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Instant Gratification - An Adult Problem
bobfish
Member UncommonPosts: 1,679
This is something that has irritated me for no logical reasion over the last few years. More and more games, especially themepark games have taken the approach of offering rewards every few seconds to keep you interested, this is most obvious in Facebook games, but every little quest reward, new skill, level and achievement are part of this instant gratification thing.
For a long time many have stated that this is a childish thing, that younger generations, especially children need these rewards often and fast to keep their attention. But how many of the people who say that have actually played a children's game?
Recently Pirate101 came out, an MMO, like its predecessor Wizard101, aimed squarely at children. Yet this instant gratification thing remains susiciously absent from it. In fact, leveling is quite slow, new skills, items, even access to new areas is all spaced out and slow to happen. Quests take quite awhile to do, some even over do the running back and forth, yet the game itself is alive with players of all ages.
Surely, this is a sign that instant gratification is an adult problem? Maybe Pirate101 is an annomaly?
Then have a look at Zynga's games on Facebook, their target demographic is 35-45.... primarily female. WoW's target demographic is 16-25... primarily male...
These aren't children. These games are designed for adults and they are full of instant gratification...
...why?
Comments
And there is no cash shop item on Pirate 101 to speed things up?
Your argument is flawed if you are comparing a subs game to a F2P one. Things in the F2P title go slower to make you purchase the convenience items to speed things up.
Well, if I had to wager a guess, I 'd say it's because the kids who are playing these games haven't yet been hit by the feelings of repetition and grind, so they might be more tolerant of it. I'd also factor in the detail that kids have A LOT OF TIME on their hands.
Adults, or anyone above a certain age, or at a certain point in their life, have to juggle various responsiblities, and thus aren't as willing to be patient because being patient potentially results in overlapping with their responsibilities. Of course the more cynical response to this would be that adults/teenagers simply started to notice and got tired of grinding or boring things that they would have tolerated or ignored when they were kids.
The most cynical response would be that we live in an instant gratification era.
Indeed, F2P games do just that. I remember in PW when you start, you get a potion that heals you to full health every time you are hit. Once you run out of those your leveling goes slowly and you are tempted to buy a pot.
But I also think the focus of W101 is differant, a familiy game which is not so fixated on leveling,
2 Words- Skinner Box.
The "casual" games (especially for old ladies) really work on this princible in the same way "gambling" and Slot machines attract the Older Crowd-
But your comparison is not a good one- Since F2P and P2P games function far differently and FB games were never made for "Gamers".
I think Sandbox gamers are those less affected by the "Skinner Box" and the further you move towards casual games (be they for aduts of for kids) the closer to a true skinner box they become.
P101 and W101 are hybrid games, they offer micro-transactions or subscriptions, the latter being the more cost effective way to play. There are no ways to boost your leveling speed through purchases in P101.
So if we ignore the true free to play games on Facebook and just look at subscription games, the comparison then is P101 to WoW, which remains a valid comparison.
Whether my comparisons are valid or not, it would appear that my conclusion is right.. instant gratification is an adult problem.
I don't have the time or patience for too many prolonged gaming sessions anymore.
So when I do play, I like to feel like I'm accomplishing something.
But if I don't also see the long term objectives - I lose interest.
Really hard to get the balance right.
Too heavy in the long term, too light in the short gains - get burned out and bored.
Too heavy in the short gains, too light in the long term - get burned out and bored.
I have always hated turned based combat. I would rather watch paint dry...
I can see why adults may need instant gratification as they have a lot less free time on their hands than children to play games.
If you are holding out for the perfect game, the only game you play will be the waiting one.
Children don't have anything to do. As long as they get their homework and chores done, they're golden.
Adults have jobs, then we come home and cook which is followed by cleaning. If you care about your health, you also hit the gym. After that you have your gf/wife/children to spend time with. And then finally, you might have some spare time to punch some dragons in the face. This is not including any friends, other hobbies, or side businesses you might run.
Of course, you can neglect your health and loved ones in order to play games, but you might not be thrilled with the results.
Also, as a child if I wanted ice cream, I had to ask and wait for it. As an adult, I can just get ice cream when I want (also, I can eat it for breakfast), - in your face kiddos!
I can't believe some people, they want everything to be as hardcore as they are, the truth is that it doesnt really matter if the rewards are instant or not, the only thing that matters is what they mean to you.
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For me the rewarding parts of a game are almost instantly noticeable, I am talking about the pleasure of the movement, to feel in complete control over my character (even if my imagination has to do most of the work) to experience the journey through the avatar, intense emotion and involvement with a cause. To passionately care about those little artistic touches that others ignore. One person reading this might get all confused and think that I want to shag my games, that person wouldn't be so far from the truth.
To gain a new level, an ability, a prestige rank, the whole collection of shoulderpads and their respective costumes or to complete every single achievement ever conceived... to get the coolest weapon of the game... name it. All these ''instant'' ''gratifications'' only attempt to keep your attention from the actual game, these distractions are designed to make you want more and more, and soon you will just forget the reason why you started playing the game in the first place. The next thing you know is that the game has become your mistress and that you, (it's loyal pet) are never trully happy with the rewards that had you drooling like a fool over your keyboard.
That kind of gratification is minimal some would call it an illusion to keep you ''motivated'', a smoke screen so you can keep aspiring to obtain bigger and more colorful poligons... What awaits you on the other side? Nothing. The real game was all about that and you never seem to be on top of things. You just needed an excuse to keep playing, to keep thinking there is something special about that game, because if there isn't you would have wasted a portion of your existence in a prolongated and pointless effort.
It is a big commitment to get engaged with a game so you better don't use the word gratification so lightly, and if the game gives you a free item or two every once in a while, it doesnt mean that you have to fall in love or that it thinks that you are cheap.