@nprofile1q... @nprofile1q... somewhere around 2008-2010 I read an essay by a successful game developer who worked on a culturally significant game (I honestly don't remember who or which), and that led to me (and many others) internalizing a philosophy of game design rooted in pavlovian psychology that was in direct conflict with my instincts which resulted in me failing to come up with any ideas I actually liked until I figured out what was going on and banished the memetic parasite.