What is Parasitic Design?

Patreon: / joshstrifehayes
Twitch: / joshstrifehayes
Discord: / discord
Twitter: / joshstrifehayes
Reddit: / joshstrifehayes
#####
Parasitic design, systems within games that leech from the core mechanics and require support from other systems to function yet never become main, meaningful parts of the gameplay experience.
Temporary systems added to provide empty timesinks, easily removable distraction systems designed to placate players.
However once players realise a system is parasitic, they'll often stop using it because they realise it takes yet gives nothing back/
MMO games are guilty of this in almost every major expansion, systems you just KNOW won't be relevant in the next expansion.
Thanks to the Patreon supporters and Twitch subs for keeping the channel going :D