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Dark Pattern Games

(www.darkpattern.games)
350 points robotnikman | 1 comments | 16 Nov 25 19:38 UTC | HN request time: 0.209s | source
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mzajc ◴[16 Nov 25 20:55 UTC] No.45948330[source]▶
I like the idea, but their ratings seem.. dubious at best. For example: Hyperrogue, which hit the frontpage a few times and which I can confidently say does not feature any dark patterns, is rated just 1.19 [0] on a 5 (best) to -5 (worst) scale.

[0] https://www.darkpattern.games/game/18554/0/hyperrogue.html

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p1necone ◴[16 Nov 25 21:32 UTC] No.45948600[source]▶
Yeah I think this clarifies the core issue with this kind of thinking (imo).

The venn diagram between 'mechanics that make games fun' and 'dark patterns' (as described by this site) is basically a circle. The important thing isn't the patterns themselves, it's that they're used to make you spend money on microtransactions.

Looking at just the mechanics divorced of any context of the surrounding business/marketing/monetization is missing the point.

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1. generationP ◴[17 Nov 25 02:26 UTC] No.45950350[source]▶
Most of the dark patterns are not fun. The "psychological dark patterns" are, to some healthy degree.