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Comment on YSK about Darkpatterns.games, a website that rates mobile games on their "Dark patterns"

Thanks for the advice. I’m honestly trying to wrap my head around the appeal or what it does for her. The app is called Gold and Goblins, and it’s an idle game. I’ve never understood idle games as a genre but I want to try to come from an understanding place. I’m a PC gamer myself (factorio currently) and I’m used to paying once for a game and being able to play forever.

I mean I have my own problems as well, my addictions are caffeine and nicotine. So I’m definitely not a saint. But it’s hard to talk to her about it when she pulls the whataboutism on my vices. I get it, my stuff is wasted money as well. I just don’t really see it as the same thing, Noone is compelling me with a time limited event or something to get me to smoke more.

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rappo@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Do you have a “vices” budget? Maybe that’s one approach. You both get $100 or whatever and she blows hers on mobile games, while you’re cutting back and have money for other things.

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- mynameisigglepiggle@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  This is a good idea to keep everyone accountable
  
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Revan343@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I’ve played Golf and Goblins, it’s a typical idle skinner box; these companies hire the same people casinos do, to design their games to be addictive. It is a gambling addiction, same as if it were actual slot machines

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moakley@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Obviously I don’t know what your finances are like, but is it possible she’s just enjoying herself and considers it a hobby? Comparing it to other games, $100/month can seem ridiculous, but comparing it to other hobbies, it might not be that bad.

I used to be unwilling to spend any amount on a mobile game until I thought about how much I used to spend playing Magic: the Gathering. Sometimes hobbies cost money.

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- BowtiesAreCool@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I have multiple hobbies and or vices that each cost about that much per month…so
  
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ericbomb@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Oof yeah I sometimes get drawn into idle games. It’s weird to be pulled into those, because just the constant feeling of accomplishing something short circuits my brain, combined with “Oh I should check in on my game once a day, or I’m not accomplishing things”. Usually once I stop playing for a few days I go “oh, why did I care?” But it feels real bad in the mean time.

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