything, just that it's fun to play a lot of. I image most other people have a similar meaning in mind when they call a game addictive.

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When a game is addictive, it's usually because it has high replayability and a consistent sense of progression or being rewarded, both of which are often considered to be good things. It also means you're likely to get a lot of play time out of it, giving a greater sense of value.

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They're hoping if people play them long enough then they'll get impatient and spend actual money playing them.

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Hes right. Come gamble your lifes savings away on our brand-new slot machines! would cause an outrage almost immediately. They actually have stickers with a gambling helpline on every machine inside a casino.

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Technically, anything can become addictive, if someone chooses to highly prioritize something over other things in their life that are more important.

That said, many games with micro transactions are intentionally designed to be addictive and pray on people with gambling habits.

It's not something I can personally understand, I don't get any highs from loot boxes, and I can't imagine ever sitting in front of a slot machine for entertainment.

But obviously, there are people this is very additive to, because some people do spend tons of their money on loot boxes, and people do sit in front of slot machines for hours on end.

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Because the term "addictive" has multiple connotations and not all of them are negative.


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Zeus posted...

Because the term "addictive" has multiple connotations and not all of them are negative.

I can accept this, if you provide a positive connotation of addiction.

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https://blog.prototypr.io/the-science-behind-addictive-mobile-games-825739790f3b?gi=6107246939eb

Lokarin posted...

I can accept this, if you provide a positive connotation of addiction.

"This video game is addictive"
"This book is addictive"
"This Netflix series is addictive"

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Metalsonic66 posted...

"This video game is addictive"
"This book is addictive"
"This Netflix series is addictive"

All those used by college (or any level) student as to why homework wasn't finished.
I worry sometimes when I find my girlfriend spent a lot of time on hulu when she could have done homework.

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Procrastination makes perfect!

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Lokarin posted...

I can accept this, if you provide a positive connotation of addiction.

In the traditional sense it meant that the videogame would provide long term satisfaction. You wouldn't get bored playing it.
Now it means you are chasing the high of rolling a gatcha character or skin while feeding it money indefinitely.

They are addictive like drugs.
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