- Questions:
- What are the issues Ian Bogost raises about social games with Cow Clicker?
Bogost made Cow Clicker as a satire to express how we view the core problems of social games. He made the argument that many of these games are too shallow, exploitive, and manipulative, which makes the game less meaningful on the gameplay aspect and more on keeping players engaged through them clicking their screen repetitively. Cow Clickers strip social games to the way players play. Clicking, waiting, sharing, to show how little interaction or creativity is being shown. Bogost is also critiquing the way in which games rely on artificial rewards, monetization tactics, and repetitive actions rather than actually playing the game. Which reveals how social games treat players as resources rather than the player
- How do social games like FarmVille enframe friends?
Bogost is arguing that social games like FarmVille turn friends into tools, rather than meaningful social connections. The friends are being enframed as resources, people you send requests to, receive bonus from, or use to unlock certain content. This reduces the friendship to the game’s actual mechanics. The value of a friend is measured by what they can provide in the game rather than by a real human connection
- How do social games destroy time outside of the game?
Social games interfere with people’s everyday lives by demanding that players constantly get on the game and play. From notifications and limited time rewards to players feel the need to return frequently, even when they’re not actually playing. Bogost argues that this is conflicting with our daily lives, for turning breaks, social moments, and downtime into a task they need to complete in the game. Rather than offering an escape, social games use real time to pull players back into the game, making it feel like an obligation of leisure.