nigel_ht
02-10-2004, 10:53 AM
Dave, what did you think of the virtual skinner box study (link (http://www.nickyee.com/eqt/skinner.html)) of Everquest?
I dunno if I classify skinner boxes as "fun" but it was certainly a successful strategem for EQ if you believe that a) it was planned and b) the skinner box aspects actually helped retention.
That brings me to disagreement with your equating "fun" with attaining goals. While the achievement of a goal might be fun, the process (and gameplay) may not be in the game design. In entertainment I think that the journey needs to be as fun as the outcome. At least given that the positive outcome is fairly ephemeral.
Or at least this is true for me. I can't grind anymore and the pavlovian DING sound simply isn't sufficient incentive to do so.
Nigel
I dunno if I classify skinner boxes as "fun" but it was certainly a successful strategem for EQ if you believe that a) it was planned and b) the skinner box aspects actually helped retention.
That brings me to disagreement with your equating "fun" with attaining goals. While the achievement of a goal might be fun, the process (and gameplay) may not be in the game design. In entertainment I think that the journey needs to be as fun as the outcome. At least given that the positive outcome is fairly ephemeral.
Or at least this is true for me. I can't grind anymore and the pavlovian DING sound simply isn't sufficient incentive to do so.
Nigel