@mxtiffanyleigh Yep. Corey Doctorow @pluralistic calls it "enshittification." It's the inevitable decline from providing value to your users to build a user base, then providing value to your marketing clients or providers at the expense of your users until they are locked in, and finally enriching the company at the expense of both.

@gpage @BoardgamingParent I wonder how much board games can learn from TTRPGs though. They don't seem the best medium for emergent narrative, which seems to be the primary strength of RPGs. I think the existence of a concrete win condition will always turn the game into some kind of resource management activity. I definitely agree that there is still plenty of room for innovation. I just think the growth of the industry pushes conformity more than taking chances.

@gpage @BoardgamingParent I don't have an issue with it but I also don't find their categorization system particularly useful. I think if there's a gradual decline in originality it's a natural effect of having so many previous examples to look to, but the pigeonholing might also has something to do with it. I've heard many have trouble describing a new design without comparing it to existing designs and mechanics.

@gpage @BoardgamingParent
Interesting. I knew about the Puerto Rico - RftG connection but this is the first time I've heard about Carl Chudyk in the mix. Thanks for sharing.

@gamesbymanuel Multiuniversum is the only one I've played, but I think the system has tons of potential, beyond just the Chthulhu retheme that's already been done. I'd love to see what else you could do with it.

@pgh_gamer I liked it too but not quite enough to order a copy at the going price. I think I liked it as a gaming experience more than I would like it as a game with repeated plays, if that makes any sense. Really glad I got to play it though.

@pgh_gamer Yep, I readlly don't make a habit of tracking people down on social media after I play random games with them at conventions, but your name popped up on Twitter commenting on a post from somebody else I followed just after Origins so I went for it. Nice to re-meet you.