1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 In this episode, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron dive into a complex listener question regarding the incentives and ethics of Games as a Service (GaaS). They explore the fundamental difference between designing a &quot;boxed&quot; product intended to be finished and a service designed to retain players indefinitely. The discussion challenges the common narrative around &quot;dark patterns,&quot; suggesting that what looks like malice is often economic necessity or design incompetence driven by the staggering costs of modern game development—such as a single raid boss costing $9 million to produce. David provides a unique perspective on value perception, comparing high-tier game spending to the difference between a home-cooked steak and a $1,000 professional tasting menu. The Game Design Round Table http://thegamedesignroundtable.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/42556280/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/205438835