Could we forgo Dopamine Clickers as FPPs? Pretty Please? September 12, 2015 11:38 AM Subscribe
Cookie Clicker Kitten Shark Heroes and their addictive incremental skinner box ilk are literally the worst things ever. Can we please not post them the front page anymore? I recognize that not everyone may agree with me, but you should. I mean really.
And please don't tell me just not to click on it. That's the whole problem.
And please don't tell me just not to click on it. That's the whole problem.
Lack of impulse control on your part does not mean ____________________ on MetaFilter's part.
j/k everyone should knock that shit off
jk
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 11:44 AM on September 12, 2015 [9 favorites]
j/k everyone should knock that shit off
jk
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 11:44 AM on September 12, 2015 [9 favorites]
We could have a game where Frog and Toad just mess about in boats. You can start them going, and you get a point for all the time they spend messing about in boats, and you can come back and check on your points whenever you want. It would be called Boat Messer.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:47 AM on September 12, 2015 [41 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:47 AM on September 12, 2015 [41 favorites]
Personal impulse control issues completely aside, I still think they're evil and represent things wrong with the world. They're the lowest form of game; a button and a dopamine hit.
posted by leotrotsky at 11:50 AM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 11:50 AM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
This meta is wrong and you should feel bad about it.
Oh I do, but then I click the Post Comment button and I feel slightly better, if only temporarily.
posted by leotrotsky at 11:57 AM on September 12, 2015 [28 favorites]
Oh I do, but then I click the Post Comment button and I feel slightly better, if only temporarily.
posted by leotrotsky at 11:57 AM on September 12, 2015 [28 favorites]
They're the lowest form of game; a button and a dopamine hit.
what if clicker games are just an experiment created by a greater consciousness to test our intelligence and we're the mice keanureevesmeme.jpg
posted by phunniemee at 11:57 AM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
what if clicker games are just an experiment created by a greater consciousness to test our intelligence and we're the mice keanureevesmeme.jpg
posted by phunniemee at 11:57 AM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wait, wait. You guys get dopamine? I just get a kibble pellet.
posted by Splunge at 12:03 PM on September 12, 2015 [46 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 12:03 PM on September 12, 2015 [46 favorites]
I'm going to make a game where whenever you post a comment on MetaFilter you get a point, but you can't do it too many times in a row or a mod will make you wait a loooong time to post another. And then with enough comments you get Bravery points that you can use to make a post, but you can only make one post a day, and it will be a SLYT at first. With enough posts you get Knowledge points and you make a Multi-Link Post about Animals. After a ton more Knowledge points you get to make posts about other stuff, Politician, Social Issue, Unknown Heroes, etc.
Then there's Social points for MetaTalk and Culture points for FanFare and Skill points for Projects and such.
Then I'm going to post the game as an FPP!
posted by numaner at 12:08 PM on September 12, 2015 [15 favorites]
Then there's Social points for MetaTalk and Culture points for FanFare and Skill points for Projects and such.
Then I'm going to post the game as an FPP!
posted by numaner at 12:08 PM on September 12, 2015 [15 favorites]
oh oh oh! You can combine all your points and do an IRL Meet Up!
posted by numaner at 12:13 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by numaner at 12:13 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
(Just to be Dr. No-Fun: Don't post it as an FPP, you will get banned for self-linking. Post it to Projects or possibly MetaTalk.)
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:14 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:14 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
Doctor? It hurts when I do this.
posted by Splunge at 12:16 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 12:16 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
So, this isn't going to be a rule. But it could be a support group. I've got a Clicker Heroes tab open right now, and it's bad. 30 days since my first click.
I'm anotherpanacea, and I have a problem with clicker games.
posted by anotherpanacea at 12:17 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm anotherpanacea, and I have a problem with clicker games.
posted by anotherpanacea at 12:17 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
Got it Lobster. I guess you'll need enough Social and Skill points to get someone else to post your project as an FPP.
posted by numaner at 12:17 PM on September 12, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by numaner at 12:17 PM on September 12, 2015 [7 favorites]
To be perfectly honest, I have zero expectation that it will become anything like a rule. Things don't work like that here.
This is more in the manner of a plea.
posted by leotrotsky at 12:19 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
This is more in the manner of a plea.
posted by leotrotsky at 12:19 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
anotherpanacea, how.. uh.. how many guilded do you have? Maybe put them all on Samurai when you can.
no one IRL knows about this game I am so jonesing to talk to people about it. help.
posted by numaner at 12:19 PM on September 12, 2015
no one IRL knows about this game I am so jonesing to talk to people about it. help.
posted by numaner at 12:19 PM on September 12, 2015
anotherpanacea, the only escape I've found from ClickerHeroes is cracking the save game editor and maxing out the ancients and hero souls. It was only then that the 'this is stupid and endless' finally sunk in.
posted by leotrotsky at 12:23 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 12:23 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Then I'm going to post the game as an FPP!
I think that would be bannable. You want to post it to Projects, where you will rack up Recognition Points, until someone else make the FPP....
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:25 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think that would be bannable. You want to post it to Projects, where you will rack up Recognition Points, until someone else make the FPP....
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:25 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Hmmmmmm.
Now, if someone wants to figure out how to use the infodumpster to create a Fantasy MeFite league....
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:26 PM on September 12, 2015
Now, if someone wants to figure out how to use the infodumpster to create a Fantasy MeFite league....
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:26 PM on September 12, 2015
Gilded to Atlas right now, but I'm only three or four ascensions away from reguilding to Terra.
But see, what I want to do is close it! But when I close it, the game is still playing, getting stronger all the time!!!!
posted by anotherpanacea at 12:27 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
But see, what I want to do is close it! But when I close it, the game is still playing, getting stronger all the time!!!!
posted by anotherpanacea at 12:27 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
leotrotsky have you started playing with Clans yet?? you fight immortals every day in "raids" using your earned hero souls as damage and you get more... hero souls!
omg we should totes make a MetaFilter clan!
posted by numaner at 12:29 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
omg we should totes make a MetaFilter clan!
posted by numaner at 12:29 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Playing this one with a straight bat: nope. With so much NewsFilter, OutrageFilter, InjusticeFilter, WalkerTrumpFilter and the like, a smorgasbord of fun, free, easy to play stuff is a welcome relief and a counterpoint to the "tsunami of misery" that the front page sometimes shows.
Where I'd say there could be a limit is in just posting the best of the clicker games as individual FPPs? Thankfully, this seems to be happening anyway, with other clicker games sometimes being put into comments, rather than there being hundreds of individual posts each year. So, as it is - with just the Best of the (clicker) Web posted - seems fine.
Anyway, speaking of dopamine, it could be worse. A lot worse. (Pseudo-self-promo alert) was commissioned to write an infokit on gamification that went live recently. There's a small bit about dopamine in there. As a consequence, ruminated for a while on what MetaFilter would be like if it had a gamification layer bolted onto it. Summary conclusion in one word: ruined.
posted by Wordshore at 12:30 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Where I'd say there could be a limit is in just posting the best of the clicker games as individual FPPs? Thankfully, this seems to be happening anyway, with other clicker games sometimes being put into comments, rather than there being hundreds of individual posts each year. So, as it is - with just the Best of the (clicker) Web posted - seems fine.
Anyway, speaking of dopamine, it could be worse. A lot worse. (Pseudo-self-promo alert) was commissioned to write an infokit on gamification that went live recently. There's a small bit about dopamine in there. As a consequence, ruminated for a while on what MetaFilter would be like if it had a gamification layer bolted onto it. Summary conclusion in one word: ruined.
posted by Wordshore at 12:30 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Couldn't you, like, take a drink instead, as a substitute, each time you want to play the game? It won't be long until you're too drunk to hold the mouse.
(I don't see the appeal of clicker games so I can't offer any better advice. Sorry.)
posted by octobersurprise at 12:36 PM on September 12, 2015
(I don't see the appeal of clicker games so I can't offer any better advice. Sorry.)
posted by octobersurprise at 12:36 PM on September 12, 2015
In all seriousness, I think for some people that comparison/choice is really not a joke, and if anyone's choosing, I recommend the clicker game.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:38 PM on September 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:38 PM on September 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
I don't find those clicker games nearly as addictive as Threes, so I'm fine with them appearing in fpps. But no more Threes-type games, please.
posted by rtha at 12:49 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by rtha at 12:49 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
i don't like a thing so thing should be banned!
posted by poffin boffin at 1:02 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by poffin boffin at 1:02 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Don't be such a dopameany
posted by aubilenon at 1:02 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 1:02 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
I like a thing too much so thing should be banned!
posted by idiopath at 1:07 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by idiopath at 1:07 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Actually, my hands are a little shakey. Can we post more of these?
posted by SpacemanStix at 1:10 PM on September 12, 2015
posted by SpacemanStix at 1:10 PM on September 12, 2015
I think this is a fine request. There's a lot of non-notable (thanks for burning that into my brain, wikipedia) incremental games that have zero meta/ prestige thought in them. They're awful.
Ones like Shoal Sharker and Junction Gate aren't just bignum simulators. There's story elements and they come closer, I feel, to management or sim games. They have more interesting stories or quirky mechanics that make them interesting.
posted by boo_radley at 1:13 PM on September 12, 2015
Ones like Shoal Sharker and Junction Gate aren't just bignum simulators. There's story elements and they come closer, I feel, to management or sim games. They have more interesting stories or quirky mechanics that make them interesting.
posted by boo_radley at 1:13 PM on September 12, 2015
SpacemanStix: "Actually, my hands are a little shakey. Can we post more of these?"
what if i just click on ur hands a few tiems
posted by boo_radley at 1:14 PM on September 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
what if i just click on ur hands a few tiems
posted by boo_radley at 1:14 PM on September 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
I feel bad for leotrotsky and think people shouldn't poke fun at the request.
posted by Omnomnom at 1:27 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Omnomnom at 1:27 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
numaner, you made my day... just scrolling down that list worked my dopamine receptors more than playing any of those games...
"Acceleration Incremental: Ascension"
"Adventure Capitalist" (play it while riding in an Uber)
"Anchovy Empire" (oh, you totally HAD me at "Anchovy Empire")
"Banana Slicer"
"CERN Particle Clicker" (related)
"Clicking Bad" (more addictive than meth? probably.)
"Conspiracy Clicker" (two internet tastes that are NOT like chocolate and peanut butter together)
"Creeper Cooker" (now they're just using random words starting with C)
"Crushing Defeat" (been there... done that)
"Dog Vs. Homework"
"Game of Thrones Simulator" (how far ahead of George RR Martin can YOU get?)
TWO "Hobo Simulators"?
"Idling to Rule the Gods"
the list would have to include "Jew Simulator (racist)", their description... it IS Reddit
"Pizza Barrel Llama"
"Tap Tap Infinity" (finally, some truth in labeling)
"Zombidle" (ALMOST redundant)
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:47 PM on September 12, 2015
"Acceleration Incremental: Ascension"
"Adventure Capitalist" (play it while riding in an Uber)
"Anchovy Empire" (oh, you totally HAD me at "Anchovy Empire")
"Banana Slicer"
"CERN Particle Clicker" (related)
"Clicking Bad" (more addictive than meth? probably.)
"Conspiracy Clicker" (two internet tastes that are NOT like chocolate and peanut butter together)
"Creeper Cooker" (now they're just using random words starting with C)
"Crushing Defeat" (been there... done that)
"Dog Vs. Homework"
"Game of Thrones Simulator" (how far ahead of George RR Martin can YOU get?)
TWO "Hobo Simulators"?
"Idling to Rule the Gods"
the list would have to include "Jew Simulator (racist)", their description... it IS Reddit
"Pizza Barrel Llama"
"Tap Tap Infinity" (finally, some truth in labeling)
"Zombidle" (ALMOST redundant)
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:47 PM on September 12, 2015
I like a thing so it should be in a band!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:50 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:50 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
"Band Name Clicker" ...now THOSE are two internet tastes that would be awesome together!
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:55 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:55 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Brandon Blatcher: "I like a thing so it should be in a band!"
How could a Nikon DSLR front a Body Count cover band?
posted by boo_radley at 1:56 PM on September 12, 2015
How could a Nikon DSLR front a Body Count cover band?
posted by boo_radley at 1:56 PM on September 12, 2015
actually i agree with this meta because it is 5pm and idk how that happened but i think it is because sharks
posted by poffin boffin at 2:05 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 2:05 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
They're awful. [...] They have more interesting stories or quirky mechanics that make them interesting.
one of my favorite parts of metafilter is that it's not reduced to what a few people find interesting. i understand some have a compulsion towards these games and i sympathize (but they'll probably have to use some greasemonkey type solution to solve the issue from their end). however, the idea that these shouldn't be posted because some people think they're awful and not interesting? nah.
posted by nadawi at 2:05 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
one of my favorite parts of metafilter is that it's not reduced to what a few people find interesting. i understand some have a compulsion towards these games and i sympathize (but they'll probably have to use some greasemonkey type solution to solve the issue from their end). however, the idea that these shouldn't be posted because some people think they're awful and not interesting? nah.
posted by nadawi at 2:05 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
why didn't anyone stop me
posted by poffin boffin at 2:06 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 2:06 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm doing shark science, raising critters, and leveling up heroes, and I've sat here for the past 3 hours.
A pretty productive Saturday, IMHO
posted by numaner at 2:10 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
A pretty productive Saturday, IMHO
posted by numaner at 2:10 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
nadawi: "They're awful. [...] They have more interesting stories or quirky mechanics that make them interesting.
one of my favorite parts of metafilter is that it's not reduced to what a few people find interesting. i understand some have a compulsion towards these games and i sympathize (but they'll probably have to use some greasemonkey type solution to solve the issue from their end). however, the idea that these shouldn't be posted because some people think they're awful and not interesting? nah."
What in the world, nadawi.
posted by boo_radley at 2:15 PM on September 12, 2015
one of my favorite parts of metafilter is that it's not reduced to what a few people find interesting. i understand some have a compulsion towards these games and i sympathize (but they'll probably have to use some greasemonkey type solution to solve the issue from their end). however, the idea that these shouldn't be posted because some people think they're awful and not interesting? nah."
What in the world, nadawi.
posted by boo_radley at 2:15 PM on September 12, 2015
Haha, as soon as I saw the post I started making a MetaFilter clickers where your comments lead to favorites which you can use to buy posts which generate comments and favorites faster ...
But I am shit at programming so it is funnier in my head than it is working out on screen. If you get enough resources, you get to join the cabal.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 2:29 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
But I am shit at programming so it is funnier in my head than it is working out on screen. If you get enough resources, you get to join the cabal.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 2:29 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
What in the world, nadawi.
i guess my humor radar is broken today? sorry.
posted by nadawi at 2:40 PM on September 12, 2015
i guess my humor radar is broken today? sorry.
posted by nadawi at 2:40 PM on September 12, 2015
I came here to say what rtha said. I finally broke my cookie addiction (though I'm afraid to open Safari because there's a game saved there that calls to me), but I will apparently be playing Threes on my deathbed.
posted by languagehat at 2:48 PM on September 12, 2015
posted by languagehat at 2:48 PM on September 12, 2015
I feel bad for leotrotsky and think people shouldn't poke fun at the request.
And they should not sneak up behind him and hit him with an ice pick. That is really what has to stop around here.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 3:07 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
And they should not sneak up behind him and hit him with an ice pick. That is really what has to stop around here.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 3:07 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
i was promised cookies.
don't name a game cookie clicker if you're not going to provide delicious cookies, dammit.
i would have settled for those horrible stella d'oro shtreimels
posted by zarq at 3:16 PM on September 12, 2015
don't name a game cookie clicker if you're not going to provide delicious cookies, dammit.
i would have settled for those horrible stella d'oro shtreimels
posted by zarq at 3:16 PM on September 12, 2015
I'll trade the Ban on Clicker games for a ban on Lefty Outragefilters
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 3:18 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 3:18 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Why would anyone hate dopamine?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:36 PM on September 12, 2015
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:36 PM on September 12, 2015
I would never play a game with "cookies" unless it was directly endorsed by the Cookie Monster (who, by the way, appears on today's 'woot.com shirt of the day'). I've always suspected "Cookie Clicker" was just an underhanded scheme by Internet Marketdroids to make us more tolerant of web cookies and more willing to click everything.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:46 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:46 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Leo Trotsky can I have your dopaminergic receptor if you are not using/?
posted by sylvanshine at 4:00 PM on September 12, 2015
posted by sylvanshine at 4:00 PM on September 12, 2015
omg we should totes make a MetaFilter clan!
Already been done. Although I think our 3 clans MetaFilter, ClickFilter, and HeroFilter are all full at the moment; unless someone feels like spending 50 rubies to create a new clan?
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 4:03 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Already been done. Although I think our 3 clans MetaFilter, ClickFilter, and HeroFilter are all full at the moment; unless someone feels like spending 50 rubies to create a new clan?
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 4:03 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'll probably plump for one when I'm at 50 rubies again.
posted by boo_radley at 4:05 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by boo_radley at 4:05 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Brandon Blatcher: "Why would anyone hate dopamine?"
Beats the crap out of dry dogfood.
posted by Splunge at 4:22 PM on September 12, 2015
Beats the crap out of dry dogfood.
posted by Splunge at 4:22 PM on September 12, 2015
a button and a dopamine hit
That's pretty much much of the internet, tbh.
I don't normally do these games but I have this one running because I can spend stuff on science.
posted by carter at 4:23 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
That's pretty much much of the internet, tbh.
I don't normally do these games but I have this one running because I can spend stuff on science.
posted by carter at 4:23 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
When you've closed the tab.
posted by Kwine at 4:44 PM on September 12, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by Kwine at 4:44 PM on September 12, 2015 [12 favorites]
Not sure why it was a good post, not sure why it would have to be banned. I tried playing this "game" and dopamine levels remained at shockingly low levels. Must be nice to have enough free time to waste to play "games" like that.
posted by Nevin at 4:59 PM on September 12, 2015
posted by Nevin at 4:59 PM on September 12, 2015
"thanks" for your "comment"
posted by boo_radley at 5:16 PM on September 12, 2015 [27 favorites]
posted by boo_radley at 5:16 PM on September 12, 2015 [27 favorites]
boo_radley, stop by at your convenience for a hot, wet kiss.
(I could not figure out how to make that point.)
posted by 26.2 at 5:25 PM on September 12, 2015
(I could not figure out how to make that point.)
posted by 26.2 at 5:25 PM on September 12, 2015
Is this meta serious? Because "ban resource management games from metafilter because I do not like resource management games" sounds like a joke to me.
posted by I-baLL at 5:31 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by I-baLL at 5:31 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
So, I really need to be getting more work done. Could MeFi and the associated subsites please shut down between 9 and 5 Pacific time, Monday through Friday? It would be much appreciated.
And please don't tell me just not to click on the site. That's the whole problem.
posted by Lexica at 5:33 PM on September 12, 2015 [12 favorites]
And please don't tell me just not to click on the site. That's the whole problem.
posted by Lexica at 5:33 PM on September 12, 2015 [12 favorites]
Remember, we don't "need" to use "sarcastic" "quotes" anymore now that we have the "hamburger" "emoji"... 🍔 🍔 🍔... and for extra "emphasis", you can "have fries with that" 🍟
(and remember, coming soon is the taco emoji, which will represent total honest, earnest sincerity... at least on Tuesdays)
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:35 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
(and remember, coming soon is the taco emoji, which will represent total honest, earnest sincerity... at least on Tuesdays)
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:35 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
In the past year I've quit smoking cold turkey and I've quit cookie clicker cold turkey. You might think I'm going to tell you that quitting cookie clicker was harder than quitting smoking. That's bullshit. Quitting smoking was way harder.
posted by double block and bleed at 5:40 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by double block and bleed at 5:40 PM on September 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
If you want to play hero clicker with a garbage dude who's also got depression, my clan is "The Gilds of Calamitous Intent" thank you
posted by boo_radley at 6:19 PM on September 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by boo_radley at 6:19 PM on September 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
Must be nice to have enough free time to waste to play "games" like that.
It is! (Tho I waste it in other ways, usually.)
posted by octobersurprise at 7:06 PM on September 12, 2015
It is! (Tho I waste it in other ways, usually.)
posted by octobersurprise at 7:06 PM on September 12, 2015
After playing a bit with Cookie Clicker and the kitten game, then reading about the depth of them, or seeing "oh hey, the next item will take days," I thought about sorta using the rules of those to make a new game: the way I pictured it was with a big Gantt chart, being able to define priorities, being able to fast forward a few hours/days/months, and being able to rewind, to change your priorities. The "game" is to work out an acceptable build order, I guess.
posted by Pronoiac at 7:51 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Pronoiac at 7:51 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
And if you're applying for the clan, please memail me so I know who's what. Thanks!
posted by boo_radley at 8:08 PM on September 12, 2015
posted by boo_radley at 8:08 PM on September 12, 2015
Metafilter: A Tsunami of Misery
(and yes, they are terrible, terrible time sinks, but in a world wof exploitative DLC and Pay-to-win aimed at kids and where gamergate is a thing, clickers are very low on my list of things to be purged from gaming)
posted by lmfsilva at 8:13 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
(and yes, they are terrible, terrible time sinks, but in a world wof exploitative DLC and Pay-to-win aimed at kids and where gamergate is a thing, clickers are very low on my list of things to be purged from gaming)
posted by lmfsilva at 8:13 PM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
How could a Nikon DSLR front a Body Count cover band?
... one shot at a time?
posted by Xavier Xavier at 8:17 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
... one shot at a time?
posted by Xavier Xavier at 8:17 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
So... do I need to set up a spreadsheet to track people who're interested in clicker-focused RPGs? Intrepid characters, exploring a framework of 10x10x10 Skinner boxes?
posted by mikurski at 8:20 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mikurski at 8:20 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
So, this isn't going to be a rule. But it could be a support group. I've got a Clicker Heroes tab open right now, and it's bad. 30 days since my first click
Okay but have you seen crusaders of the lost idols?
posted by juv3nal at 8:29 PM on September 12, 2015
Okay but have you seen crusaders of the lost idols?
posted by juv3nal at 8:29 PM on September 12, 2015
After a few posts it seemed less like a 'I hate these so never want to see them' and more like a 'I love these too much and so need to never see them'.
I've long played games on Kongregate, which as a simple game aggregator has some gamification built right in with badges and companions and so on, so I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised at how prevalent idle/incremental games have become. But having cycled through a high number of them in my time (Anti-Idle was actually great, for example) and managed to keep a few different tabs closed long-term, I get the appeals - that is, the appeal of the games, and to a lesser extent the reason for this appeal.
Seriously, though, this is a bad request. MetaFilter: Not Your Willpower.
posted by gadge emeritus at 9:06 PM on September 12, 2015
I've long played games on Kongregate, which as a simple game aggregator has some gamification built right in with badges and companions and so on, so I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised at how prevalent idle/incremental games have become. But having cycled through a high number of them in my time (Anti-Idle was actually great, for example) and managed to keep a few different tabs closed long-term, I get the appeals - that is, the appeal of the games, and to a lesser extent the reason for this appeal.
Seriously, though, this is a bad request. MetaFilter: Not Your Willpower.
posted by gadge emeritus at 9:06 PM on September 12, 2015
I'm only up to zone 1775, and doing 3228K damage on immortals. Am I worthy of your clan boo?
I wouldn't mind spending 50 rubies to make a clan though, I've just been hoarding those for when he makes another "double all your damage!" product.
posted by numaner at 9:41 PM on September 12, 2015
I wouldn't mind spending 50 rubies to make a clan though, I've just been hoarding those for when he makes another "double all your damage!" product.
posted by numaner at 9:41 PM on September 12, 2015
I love these games and I'm glad they sometimes get posted as FPPs because then I have new ones to try. The Clicker Heroes I have running in the other tab says 332 days since first click. Some hook me long term, most I just play for a day and move on, none are taking over my life in any way.
Maybe I'm all that's wrong with the world (I'm not, I'm delightful) but then so what? Clearly the world's not that bad if this is the worst it has.
posted by shelleycat at 12:14 AM on September 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
Maybe I'm all that's wrong with the world (I'm not, I'm delightful) but then so what? Clearly the world's not that bad if this is the worst it has.
posted by shelleycat at 12:14 AM on September 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
the way I pictured it was with a big Gantt chart, being able to define priorities, being able to fast forward a few hours/days/months, and being able to rewind, to change your priorities. The "game" is to work out an acceptable build order, I guess.
You can totally find those charts and spreadsheets and plugins around the web for all the major games if you're looking for them. This is a thing that people really do. It's quite helpful actually.
posted by shelleycat at 12:16 AM on September 13, 2015
You can totally find those charts and spreadsheets and plugins around the web for all the major games if you're looking for them. This is a thing that people really do. It's quite helpful actually.
posted by shelleycat at 12:16 AM on September 13, 2015
Oh and my proudest moment of the last few months was when I got my husband hooked on Twenties. He's normally totally resistant to this kind of stuff but I broke him.
We're in a long distance relationship right now. Gotta fill that time somehow.
posted by shelleycat at 12:19 AM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
We're in a long distance relationship right now. Gotta fill that time somehow.
posted by shelleycat at 12:19 AM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sage Solitaire is also aight.
It's probably a good thing I have to go into work later today.
posted by box at 6:40 AM on September 13, 2015
It's probably a good thing I have to go into work later today.
posted by box at 6:40 AM on September 13, 2015
I feel really out-of-the-loop about clicker games. How is it that not only have I not ever played these games, but I have almost no exposure to them? It seems weird.
How 'bout I say something a bit contrary to expectations -- despite being a video and computer gamer for basically the entire times these have existed, this whole repetitive, grind with repetitive reward thing that manifests from clicker games to WoW to "achievements" to just that long repetitive time-sink required to get really good at any sort of twitch type game (from the old days of the arcade to now), none of this has ever had much appeal to me at all and I've always had very limited patience. I like to game, but I don't like repetitive stuff and even when it's very cleverly designed to disguise that it's repetitive and not much ever really changes, I will lose interest long before most other gamers I know.
So, first of all, I've never truly mastered any game I've ever played in five decades. Sometimes, I will become quite good, like, I don't know, 80 percentile or something. But I'm never, ever the best (even in quite limited contexts). Second of all, when other people have a surplus of things that they can do to "waste time", I don't.
Always finding that spending a couple of hours playing Solitaire would be nice. Or jumping back in to WoW or another MMORPG. Or playing through an RPG as another class. But all this stuff is boring.
What I'm saying is that there might be an upside to being sensitive to this sort of dopamine reward cycle. I'm more sensitive to novelty, which is much, much more difficult to satisfy.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 6:46 AM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
How 'bout I say something a bit contrary to expectations -- despite being a video and computer gamer for basically the entire times these have existed, this whole repetitive, grind with repetitive reward thing that manifests from clicker games to WoW to "achievements" to just that long repetitive time-sink required to get really good at any sort of twitch type game (from the old days of the arcade to now), none of this has ever had much appeal to me at all and I've always had very limited patience. I like to game, but I don't like repetitive stuff and even when it's very cleverly designed to disguise that it's repetitive and not much ever really changes, I will lose interest long before most other gamers I know.
So, first of all, I've never truly mastered any game I've ever played in five decades. Sometimes, I will become quite good, like, I don't know, 80 percentile or something. But I'm never, ever the best (even in quite limited contexts). Second of all, when other people have a surplus of things that they can do to "waste time", I don't.
Always finding that spending a couple of hours playing Solitaire would be nice. Or jumping back in to WoW or another MMORPG. Or playing through an RPG as another class. But all this stuff is boring.
What I'm saying is that there might be an upside to being sensitive to this sort of dopamine reward cycle. I'm more sensitive to novelty, which is much, much more difficult to satisfy.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 6:46 AM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
I agree that they are terrible games. However, it's well known that cortex is in the pocket of Big Clicker.
posted by demiurge at 7:19 AM on September 13, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by demiurge at 7:19 AM on September 13, 2015 [4 favorites]
Must be nice to have enough free time to waste to play "games" like that.
One of my favorite concepts in life is the idea of a "performative contradiction." It strikes me that complaining of a lack of free time on Metatalk might actually be that kind of performative self-refutation; if you have enough time for Metatalk, you've got enough time for clicker games. After all, I'm playing a clicker game while pointing this out! (I've just asked to join boo_radley's clan, it's very exciting.)
I like the idea that the only way to win incremental games is to stop playing. But I don't think that's quite true: my experience is that I need time-wasters most when I am the busiest in work and life. With plentiful free time I read new novels and non-fiction, I start new projects and meet new people. But when the stress starts to pile on (like now, when I'm trying to get an application to the Department of Education's Second Chance Pell Grant program together while teaching a full load at a new school with a long commute) I tend to obsessively engage in more boring activities.
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:42 AM on September 13, 2015 [5 favorites]
One of my favorite concepts in life is the idea of a "performative contradiction." It strikes me that complaining of a lack of free time on Metatalk might actually be that kind of performative self-refutation; if you have enough time for Metatalk, you've got enough time for clicker games. After all, I'm playing a clicker game while pointing this out! (I've just asked to join boo_radley's clan, it's very exciting.)
I like the idea that the only way to win incremental games is to stop playing. But I don't think that's quite true: my experience is that I need time-wasters most when I am the busiest in work and life. With plentiful free time I read new novels and non-fiction, I start new projects and meet new people. But when the stress starts to pile on (like now, when I'm trying to get an application to the Department of Education's Second Chance Pell Grant program together while teaching a full load at a new school with a long commute) I tend to obsessively engage in more boring activities.
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:42 AM on September 13, 2015 [5 favorites]
Quiet. I'm still trying to beat Adventure Capitalist.
posted by schmod at 9:56 AM on September 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by schmod at 9:56 AM on September 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
> Why would anyone hate dopamine?
For the stimulation.
posted by ardgedee at 12:03 PM on September 13, 2015
For the stimulation.
posted by ardgedee at 12:03 PM on September 13, 2015
I actually back this.
These games are bad for me.
Really bad for me.
I got hooked on Kittens Game and I'd stay up late waiting to buy just that one more thing. I'd play it all evening instead of talking to people. There's no real game there (even in Kittens Game). It was genuinely bad for my life.
Identified problem
But still not really stopping...
I deleted my save games. I won't play them again, but I want to.
I'm not saying we should ban them (but of course neither is leotrotsky.) I know mefi doesn't work like that.
There are worse addictions, true, but it's an addiction and that's a problem.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:39 PM on September 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
These games are bad for me.
Really bad for me.
I got hooked on Kittens Game and I'd stay up late waiting to buy just that one more thing. I'd play it all evening instead of talking to people. There's no real game there (even in Kittens Game). It was genuinely bad for my life.
Identified problem
But still not really stopping...
I deleted my save games. I won't play them again, but I want to.
I'm not saying we should ban them (but of course neither is leotrotsky.) I know mefi doesn't work like that.
There are worse addictions, true, but it's an addiction and that's a problem.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:39 PM on September 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
I've been playing this motherfucking dumbass shark game all weekend and I'm ready to just nuke the concept from orbit
[user tabbed to shark tab between 15 and 20 times while writing this sentence]
posted by griphus at 5:07 PM on September 13, 2015 [6 favorites]
[user tabbed to shark tab between 15 and 20 times while writing this sentence]
posted by griphus at 5:07 PM on September 13, 2015 [6 favorites]
I just clicked buy a used car 1000 times what the hell is this
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:04 PM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:04 PM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think Metafilter should have a thing where if you click [+] enough times you eventually get the ability to unlock a [-].
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:54 PM on September 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:54 PM on September 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
Clearly the world's not that bad if this is the worst it has.
There is a massive senseless war in the Mideast, and anyways the oceans are all going to acidify and our children will inherit an inhosptable wasteland. Does that help?
posted by Meatbomb at 5:09 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
There is a massive senseless war in the Mideast, and anyways the oceans are all going to acidify and our children will inherit an inhosptable wasteland. Does that help?
posted by Meatbomb at 5:09 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'd missed the post about the shark game, but I saw this MeTa over the weekend and now I'm back on Clicker Heroes weeks after I'd forgotten I'd ever played it. I'm in a clan now and everything. I dream of powerclicking.
Thanks, leotrotsky!
posted by mochapickle at 12:38 PM on September 14, 2015
Thanks, leotrotsky!
posted by mochapickle at 12:38 PM on September 14, 2015
...the oceans are all going to acidify and our children will inherit an inhosptable wasteland.
Dude a scrubber only costs like 1.5K sharkonium.
posted by griphus at 12:49 PM on September 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
Dude a scrubber only costs like 1.5K sharkonium.
posted by griphus at 12:49 PM on September 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
Thanks for starting another clan, boo radley!
posted by Margalo Epps at 1:34 PM on September 14, 2015
posted by Margalo Epps at 1:34 PM on September 14, 2015
Yes! Thank you boo_radley!
posted by mochapickle at 2:03 PM on September 14, 2015
posted by mochapickle at 2:03 PM on September 14, 2015
Margalo Epps: "Thanks for starting another clan, boo radley!"
Well thank you for joining!
posted by boo_radley at 2:29 PM on September 14, 2015
Well thank you for joining!
posted by boo_radley at 2:29 PM on September 14, 2015
We have a vacancy on ClickerHeroes clan MetaFilter. Mostly at highest-zone-ever 1000+ so you might feel a bit outgunned if you're a newish player, but anyone's welcome to join.
Reply or shoot me a MeMail with your in-game handle so I know to let you in.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 4:35 PM on September 15, 2015
Reply or shoot me a MeMail with your in-game handle so I know to let you in.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 4:35 PM on September 15, 2015
What's "Threes?" Don't tell me. You know what's terrible? I don't even want to be good at the game. I don't care what the strategy is, really. The worse I am at it, the better. Sometimes I try for about two seconds, or three days, whatever, to plan how to play it faster, but then it slows by a tiny increment and I become briefly unmesmerized and that's when I go blow all my rubies or "souls" on the shiniest thing that I can get NOW. I just bought a dumb ancient that makes pictures of coins fly around for a longer time, and then I leveled up said dumb ancient. I've read fortythousandbillion times that you're not supposed to buy ancients or you're supposed to buy certain ones? Naw, fookalottadat. Can't be bothered. I'm not gonna "roll" for the right "ancient." "Rolling" would mean not buying. I buy the one that will make the yellow things fly around. Yellow fly now! Then the game slows to a crawl. Why game slow booo...
I am a lowly protist. The whole of the Internet and all capitalism is geared toward the effort to exploit me and my idiot index finger. I am what is wrong with the world.
posted by Don Pepino at 12:40 PM on September 16, 2015
I am a lowly protist. The whole of the Internet and all capitalism is geared toward the effort to exploit me and my idiot index finger. I am what is wrong with the world.
posted by Don Pepino at 12:40 PM on September 16, 2015
(Frog and Toad never mess about in boats AFAIK. That's Mole and Rat.)
posted by Don Pepino at 12:59 PM on September 16, 2015
posted by Don Pepino at 12:59 PM on September 16, 2015
I think I'm gonna stick with this clan I'm in. They're all higher levels than me, and I'm doing peanuts damage to the Immortals compared to them... but oh myyyyy the sweet Hero Souls I get when they kill one...
posted by numaner at 4:01 PM on September 16, 2015
posted by numaner at 4:01 PM on September 16, 2015
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posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 11:44 AM on September 12, 2015 [22 favorites]