Enough with the checklisting

[Robespierre]

While I understand that checklisting has been part of the LTQ/FLTQ/Boss/WD Streaks, etc, the checklist within a checklist in the Base Capture event has taken things to a new level.

For those of you that don't know, checklisting is a way to stimulate participation, and has been called "one of the hallmarks of predatory game design . . ." See http://blog.adamatomic.com/post/44317001721/contrivance-and-extortion-ii-clarifications-f . The article was written two years ago.

In the spirit of the season, and also to further the information base, health, and happiness of the collective group, below are some informative articles about gaming design practices. These are written for game designers, so take that into context when reviewing.

For me personally, I still play the game, however knowing about why things are the way they are, I am able to know when I am being toyed with. I think we should all take a breather and see how we react to dangling carrots, and know that it may present an ethical quandary that only we can answer with our behavior.

http://www.emcneill.com/exploitative-game-design-beyond-the-f2p-debate/ Written in April, 2013.
This article details exploitative techniques, and may some of the examples may sound familiar.

http://www.trredskies.com/the-ethics-of-game-design/
This article has an interesting section on addiction, and how it is a real aspect in gaming platforms.

So, I will conclude...checklist within checklist...how far are we expected to enable this kind of treatment?

Stay healthy, and stay informed my friends.

[Tanner]

I was ready to say "haters gonna hate" & I'm pleasantly surprised! This is reminiscent of a Devin post or two...

[brian81bpx]

Amen brother!! Wish more players saw the game this way .. Maybe gree wouldn't have complete control over everyone's life.

[Judas Goat]

THEY will react in very angry ways to this type of discussion.

THEY refuse to consider that THEY are being manipulated (there are OTHER words to better describe it, but that really excites THEM).

I support your premise, but THEY will rail, caterwaul, howl, scream, and rant against it and you.

[Dirty Mind]

THEY will react in very angry ways to this type of discussion.

THEY refuse to consider that THEY are being manipulated (there are OTHER words to better describe it, but that really excites THEM).

I support your premise, but THEY will rail, caterwaul, howl, scream, and rant against it and you.
My faction has a lawyer from Europe in it. English is maybe his 4th or 5th language and he is absolutely hilarious sometimes trying to figure out what he means. but we understand what he is saying a lot easier than any of your comments. Hope none of your teachers are on here

[Chief HoH]

Many Thanks Robespierre for the links And bringuing up such a relevant subject.

[Judas Goat]

My faction has a lawyer from Europe in it. English is maybe his 4th or 5th language and he is absolutely hilarious sometimes trying to figure out what he means. but we understand what he is saying a lot easier than any of your comments. Hope none of your teachers are on here

Thanks for sharing, that was very important to you wasn't it?

No worries, things will get better, one day!

In the meantime, feel free to cyber-stalk me, its okay, if it helps you quell the URGES!

[Dirty Mind]

Thanks for sharing, that was very important to you wasn't it?

No worries, things will get better, one day!

In the meantime, feel free to cyber-stalk me, its okay, if it helps you quell the URGES!

hahahaaa silly little kid

[JCL]

I posted something similar, albeit less useful since I didn't include a link. I took a gaming theory design class a few weeks ago, and a few lessons went through game design and learning. Thats when it hit me why people hate on this game so exponentially more than any other game I've ever seen on-line. I've been gaming online since Diablo in the 1990s, and I've been on message boards since the 1980s (TBBS and 300 baud smart modems). I'm used to raging. However, never, ever have I seen it on par with this game.

The lightbulb came on for me when we talked about setting smaller goals/tasks/etc and you reward people in a staggered manner, with an upward slope. The better you learn the game, the better you do. Each task you master leads to a more complicated task with a greater reward. For example, watch a complete noob on Twitch TV play Call of Duty (any after MW3). Watch their build out. Now, go watch a pro. Differences are skill, yes, but more importantly understanding and complexity of learning/reward. A new player will have 1-3 typical buildouts. A pro might go through 4 in one game, and even have 2-3 for defense only (objective gameplay).

Now look at MW from Gree. You become a senior player (level 151), and you are instantly handicapped by an order of 3 in points. Bosses do similar. So, noobs can beat you get 700 points, and the best you'll see is 200. Last war I hit so many top 75 factions with level 41-50 players at 5.1-7.0mil defense. So, lets assume stat creep is factored out, I can never get the points beating them that they can get for beating me.

This is just one facet. Literally every lesson we went through, if I wanted an example of what happens when you ignore the commonly accepted (by most XBOX and PS game studios) gameplay basics, I merely had to look to Gree.

[Bravo Zulu]

While I understand that checklisting has been part of the LTQ/FLTQ/Boss/WD Streaks, etc, the checklist within a checklist in the Base Capture event has taken things to a new level.

For those of you that don't know, checklisting is a way to stimulate participation, and has been called "one of the hallmarks of predatory game design . . ." See http://blog.adamatomic.com/post/44317001721/contrivance-and-extortion-ii-clarifications-f . The article was written two years ago.

In the spirit of the season, and also to further the information base, health, and happiness of the collective group, below are some informative articles about gaming design practices. These are written for game designers, so take that into context when reviewing.

For me personally, I still play the game, however knowing about why things are the way they are, I am able to know when I am being toyed with. I think we should all take a breather and see how we react to dangling carrots, and know that it may present an ethical quandary that only we can answer with our behavior.

http://www.emcneill.com/exploitative-game-design-beyond-the-f2p-debate/ Written in April, 2013.
This article details exploitative techniques, and may some of the examples may sound familiar.

http://www.trredskies.com/the-ethics-of-game-design/
This article has an interesting section on addiction, and how it is a real aspect in gaming platforms.

So, I will conclude...checklist within checklist...how far are we expected to enable this kind of treatment?

Stay healthy, and stay informed my friends.

Nice. Very good post.

[Robespierre]

I posted something similar, albeit less useful since I didn't include a link. I took a gaming theory design class a few weeks ago, and a few lessons went through game design and learning. Thats when it hit me why people hate on this game so exponentially more than any other game I've ever seen on-line. I've been gaming online since Diablo in the 1990s, and I've been on message boards since the 1980s (TBBS and 300 baud smart modems). I'm used to raging. However, never, ever have I seen it on par with this game.

You're completely right...lotta rage. And I too have only seen it at this level here. The theme I see most with the rage is that "I am not being treated fairly," "this isn't fair," or "I am not getting what I pay for." And notice...these are all towards the provider, not the players. That translates into a competitive model between the provider and the consumer, the PvP being merely the stimulus for the transaction. PvP is an illusion.

I've never thought of myself as a "Morpheus (http://workingsmartercafe.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/virtualconference.png)" or the philosopher from Plato's "allegory of the cave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave)," but sometimes people just need better information to make a decision. And an informed customer is more likely to be a happy customer, where they know exactly what they are doing, and what they will get in return. Similarly, an in informed customer doesn't play three-card monte (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-card_Monte), or play "razzle dazzle (http://www.goodmagic.com/websales/midway/razzle.htm)" at the county fair, or on his or her mobile device.

Change your perspective, and improve your position.

[Dutchie]

All so true. Gaming that blatantly rips off the player at every turn...

[Judas Goat]

Finally, the truth is being spoken, reluctantly at first.
There was a time when to hint at this was heresy.
Now it's being discussed, acknowledged, even admitted.
Whatever does it mean?
Time will reveal the outcome.
Someone has written on the cyber wall.
Thank you, a million thank$.

[Sgt. Fancypants]

Oh look, more medals... BUMP

[Why so Serious]

bump* eye opener...

[Chimera]

Thanks for the links. Enjoyed reading and shared with others.