Guild Wars 2

I’m sure most of us know what a “Skinner Box” is in terms of games, but if you don’t then watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWtvrPTbQ_c

Now, it’s pretty obvious that GW2 uses this idea, and uses it pretty heavily. The most obvious is the Black Lion Chests with their junk and occasional good rewards, but it also applies to champion bags and even unidentified dyes. Just today, however, I realized that there’s one more place where they’re using it heavily, in the development of the game itself.

Look at the feature patches, and keep the Black Lion Chests in mind. Many of us have been unhappy with a lot of what they’ve done in these patches, save for a feature here and there. And now, look at the boards. Lots of people wanting to know what’s coming, what’s in the next feature bundle. Hoping that the next one will be the one that brings them that thing that they really want. Sound familiar?

By staying quiet about what’s in development and then making a big presentation of revealing the contents of the feature patch, the devs have turned the feature updates into a Skinner Box. They’re manipulating us into trying for that one more chance, staying around in the hopes that the next patch will be the one that gives us our jackpot.

So … thoughts?

Stop playing MMO’s? Seriously, the MMO community continues to not only accept the desire of addiction to a game, they demand it. Companies are going to find ways to scratch this itch any way they can. I am honestly taking a bit of a break because of this. The implementation of a pure lottery in the Halloween content was my wake up call to this fact. I have logged in to get my free content, and have played it with my friends, but I am not in game much past that.

I think you’re reaching. More brick than delicate or subtle.