Why are Facebook games so popular? I’ve started to play Restaurant City and Mafia Wars on Facebook when I was overseas, since I didn’t had my computer with me to play any other games. I gave up on Restaurant City after a few days, but I’m continuing to play Mafia Wars, and in some ways, I am addicted to Mafia Wars.
The simplicity of Facebook games, them being casual games, allow for students and working adults to mindlessly click on their little sanctuary and to grow them. Like traditional MMORPGs, these games are basically farming games. By farming, we mean clicking and clicking, doing repeated actions in the game, to level up and achieve certain items or game money. I’ve always wondered why farming in MMORPGs are so addictive even though it can be so tedious, and I even wrote a blog post on how MMORPGs is a reflection of life.
I guess in casual games, it doesn’t matter if you’re smart or stupid, pretty or ugly etc., so as long as you are willing to click in the game, a few times a day, you will be rewarded. That doesn’t always happen in life. It doesn’t mean if we work hard enough, we’ll all be millionaires someday.
The reason why I stopped playing Restaurant City was, it was simply too easy and too mindless. By clicking on your restaurant, making your workers work or rest, and earning money to renovate your restaurant, just doesn’t make sense to me. In the end, all you get is lots of money to renovate your restaurant. If you’re one that is easily contended, the most basic restaurant given to you will suffice. Boring. Next.
Mafia Wars, on the other hand, farming mafia jobs gives you money and skill points to build your mafia. The stronger your mafia, the more power you have to fight other players and “beat” them. I guess the addictive factor of Mafia Wars is that it appeals to our competitive nature. We want to be stronger and better than other players. We want to win. The only thing that is stopping you from becoming a multi-millionaire with the sickest mafia crew is the risk that your manager might catch you clicking away on Facebook during work hours!
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Restaurant City, like many Playfish games, is fun in the beginning and then becomes boring over time. Hahaha. Have you try Typing Maniac yet? It’s quite addictive but I real suck at it because I don’t really type properly in the first place. LOL.
Comment by Ivy — August 11, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
Hey Priss
I’m currently addicted to Country Story heheh
I guess the simple human mind also takes comfort in routine, knowing that even though it’s repetitive, nothing can ever go wrong.
Scarily, this also reflects on our political situation………..
Amazing how much we can learn from games
Comment by mut. — August 12, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
trade your noodles with me then? heh.
Comment by mel — August 15, 2009 @ 12:00 am
I traded with Yuan the noodles already hohoho… sorry!
Comment by Priss — August 15, 2009 @ 12:46 am
!!!!
i was the one who suggested that to her!!!!
boohoohoo.
hahaha.
Comment by mel — August 18, 2009 @ 9:18 pm