#warcraft addict

[artsyaish]

❄️ My frost mage, Ollos ❄️

He's one of my first characters in WoW, I don't know why I never really draw him

[the-punforgiven]

God I wish I could find a like, super fun fantasy game with guilds and shit, that is also fun to play

Like damn dude, I crave so bad to have some rpg and to have a guild with a bunch of friends to play online with and after doing some dungeon crawling and some fun quests just go back to chill in our Big Fuckoff Castle or some shit, that sounds like it'd be so cool dude

It is a shame I bore way too quickly of traditional mmorpg gameplay, because having a guild and a guild hall seems so fucking cool to me but to my knowledge those are pretty rare outside of that genre

[nraqi]

uninstalled ts4 so i could download another game 😟😟 i’m sorry my lovely sims but i’m not uninstalling world of warcraft (who’s almost at 100gb. what the hell) i love it too much

[cumslut-khadgar]

"I should be fine getting my WoW account back up and running, I wasnt that addicted:

Also me, all week, immediately after going wild and preordering the next expansion:

[valyrra]

I'm so confused why my brain is so stupid. Like I am struggling to get a bachelor's degree and I'm going to be 25 years old in 2 days. And then my brain goes to a 150% mod just to talk about video game lore. I have just retold my boyfriend the whole lore about Orcs relocating to Azeroth and like in all details within 3 hours. Non stop nerd narrative. I think sometimes like if I was actually interested in studying I could've achieved so much but I'm like fuck off im not studying your boring shit

And then it becomes a problem for 7 years of my life

[findmeinshattrath]

Gonna say it

I think the Council of the Black Harvest generally has approached the whole "wielding the Burning Legions powers against them" thing way better than the Illidari did

[thegreatyin]

an hour and a half into dragonflight and i've already met gay ecologist lizards. this is a good expansion i can tell

[itspvg]

Taken from Twitter. Been doing them as I see them. And Christ. I need a life. But hey! Let score what you folks get!

[ooc-miqojak]

👍 What is your favorite (or a few favorite) things about being a demon?

Demon Questions Meme!

This earns a perk of a brow, and a long, slow exhale, "People rarely like to hear what might be nice about being something 'monstrous.' They're afraid to hear the fun bits - easier to demonize, that way." Here, a fang is bared in a half-crooked smirk, and she shrugs into her seat - she apologizes for no pun. "What do you think? Everything is just better: taste, sounds, scents, touch, sex, battle. Existence. My demonic form... and it doesn't look so stitched up as my soul might. And the power I wield... well, literally everything about embracing being a demon is fantastic - it's the highest high - and that's why it's so hellaciously tempting. You know what you want is wrong, but wrong feels very right when you've got all the power and appeal... literally at will. That said... I actually try not to embrace all that until I have to... slippery slopes and I don't handle well."

[jambone]

every time I go for an extended period without listening to TOOL I'm always like I must be misremembering, it can't be That Good

well dear reader every time it Is That Good

[clinticalthinkr]

☝️

I'm playing a popular gacha game now that is pretty much everything I've ever wanted in a game as far as genre and story goes. I would NEVER recommend it to anyone for this reason. I've spent very little on it ($15 total) but you could make an argument that the considerable amount of time I've spent on it is its own addiction.

I'm also playing a second gacha game based on a popular franchise that is EXTREMELY pay-to-win (if you go on the subreddit, this is another aspect that fans will downplay). My friend introduced me to it and we play it on Friday once a week (it's also an underrepped genre that I love). I hop on maybe once every few days but my friend is always on and is having marriage trouble in part because of this game.

Don't get into gacha. You have no idea how it's going to affect you until it has its hooks in. And I think it's that second game that is arguably more insidious because (1) it's multiplayer so you might feel you have to play it because your friend is (2) it's competitive so you have to keep pulling to get wins.

The worst part of both of these games is their gacha system. It's predatory and capitalizes on fomo rather than enjoyment of the core game to open up your wallet.

Everytime I make a post like “don’t spend money on gacha” I get a bunch of angry replies to tell me “actually it’s POSSIBLE to gamble responsibly” and “mh how AM i a bad person for deciding to spend MY own money that I earned MYSELF?”

and man… I really wish that people understood that when I say “Don’t spend money on gacha, it might kickstart a gambling addiction” or “if you regularly spend money on gacha you might already have one” I don’t mean it as a moral judgement. Addiction isn’t something that solely affects “bad” or “stupid” people. Addiction isn’t some punishment that is deserved. If you suffer from any kind of addiction, you deserve help. But the first step of getting that help is acknowledging there is a problem in the first place.

also: while this applies to all addictions, gacha addictions especially suck because people keep trivializing it. There are so many memes and so much enabling like “lol just spent all my savings on gacha :p” “3000$ for my waifu, a pretty cheap price!” “lol it’s too late for me I already spend so much on it but you guys stay safe!” “Don’t spend on gacha? No, spend MORE on gacha!” which I believe only adds fuel to the virulent hostility against any post that goes “hey, this isn’t normal, please be careful.”

So yeah all this talk to say: the best way to not get a gambling addiction is to not start gambling at all, so don’t spend money on gacha. If you do spend money on gacha, be careful and watch out that “I’m just spending ten bucks and nothing else” doesn’t morph into “I just spent 140 bucks and got nothing out of it, might as well add ten more at this point.” If you have a gacha addiction and are aware of it, I wish you safety and recovery.

[wp100]

i havent drawn in a hot minute, not even during my breaks at work atm because idk, just not feeling it atm

i tried to draw today but nothing is coming out right. i barely even drew anything during my 2 week break, lmao. cool. i'm fine.

[cumslut-khadgar]

"I should be fine getting my WoW account back up and running, I wasnt that addicted:

Also me, all week, immediately after going wild and preordering the next expansion:

[logickally]

There's a reason so many people don't remember much about the mid 00's and it's because we were playing World of Warcraft. I know more about Arthas than I do about films or music which came out during this time. 🫣 The answer is any MMORPG you find fun. Kiss years of your life goodbye.

[milijanakomad]

Product design and psychology: The Exploitation of the Sunk Cost Fallacy in Video Game Design

Keywords: Sunk Cost Fallacy, Video Game Design, Player Behaviour, Psychological Manipulation, Game Engagement, In-Game Purchases, World of Warcraft, Clash of Clans, Game Progression, Ethical Implications, Gaming Addiction, Monetization, Product Design, Long-term Game Commitments, Psychological Principles in Gaming

Abstract:

This paper explores the concept of the sunk cost fallacy and its application within the realm of video game design. As a form of psychological manipulation, the sunk cost fallacy can significantly influence player behaviours and decisions. Through an in-depth study of specific examples, we provide a comprehensive understanding of this principle's deployment and implications from a product design standpoint.

Introduction:

The rapidly evolving landscape of the video game industry continuously leverages psychological principles to drive user engagement and monetization. One such principle, the sunk cost fallacy, has increasingly gained relevance due to its powerful influence on player behaviour. This paper explores the intricacies of the sunk cost fallacy in gaming, elucidating its application and implications for both game designers and players.

Sunk Cost Fallacy in Gaming: Conceptualization and Design

The sunk cost fallacy refers to the human propensity to continue an endeavour once an investment in time, money, or effort has been made, even when the endeavour is no longer beneficial. In gaming, this can manifest through mechanisms like ongoing game progression, in-game purchases, or long-term game commitments.

Progressive games, where players advance through levels or achieve incremental upgrades, capitalize on the sunk cost fallacy by creating a sense of loss if the player discontinues the game. Similarly, in-game purchases, especially those enhancing player ability or status, can foster a sense of commitment and deter players from discontinuing their engagement.

Case Study: World of Warcraft

Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft provides an excellent example of the sunk cost fallacy in action. Players invest significant amounts of time levelling up their characters and progressing through the game. This investment often leads players to continue playing, even when they may no longer find the game enjoyable or beneficial, due to the fear of wasting their previous investment.

Case Study: Clash of Clans

Supercell's Clash of Clans employs the sunk cost fallacy through its base-building mechanic and time-investment gameplay. Players invest considerable time and often real-world money to upgrade their base, train troops, and progress through the game. This investment leads to a reluctance to discontinue the game, even in the face of diminishing enjoyment, reflecting the sunk cost fallacy.

Implications for Game Design

While the sunk cost fallacy can be a potent tool for driving player engagement and in-game purchases, game designers need to be mindful of the potential ethical implications. Exploiting this principle can lead to situations where players feel obligated to continue playing, potentially leading to gaming addiction or financial issues. Designers must balance the drive for player engagement with promoting healthy gaming habits.

Conclusion

The application of the sunk cost fallacy in video game design presents a compelling mechanism for influencing player behaviour and enhancing game engagement. However, the ethical implications of this technique necessitate careful consideration and a responsible approach to game design. As the video game industry continues to innovate and evolve, it will be intriguing to observe how psychological principles like the sunk cost fallacy are utilized in an ethical and balanced manner.

References:

Arkes, H.R., & Blumer, C. (1985). The psychology of sunk cost. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 35(1), 124-140.

Just, M. A., & Carpenter, P. A. (1992). A capacity theory of comprehension: Individual differences in working memory. Psychological Review, 99(1), 122-149.

Przybylski, A.K., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C.R., & Gladwell, V. (2013). Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4), 1841-1848.

Blizzard Entertainment. (2004). World of Warcraft. [Video Game]. United States.

Supercell. (2012). Clash of Clans. [Video Game]. Helsinki, Finland.

Soman, D. (2001). The mental accounting of sunk time costs: Why time is not like money. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 14(3), 169-185.

Heidrich, K., & Charness, G. (2010). Investments in and payouts from relational contracts. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 75(3), 380-394.

Jaffe, L. (1998). Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life. San Francisco, CA: Delacorte Press.

Staw, B. M. (1976). Knee-deep in the big muddy: A study of escalating commitment to a chosen course of action. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16(1), 27-44.

Sutton, R. I. (1997). The virtues of closet qualitative research. Organization Science, 8(1), 97-106.

Thompson, L., Gentner, D., & Loewenstein, J. (2000). Avoiding missed opportunities in managerial life: Analogical training more powerful than individual case training. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 82(1), 60-75.

Zeelenberg, M., & van Dijk, E. (1997). A reverse sunk cost effect in risky decision making: Sometimes we have too much invested to gamble. Journal of Economic Psychology, 18(6), 677-691.

[sappho114]

YOU'RE SLAVIC???

I am not. However, I played both WoW and CS:GO for years with very lovely slavs who practiced their english on me as i picked up what i could