this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2025
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Like I said in this and the branch below it, many games, balatro included, include game and visual design that evoke psychological experiments and concepts that are basically the foundation of slot machines and the like.
And these are the same concepts people deride when we call them loot boxes (but not gacha for some reason).
Hmm. At least in my experience, the people decrying loot boxes also condemn gacha for the exact same reasons, but we could have had separate experiences.
I don't understand what you're talking about. Balatro does not contain loot boxes/gacha. In a world where so many modern AAA games are exploiting all kinds of shady dark patterns, Balatro took off by not doing any of that shit. It's just a sincerely fun game, and it sounds like you're literally just complaining that it's too fun and that should somehow be policed.
The guy is clearly an idiot. He made this stupid comment and he can't justify it but rather than admit that it's a stupid comment and he doesn't know what he's talking about, he's trying to back it up in some bizarre way with this mumbo jumbo non-logic.
So you're referring to things like "number go up" and Juice, because literally every game does that.
The difference is one is manipulating a continuous flow of money out of your wallet and you pay once for Balatro to get the same rush without getting psychofinancially milked for the CHANCE at a hit of dopamine before you pay again for the privilege.