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[Bennett]

I write (text) for a living, and I am constantly wondering why writing has to be less fun and less addictive than playing video games. After all, I'm using the exact same hardware, and the exact same interface.

Could we apply the lessons of videogame design to the creation of a word processor that was truly compelling to use?

Here are my ideas thus far:

1) The system would need to be full-screen. Addictive games shut out the outside world.

2) The lesson from Super Mario: Every user interaction should have a visual effect. There should never be a case where you hit a key or click the mouse and nothing happens. There should never be any delay between your input and the visual effect - it all needs to happen at 60 frames per second.

3) The lesson from the Ocarina of Time: A small visual reward should be given when you are doing a repetitive task. When Link runs across Hyrule Field, you can press a button at any time to make him do a useless, but cool, forward roll. Similarly, you should be able to get a small visual reward as you scroll up and down your document, and as you make spelling corrections.

4) The lesson from Everquest: The program should offer 'scores' which tell you how good your writing is. For example, you gain points for each unique word you use. You lose points for writing really long sentences. Your stats are tracked on the side of the screen, and high-scores are collected in an online leaderboard.

5) Animation system: in a normal word processor, letters just 'appear' instantaneously. When a word is pushed over the edge of the line, it disappears and reappears on the next line. This breaks your psychological connection to the 'page'. In my addictive word processor, letters would have some apparent mass. They would slide into and out of view. When you pasted a block of text into the middle of a paragraph, a ripple would emanate out through the other letters as they jostled to make room.

What other lessons from video games could be applied to a word processor? If I get enough good ideas I'm really going to do this. Even if all I can manage is an addictive plain text editor.

[Al King]

Already done

[shinygerbil]

Each menu should be a fun, addictive minigame that quickly begins to grate until you can't stand it any longer. Want to make your text bold? Just rearrange this little picture puzzle. Want a table of contents? Rearrange this bunch of random pipes until the liquid can flow from one end to the other!

[Bennett]

I guess I need to clarify: the goal is to increase productivity! That won't happen if I become addicted to adding, and then removing italics. 

[Caio]

Threaten to kill the user if he does not write faster and better.
Always works for me!

[Seth]

Lesson from a typewriter:  Each letter should provide a satisfying sound "thwack" sound as you type, and everytime you hit return you get the ultrasatisfying "chhTING" sound.  Combine this with video game aesthetic, make it so certain keystrokes are more rewarding sounds, especially the period.  Return should always be the best though.

Damn... I wish I had a typewriter right now...

[can-o-spam]

Lesson from a typewriter:  Each letter should provide a satisfying sound "thwack" sound as you type, and everytime you hit return you get the ultrasatisfying "chhTING" sound.  Combine this with video game aesthetic, make it so certain keystrokes are more rewarding sounds, especially the period.  Return should always be the best though.

I already did that. (Sorta)
http://www.camerondmm.com/images/WebTypeWriter.html
 

[waruwaru]

I dunno... I don't want to be distracted when I am writing a document or a program.  It would be cool if your word processor could understand the "mood" of what you are writing and changes background/colors/fonts to match.

[Caio]

I already did that. (Sorta)
http://www.camerondmm.com/images/WebTypeWriter.html
 

That's awesome.
Useless awesome, but still awesome!

[moi]

I dunno... I don't want to be distracted when I am writing a document or a program.  It would be cool if your word processor could understand the "mood" of what you are writing and changes background/colors/fonts to match.

Let's go one step further and have the processor automatically connect to google/wikipedia and download and compile texts related to your writing.
That how culture work in 2007 after all, isn't it?

[Mr. Yes]

Man, if something like this was actually made, it would be so awesome.

[waruwaru]

Let's go one step further and have the processor automatically connect to google/wikipedia and download and compile texts related to your writing.
That how culture work in 2007 after all, isn't it?

Programming wise, it might not be a bad thing, it would encourage code re-use.  I suppose it would also meant more bug-reuse... 

[Bennett]

Lesson from a typewriter:  Each letter should provide a satisfying sound "thwack" sound as you type, and everytime you hit return you get the ultrasatisfying "chhTING" sound.  Combine this with video game aesthetic, make it so certain keystrokes are more rewarding sounds, especially the period.  Return should always be the best though.

Damn... I wish I had a typewriter right now...

This is a really good idea - it's been tried, though. The freeware text editor Q10 does it. And yeah, it's a small auditory reward which makes things a bit more compelling (but annoys coworkers).

http://www.baara.com/q10/

[marshmonkey]

How about Super Mario Galaxy: StarWords

Each letter pops in with signature super mario galaxy dust poof particles, and star bits sit on regular places on the lines where they are collected with a glittery spark once you type that far.  When you collect 100 star bits you unlock a new font!

[birdcloud]

I'm thinking, to texture the page, ought to keep particle system smoke always rolling in the background, threaded all through the spaces between letters. New words push out the smoke as they're laid, and the faster you type, the bigger the cloud billowing up in your wake. That'd be cool.