Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Games excel at the short-term feedback loop. These are often intentionally designed into larger and larger structures to make video games both accessible and fun. Unfortunately, this is not a realistic expectation for how the actual world works, where the immediate reward loop may oppose the long term optimum. I have struggled with this concept since my earliest Seven Day Roguelikes. This talk will outline the lessons I have learned in the process, and hopefully game players think beyond the next dopamine hit, and encourage designers to challenge their players.
Games excel at the short-term feedback loop. These are often intentionally designed into larger and larger structures to make video games both accessible and fun. Unfortunately, this is not a realistic expectation for how the actual world works, where the immediate reward loop may oppose the long term optimum. I have struggled with this concept since my earliest Seven Day Roguelikes. This talk will outline the lessons I have learned in the process, and hopefully game players think beyond the next dopamine hit, and encourage designers to challenge their players.
