Illusion of Progress

The core premise of video games has always been interactivity: you overcome challenges through skill, timing, and strategy. Yet, one of the most profitable genres in modern mobile gaming is the "e;idle game"e; or "e;clicker"e;-a game that literally plays itself while you do nothing. This genre strips gaming down to its most naked psychological hook: the Skinner box. By offering a constant, expon...