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[ProgramGamer]

Isn't addiction generally regarded as a bad thing? Should't a game that advertises itself as being addictive be regarded as lesser to one that doesn't do that? Does it actually increase your sales to associate your game with the idea of self-destructive compulsive behavior?

Seriously though what the fuck?

[jamesprimate]

Probably a better tactic than the opposite: "Instantly forgettable gameplay! Pick it up once, then never again!"

Seems more like its about players ROI than anything nefarious. Trying to imply that they will get lots of use for their purchase.

[DireLogomachist]

I think it sounds better (at least to marketing) than  "replay value" but it means the same

[ProgramGamer]

I realize that, but it's a really poor choice of words, especially for a medium that is commonly (falsely) accused of causing a whole array of problems related to behavior and compulsions.

I should also mention that this topic is a bit of a personal rant and should not be taken very seriously. I guess seeing it for a millionth time on the app store made me want to be vocal about my frustration with the misuse of the word.

[s0]

Seems more like its about players ROI than anything nefarious. Trying to imply that they will get lots of use for their purchase.

true, but there is another side to it: videogame addiction is a real thing and the game industry has this obsession with flow states and keeping players "in the zone" and etc. not that i don't enjoy being "in the zone" sometimes, but it's more than a little creepy that it's accepted as this gospel.

oh also programgamer: addictive being used as a marketing buzzword is nothing new. it's been around for as long as i've played videogames (20 years).

[ProgramGamer]

addictive being used as a marketing buzzword is nothing new

duh, but I get the feeling that it's use has increased exponentially since the advent of the app store, which Apple has done a horrible job of quality checking.

[jamesprimate]

Form what I understand it's also a Very American thing? When Joar was in the states he was always surprised at how crass our advertisements were, but in ways i didn't expect. Pretty much all of our food ads use words like "irresistible" "crave" "indulge" etc., which he said in Sweden would be pretty distasteful, insinuating that people have no self control, which they would find insulting. Obviously we know that Americans *dont* have self control so we are used to this, but it kind of makes you wonder which came first...

[s0]

Hmm idk about that. I am also european (austrian) but our advertising uses lots of words like "irresistible" (unwiderstehlich) for food. there aren't really any videogame ads on tv ever. maybe this is different between different countries.

I remember there being lots of ads in the 90s that implied shit like snickers bars was Good For You tho. good times.

[Magurp244]

The industry buzzwords that bother me more are the kinds of dry captialistic terms like "monetization", "whale", and "hooks", etc. You have legions of psychologists not trying to cure mental health issues, but poring over and manipulating you in real time to try and get you to keep pushing that little red button. Free to Play for example has become just another euphemism for a honey pot scheme that uses statistical probability and psychological trickery to gain returns on investment.

[JWK5]

Because nothing sells like catering to addicts and addiction. Consumerism works at all because it exploits deep set addictions.

[Superb Joe]

check out neil degamer tyson over here taking figurative language to task

[JWK5]

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.

[Mittens]

I get much more annoyed by people saying their game has "addicting gameplay"

[s0]

"fun factor" will always be the best term

[MeshGearFox]

anyone remember castle infinity
be like
WELCOME TO THE CASTLE, ASSHOLE?

[2mass]

I see a lot of especially android games, getting marketed as 'addictive' on facebook, and I'm preeeetty sure this has to do with the fact that people play these games to "get lost", and you can easily get lost in a game if it's addictive.

So if you ride the train or some other form of public transport a lot, then it's positive that the game is addictive, as you won't know what happened to you before you have reached your destination. Your transport time has been deleted.

Addictive = time consuming and distracting. Addictive just sounds better.

[randomThrowAway]

Hahaha I considered making this thread yesterday.

[Zorg]

[Mark Mayers]

I feel this is only a term used for time sink games like mobile titles.

WASTE TIME WITH THIS REVOLUTIONARY NEW ADDICTIVE PUZZLE TITLE CALLED CLASH OF CANDY.