#user behaviour

[raffaellopalandri]

Book of the Day - Hooked

Today’s Book of the Day is Hooked, written by Nir Eyal in 2014 and published by Portfolio. Nir Eyal is a renowned author, lecturer, and investor who writes about technology, psychology and business. Hooked, by Nir Eyal I have chosen this book because I was curious about the description that the author would give of the methods companies use to involve and retain their users and…

[laurasbailey]

We transcend words, our relationship. That tether goes beyond this realm and this life.

[paintedonmyteeth]

JASON VOORHEES 🪓🌲🩸

IS JASON VOORHEES, IT’S HE, LOOK AT HE— yeah so Jason Voorhees decided to take up the half of my brain for some days now so I thought why not post some head canons of the tall man??? Who tf doesn’t love this guy?????? Yet another slasher to add on my masterlist, more to come of this man some time soon. >:))

Given to his experiences during childhood while staying at Crystal Lake, it’s still remains clear that Jason absolutely hates these camp counsellors, irresponsible brats just doing whatever the hell they want and not even bothering to do their actual jobs around the campground.

His opinions on them were never swayed and stayed the same, until he met you.

You IMMENSELY changed his outlook on how he regularly saw the other camp counsellors in Crystal Lake, you actually did your job rather than fool around, helped out the kids and were pretty much the only responsible one from the bunch. And you were too fucking sweet for him to handle.

Long story short he pretty much grew an unhealthy obsession towards you. <33

He kept his distance however, because he didn’t want to scare you, assuming you’d pose the same reactions as everybody else does whenever they encounter him.

Of course he’ll help get rid of whatever scum are being nasty and fucking rude to you, you’re his and his alone after all.

Jason has the big no-no on sex but does the occasional dirty thought drift about? Yes.

Man hopelessly fantasizes he could hold you in his arms, but maybe someday then it’ll come true. Right now he’ll just stick to the background and watch you from afar. No matter how painful it is :’)

Someday, god knows when, you’ll finally meet him and Jason will no longer have to deal with hiding around you. And he’s hoping you’d grow to love him too.

⋆♱✮♱⋆🔪 🩸

[troofless]

Someone tell me if the one of the right is the official TL of the title (too lazy to boot up my game) (ok I checked a YT video and apparently the title in DE is Friend to the End but the description is the same) because the JP version is infinitely funnier:

Let's break it down:

至上 (supreme, of the highest)

親友 ([very] close/best friend) (also how Flynn always refers to Yuri in JP e.g. when first introducing him to Sodia and Witcher)

唯一無二 (irreplacable/unique/one-of-a-kind/lit. one and only, with no other like it)

何者にも変えられぬ、莫逆の交わり (an [extremely] strong/intimate/close bond [of friendship] that nothing can change)

例えどんなに道を違えようとも (even if our paths diverge/no matter how far apart the paths we take may be)

心の中には君がいる (in my heart, you are there) (also worth noting is that Flynn uses 君 'you' to refer to things while iirc Yuri uses お前 which implies Flynn is the speaker here)

So it's something like:

Title: Closest Friend

A very intimate and irreplacable bond of friendship that nothing can change. No matter how far apart our paths take us, you will always be there in my heart.

HELLO FLYNN DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TELL US

[vigilskept]

i was around after da2's release to see when fans were doxxing and sending swana fans nasty bombing jokes because the chantry bombing made them uncomfortable. this is to say the fandom hasn't changed, its ridiculous and i hope this all passes soon. i am truly sorry if the person got doxxed but to tag users that you *think* did it so they can be witchhunted is so irresponsible. when you do stuff like that you are actively on equal footing as your doxxers and harassers because you are inciting MORE harassment, just towards someone else. im sorry you have to go through this

i don't know if i'd say equal since a url is a url and like...someone knowing your name/address/workplace/etc is scary as shit.

that's genuinely fucked up. someone telling you to kill yourself bc of your opinion on a viddy game is genuinely fucked up.

but it definitely isn't responsible to throw around completely baseless accusations towards people only to backtrack later and admit you didn't know for sure who did it and said all that anyway :) i would absolutely agree that it's far more egregious behaviour than criticising or making 1 joke about 1 question on 1 survey.

[wiredshark]

i made it :] not fully fledged out yet because of the fact I just made it, but it'll get there ‼️

@moth-loverboychained

-⛓️🦋

WOAH LOOKS COOL ASF /GEN

[cosmicarcanist]

insane to me that the trend on tumblr now is not only to not say anything in the tags on art but to genuinely not interact w it because some assholes ruined it for everyone and made ppl too scared

heres the thing: you cant possibly know if every single piece of art u come across that the op has dni and that u cross that. Frankly? i think dnis in general are terrible (not to mention completely ineffective) but dont be hard on YOURSELF because YOU didnt know and just wanted to share and gush over someones art

if someone genuinely has a problem with you sharing that art and interacting, thats on THEM. they can live their sad little life of always assuming the worst of people and never wanting to interact with anyone, but dont let the people that get offended you liked their art (or worse: screenshot your tags to be an asshole) make YOU stop interacting with people. Those people are miserable and want to make everyone miserable too

ive been on tumblr for ages. i miss when ppl talked and gushed in tags. Whenever i do get someone talking abt my art in the tags i love it! I screenshot my favourite ones and save it in a little folder for when im feeling really down about my art to remind myself someone out there loved it enough to type something out in the tags

dont let weirdos online that have their brains terminally rot by social media stop you from interacting and connecting with others and just getting to share a little kindness. The world needs more of that

[esteemed-excellency]

I think she would do numbers here

[unfamiliar-ghostly-system]

I never thought I'd lose interest in syscourse because I genuinely enjoyed rambling about it. But now? Zero desire or will to do it.

But I should end by summarising basically every syscourse post I've ever written: It's weird to act like you know more about what is going on inside someone else's head than they do, and a lot of sycourse is just a bad faith interpretation of people who are plural.

[thatswhatsushesaid]

the thing that actually irritates me the most about that post isn't that it's clearly about me, because eh, whatever, i have certainly received worse on and off anon. it's that it has no place in the jgy or jc character tags, because it's not about the characters! why did you tag this when it's just about your weird beef with me? it's irrelevant! nobody else cares about this! but they have to scroll past it to get to the fic and fanart and meta that they might be looking for. very annoying.

whatever.

[milijanakomad]

Product design and psychology: The Role of Grinding in Video Game Design

Keywords: Grinding, Video Gaming, Game Design, Player Engagement, Psychological Manipulation

Abstract:

This paper scrutinizes the utilization of "grinding" as a technique in video game design, particularly as a method of psychological manipulation that affects player engagement and behaviour. Case studies are explored to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the practical application of grinding and its implications, all from a product design viewpoint.

Introduction:

The design principles governing video games frequently incorporate mechanisms intended to stimulate player engagement and prolong interaction time. One such prevalent mechanism is "grinding," defined as the practice of executing repetitive tasks within the game environment to achieve specific objectives. While grinding can evoke a sense of achievement, it also carries the potential to induce exhaustion and frustration among players. This study endeavours to explore the intricacies of grinding, its role in game design, and its influence on player experience.

Explanation:

Coined from the concept of persistently "grinding away" at a task, the term "grinding" in the gaming context implies the undertaking of repetitive actions by a player to attain certain results or to advance within the game. In numerous instances, such actions may not directly correlate with the game's primary storyline or objectives but are aimed at accumulating experience points, in-game currency, or specialized items.

Grinding is an omnipresent component across a vast array of game genres, with its prominence notably manifested in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs). In these games, the player's progression and performance are often gauged based on their character's level, skills, and available equipment.

From the standpoint of game design, grinding assumes several roles. It serves to extend the game's lifespan by instituting goals that necessitate substantial time investment. Additionally, it fosters a sense of accomplishment and progression and can encourage social interaction in multiplayer environments. Despite these advantages, critics contend that grinding can lead to monotonous and ungratifying gameplay experiences. The considerable time commitment required by grinding may propel some players towards purchasing in-game enhancements using real-world money, thereby generating additional revenue for game developers.

Further, there is an ongoing discourse concerning the psychological implications of grinding. Its repetitive and rewarding nature might precipitate addictive behaviours and excessive consumption of time, mirroring the effects typically associated with gambling disorders. Through the exploration of these aspects, we aim to shed light on the complex dynamics of grinding in the context of modern video gaming.

Grinding in Gaming: Conceptualization and Design

Grinding typically refers to the act of performing repetitive actions in a game to attain a specific goal, often associated with levelling up, obtaining items, or advancing in-game skills. Although it can give players a sense of progression, it can also serve as a roadblock, encouraging players to consider alternative paths to progress, such as microtransactions.

Case Study: World of Warcraft

Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft (WoW) extensively employs grinding. Players often engage in repetitive tasks like fighting the same enemies, repeatedly battling against non-player characters (NPCs), or completing the same quests to increase their character's level, to gain experience points, in-game currency, or rare items. This grind contributes to a sense of achievement but has also been criticized for sometimes leading to a tedious gameplay experience.

Case Study: Candy Crush Saga

King's Candy Crush Saga uses grinding as a monetization strategy. As players progress and levels become harder, the option to grind through the game becomes more attractive. Alternatively, players can buy power-ups and boosters to surpass the grind, effectively translating grinding mechanics into revenue for the game developers.

Case Study: Destiny 2

This game provides an example of a 'loot grind.' Players repeatedly complete activities like strikes, raids, or public events to earn 'engrams' – randomized gear drops. The goal is often to collect more powerful gear to increase a character's power level.

Case Study: Old School RuneScape 

In this MMORPG, players might grind by repetitively performing tasks like mining, fishing, or woodcutting. These actions, though monotonous, boost the player's skill levels, enabling them to perform new tasks, quests, or create new items.

Implications for Game Design

Grinding, while a tool to extend game playtime and potentially drive monetization, must be thoughtfully implemented to avoid player fatigue or burnout. Game designers should strike a balance between meaningful progression and repetitive grind, ensuring the game remains engaging and satisfying.

Conclusion

Grinding, as a mechanism of psychological manipulation in video game design, can greatly impact player behaviour and engagement. Striking a balance between challenge, satisfaction, and repetition is vital to ensure a rewarding gameplay experience. As the video game industry advances, it will be intriguing to observe the evolution and refinement of grinding mechanisms and their psychological impact on players.

References:

Sicart, M. (2013). Grinding in Games: Understanding the Appeal. Philosophy of Computer Games Conference, 8-11.

Hamari, J., Alha, K., Järvelä, S., Kivikangas, J. M., Koivisto, J., & Paavilainen, J. (2017). Why do players buy in-game content? An empirical study on concrete purchase motivations. Computers in Human Behavior, 68, 538-546. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.045

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

King. (2012). Candy Crush Saga [Video Game]. King.

Bungie. (2017). Destiny 2 [Video Game]. Activision.

Jagex. (2013). Old School RuneScape [Video Game]. Jagex.

Yee, N. (2006). Motivations of play in online games. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9(6), 772-775. doi:10.1089/cpb.2006.9.772

Johnson, M. R., & Woodcock, J. (2019). The impacts of live streaming and Twitch.tv on the video game industry. Media, Culture & Society, 41(5), 670-688. doi:10.1177/0163443718818363

King, D., Delfabbro, P., & Griffiths, M. (2010). Video game structural characteristics: A new psychological taxonomy. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8(1), 90-106. doi:10.1007/s11469-009-9206-4

Deterding, S., Dixon, D., Khaled, R., & Nacke, L. (2011). From game design elements to gamefulness: defining "gamification". MindTrek '11: Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments, 9-15. doi:10.1145/2181037.2181040

[yeyinde]

was just about to ask if you'd be willing to share ur wordnik acct but before i even could, i saw a cool looking title in the "new lists" section of the dash thing & when i clicked it, it was yours 😭

so glad you like it, though!! literally been feeling insane since i randomly stumbled into it the other day because it's the coolest concept for a website ever but somehow there's only like 3 active users ?? like please

also, anybody who complains about "big words" or w/e is lame asf. like girl figure it out. literally who asked. character ai user ass behavior. your writing style is sooo gorgeous, and your love of linguistics rly comes through in it and adds such a unique sort of... undertone, i guess?, to it all! i get being a little annoyed with "pretentious" words when it feels like the writer is just shoving them in to try to sound smart, but it's pretty clear from your writing that it's all coming from an authentic love for language

sorry, this ask kinda got away from me haha, but anyway--very happy to contribute to the ever increasing verbosity of your lexicon 🩷 (ew) and also yeah sure i'll accept that marriage proposal lol

i have exactly four usernames that i rotate around so i'm not very hard to find lmao but it's a godsend!!!! i've been rotting in bed all day making my little lists 😌

that's such a criminally low number because this is such a good resource for writing in general. even outside of pretty words, it's basically everything - a dictionary, thesaurus, and even a little bibliography for where the word has been used. it's great. i love it. i can't thank you enough for sharing it, honesty!!!

and my personal pet peeve (for myself!!!) is words being used in places where they shouldn't be so i'm super picky about when and where i pull them out. but my biggest problem is just that i'm very lazy when it comes to writing lmao i want a word that describes everything so i don't have to do it myself and that's my main motivator (outside of geeking out over etymology). the less i have to explain something, the better. plus. some words are just so pretty that i have to share them, y'know.

but ahhhhhhhh thank you so much!!! 🖤💍

[gossippool]

i've been seeing so many concert videos lately of people just. standing there. or sitting down. is this like a normal concert experience bc i've only been to 2 concerts in my whole life and one was the eras tour and i had the time of my life. and EVERYONE stood up even those in the upper bowls 😭😭😭

[misterradio]

i think factory pomo will always be my sweetheart aesthetic i just love the geometric stylings. i always used factory pomo style clip art in school projects i thought it was suuuch a cool style.

looking thru that website... memphis jr is also great, kind of similar geometric style with brighter colours. i even used to have the toy used as the example image, and for some reason images of LSD:DE are used as an example lol

[dmumt]

idgaf about exoplanet politics right now and i promise if you all just accept that we don't know the intricacies of everything that's happened and we never will you'll be much less miserable for it

[windupaidoneus]

i don't think any of you people are in a place to tell whether a behaviour is callout-worthy this is so incredibly online. congrats to you guys for running someone off the website bc you couldnt simply block them & go on with your day