Hacker News Reader

Comment by Tohhou | Hacker News Reader

Why do you choose to play the game then? Who is forcing your hand?

I enjoy it enough that I consider it an expensive way to pass time during my commute. I still dislike the IAP model, though.

As long as you keep doing that, you are supporting that type of IAP behavior.

You have no one to blame but yourself.

If you dislike the IAP model you should not pay to play the game, despite liking the game.

You're basically asserting a hardline-principle ethic for them. However, as someone once said, "principles are what people die for," so you might agree that the relationship between IAP and desirability of play is a little more nuanced than, "well why don't you murder it out of your life, then?"

But that's the whole point of IAPs; it's exactly what JonFish85's top-level comment says: this is an abusive relationship. It hurts you, but you keep coming back for more.

No. I'm fully capable of ignoring games based on my principles. He chooses to be in that "relationship" despite not liking it. It's his own problem, his own responsibility. He supports it despite his own reasoning, which is stupid, but it's his choice.

You don't see this from the right perspective. You might be the special snowflake that is invulnerable to manipulation and has the ability to always choose rationally. But many people don't. It's abusive by definition, because the game makers are deliberately using proven methods of tricking people into doing things they wouldn't otherwise do.

You wouldn't call something a manipulation method if it was effective only if the target wanted it to be. Brains are imperfect machines, and people making those games are malicious hackers exploiting cognitive bugs for profit.

>tricking people into doing things they wouldn't otherwise do

Look at all of these people getting tricked into playing stupid match three games! Stupid sheep liking trash - that's a bug! They should like what I like! I have actual taste and plays real games and not this shit no one would play. They would pay for power? Bah! No one pays to have advantages. Sports competitors don't spend thousands of dollars to give themselves slight advantages in physical events. Why would anyone do that. Speaking of which, why would anyone support Duck Dynasty??? It must be a glitch in those human brains again.. so easily manipulated! They are obviously being tricked into liking that stupid show.

I'm not so arrogant that I think I'm smarter than everyone else. I think it's the simple case of me liking what I like and them liking what they like. If they like to spend their money on things I see as wasteful that's their choice. They probably feel the same way with how I spend my money.

Which is exactly why I've said it should be regulated like gambling; You hear the exact same dysfunctional, illogical reasoning from compulsive gamblers.

We have regulation to protect children from this with old-fashioned gambling, but none for F2P/IAP.

I've absolutely no problem with adults letting themselves in for it, but there needs to be more effort to reduce the harm to children - and ultimately their parents wallets!

>compulsive gamblers

Very small percentage of the population. Please don't try to take away my liberties when you think you are smarter than everyone else.

>think of the children

>but there needs to be more effort to reduce the harm to children

It's called parenting.

So you disagree with laws banning children from casinos and other gambling venues? That's all I'm proposing the equivalent of. Not new regulation, but placing certain categories of F2P/IAP games within the existing gambling laws.

PS: Please don't use a thread quote mark for something I didn't say.

You are using "think of the children" argument were you not.

Parents are the ones who should keep kids out of casinos not the state. There are parents who buy their kids scratch tickets. Even with the laws, you can't stop bad parenting, and when you start to legislate things to save the children you ruin things for everyone. Right now the new South Park game is less available in Australia and Germany because they think of the children so much, they want to censor and protect so much, that adults can't have what they want. What effect does this have? Kids want what they can't have more. In states where alcohol is more restricted kids try to get it more, because it's cool. In states where alcohol is less of a big deal instead of idealizing getting drunk people apologize for their friends who do drink too much. Better parenting, better families is the solution not more laws!!!!!

>F2P/IAP games within the existing gambling laws

No. If there is no monetary gain possible then it's not gambling (pretend things are not real, things owned by other people are not your property). If you care then spend your own time and money to help to get parents to understand that it's their job to protect and educate their own children and not any problem of the rest of us. Don't try to give states more power to steal more liberties just so you can build up another fantasy of doing something.

You should try Puzzle Quest for DS, a used DS and cart should not be that bad, plus you can sell it all if you get bored later for not much loss and you won't have that feeling of guilt as you spend money. The game is great for short trips, basically just close the DS and it sleeps until the next time you open it, then almost instantly you are right back where you were. Charge the DS when you get home, and you might not even ever have to power it off.

Thanks for the suggestion - that looks fun! I already have a DS but loathe the idea of having to carry it around with me. It's definitely a very nice system, and can actually sleep for a few days unlike the 3DS.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com