The Time Suck
A while back, I was playing a game on my phone that kept popping up with an advertisement for Merge Dragons. One fateful day, I finally installed it. Since then, I have lost hours of my life. That little game is like Count Rugen. "I've just sucked one year of your life away... Tell me, and remember this is for posterity, so be honest. How do you feel?" (The Princess Bride has an uncanny number of real life applications.)
When I was trying to decide what to write about this evening, all I could reflect on was the fact that I spent all day merging things. Just about every weekend, the game creators entice you with a special goal or mini-game that is only good from Friday to Monday. It's what Kef and I call "The Time Suck" because you can literally lose hours while merging things toward your goal.
What is it that makes us so enthralled by this game? A site about addictions says that some gamers are addicted to the completion of a mission. I'd have to say this is probably what keeps me coming back to it. If you were ever to get to the end of the missions, you'd lose interest. But there's always more land for you to clear, more Wonders for you to discover, more stars for you to earn, more dragons to earn and merge for higher level dragons. We have arrived at the end of the levels to be conquered, but they always promise that Dragonia will expand again. But until then, here, play this time suck. Why, thank you, game creators, I think I will.
Kef and I have had several conversations about uninstalling this game. So far, neither of us have done it. Perhaps when I go back to work I will. Maybe. Until then, merge on!
When I was trying to decide what to write about this evening, all I could reflect on was the fact that I spent all day merging things. Just about every weekend, the game creators entice you with a special goal or mini-game that is only good from Friday to Monday. It's what Kef and I call "The Time Suck" because you can literally lose hours while merging things toward your goal.
What is it that makes us so enthralled by this game? A site about addictions says that some gamers are addicted to the completion of a mission. I'd have to say this is probably what keeps me coming back to it. If you were ever to get to the end of the missions, you'd lose interest. But there's always more land for you to clear, more Wonders for you to discover, more stars for you to earn, more dragons to earn and merge for higher level dragons. We have arrived at the end of the levels to be conquered, but they always promise that Dragonia will expand again. But until then, here, play this time suck. Why, thank you, game creators, I think I will.
Kef and I have had several conversations about uninstalling this game. So far, neither of us have done it. Perhaps when I go back to work I will. Maybe. Until then, merge on!
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| If you ever think about installing this, don't do it! Run! |
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