[dev1047] Thoughts/Feedback on "Legion"

[Mahoro]

Then you might want to go open some books, or use google and learn what a Skinner Box is and who Dr. Skinner was. His research and invention (if it could be called that) of that box allowed many other behavioral scientists to do research.

[studies, etc.]

I actually do know what a Skinner Box is, thanks in no small part to years of reading FFXI forums. Not to mention previous posts on these official forums in the last year by people like yourself and Runespider. But thanks for the Googledump. I also imagine you are familiar with the concept that an operant conditioning chamber is essentially created by ANY repeatable game. The more nefarious aspects of operant conditioning come when rewards are so randomized that you are forced to carry out the behavior thousands of times with no reward. As I have said repeatedly in this thread (and your post makes me think you may not have read the rest of my posts), I am not OK with 0.001% randomization such as one finds in VW. I have advocated for a more reasonable drop rate on par with those we enjoyed in Abyssea, where even the rarest items were 25+% drop if you brought proper procs. Sure, this results in people capping out on items that much quicker (many people in my LS now have everything they need from Abyssea after only one year), but ultimately the hope is that by the time THAT happens, the devs will have created more content.

In the final analysis though, while the Skinner box concept can explain part of what you do in the game, it doesn't explain why you started to play the game in the first place. Unlike the rat, nobody forces you into that Skinner Box. You enter it voluntarily, because an MMORPG is a form of entertainment. We have disposable time, gaming is a hobby, and we play MMO's because we find the content and people interesting. Ultimately, if Legion is a fun activity I can do with my LS where people get stuff at a reasonable pace and members are happy, I will not mind "grinding" it over the course of the coming months. Nevertheless, I stand by my position that I'd rather have the "best" rewards come from actually defeating the hardest mobs in the event rather than mindlessly grinding out trash mobs for Legion points in the name of "anti-Skinnerianism." Seems like some folks who posted above agree with me.