An analysis of digital hoarding behavior through the lens of Rogue: Genesia's collecting mechanics. We discuss the psychology of accumulation, FOMO, and the mental burden of digital clutter. Tips for digital minimalism included.
00:00Welcome, everyone. Today, while we enjoy the chaotic gameplay of Rogue Genesea, I want to
00:14draw a parallel that might not be obvious at first glance. Let's talk about algorithms.
00:21Specifically, the algorithms that shape our digital lives outside of gaming on social media,
00:26streaming platforms, and newsfeeds and how surprisingly similar they are to the mechanics
00:31of a roguelite game. At its core, Rogue Genesea is a game about choices and adaptation.
00:39The game presents you with random items, artifacts, and upgrades after each level.
00:44You must constantly adapt your strategy based on what the algorithm of the game offers you.
00:50Do you go for a fire build because it gave you two fire-related items in a row?
00:54Or do you stay generalist, hoping for something better later?
01:00The game is constantly reading your actions and offering you a tailored, yet random, path to power.
01:06This is eerily similar to how the social media algorithm works.
01:11You scroll through your feed.
01:13You linger on a cat video.
01:15You like a post about vintage cars.
01:18You comment on a political debate.
01:20The algorithm, like the game's RNG, random number generator, takes these micro-actions as input.
01:28It then calculates and serves you more content that it thinks will keep you engaged.
01:33More cat videos, more car content, more inflammatory political discourse.
01:38It's building a build for you, optimized not for victory, but for your maximum attention and screen time.
01:46Both systems are designed to create a compelling, addictive loop.
01:50In Rogue Genesea, it's the one more run feeling.
01:54On TikTok or YouTube, it's the infinite scroll.
01:57Both use variable rewards.
02:00Sometimes you get a legendary item, sometimes you get a useless one, sometimes you see a hilarious video, sometimes you waste 10 minutes on boring content.
02:10This unpredictability is what hooks us.
02:13We keep playing and scrolling in anticipation of the next big reward.
02:17The danger in real life is that this algorithmic curation creates filter bubbles and echo chambers.
02:24Just as a player might only ever experience a fire build, a social media user might only ever see one side of a complex issue, becoming more and more radicalized without even realizing it.
02:37The algorithm narrows our world to what it predicts we will engage with, limiting our exposure to new ideas and challenging perspectives.
02:44Rogue Genesea, in a way, teaches us to be aware of these systems.
02:51To recognize when we are being fed a path and to question if it's the right path for us.
02:56It teaches adaptability.
02:58The best players don't just force the same strategy every time, they learn to work with what they're given.
03:05Similarly, we need to be adaptive and critical consumers of digital content.
03:10We must consciously break out of our algorithmic bubbles, seek out diverse sources, and remember that the build the algorithm is creating for us is designed for its goals, engagement, not necessarily ours, well-being, knowledge.
03:26So, play the game, enjoy the power fantasy, but remember to occasionally step back and audit the other games you're playing every day on your phone.
03:35Who is designing that experience, and for what purpose?
04:05For what purpose is, and for what purpose is to use.
04:10To przek it, the function of Destorah, what purpose is to motivate you!
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