Grind-Blindness is a common disorder among Elite: Dangerous players. It is a malady characterized by the inability to experience significant enjoyment of the game due to engaging in repetitive tasks, often excessively, in order to maximize game rewards.
Symptoms of Grind-Blindness include:
- a sense of tedium during play even when participating in activities that were previously enjoyable
- intense effort to achieve in-game rewards, such as credits or rank at the expense of other activities in or out of the game
- venting on online forums
- "chasing" the pleasurable feelings previously provided by the game by playing more often, longer, or at higher intensity
- feelings of frustration or annoyance at the game and its design
- feelings of hopelessness about unseen, unannounced or upcoming features
- pleading with devs
- irritability towards other players
- paradoxical defensiveness about the game's high quality gameplay and lack of grind (sometimes called "Hutton Syndrome" or HS)
Grind-Blindness can be caused by:
- overuse of Elite: Dangerous, especially to complete repetitive actions that have an in-game reward
- unmanaged expectations about what the game is and/or overestimation of its intrinsic rewards
- exposure to reviews or opinions about the game, especially negative or critical ones
- using online forums when not playing instead of resting from the game
Fortunately, Grind-Blindness can be managed or cured through basic behavioral modification strategies:
- limit use of Elite: Dangerous to no more than 2-3 hours per week
- do not engage in Elite: Dangerous related activities outside of play time
- set and maintain appropriate expectations about what the game and its design can provide
- take a 3-36 month long break from Elite: Dangerous
Even severe cases of Grind-Blindness can be easily managed. If you suspect that you or a loved one may be experiencing a Grind-Blindness related emergency, please log off immediately and go outside. Pet a cat. Feed the birds. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Eat a vegetable.
Note: switching to less repetitive activities is rarely an effective cure, as all sustained player activities in Elite: Dangerous are highly repetitive and ultimately unsatisfying.
Together, we can manage the effects of Grind-Blindness on the Elite: Dangerous community.
We Are Greater Than The Grind!™
Symptoms of Grind-Blindness include:
- a sense of tedium during play even when participating in activities that were previously enjoyable
- intense effort to achieve in-game rewards, such as credits or rank at the expense of other activities in or out of the game
- venting on online forums
- "chasing" the pleasurable feelings previously provided by the game by playing more often, longer, or at higher intensity
- feelings of frustration or annoyance at the game and its design
- feelings of hopelessness about unseen, unannounced or upcoming features
- pleading with devs
- irritability towards other players
- paradoxical defensiveness about the game's high quality gameplay and lack of grind (sometimes called "Hutton Syndrome" or HS)
Grind-Blindness can be caused by:
- overuse of Elite: Dangerous, especially to complete repetitive actions that have an in-game reward
- unmanaged expectations about what the game is and/or overestimation of its intrinsic rewards
- exposure to reviews or opinions about the game, especially negative or critical ones
- using online forums when not playing instead of resting from the game
Fortunately, Grind-Blindness can be managed or cured through basic behavioral modification strategies:
- limit use of Elite: Dangerous to no more than 2-3 hours per week
- do not engage in Elite: Dangerous related activities outside of play time
- set and maintain appropriate expectations about what the game and its design can provide
- take a 3-36 month long break from Elite: Dangerous
Even severe cases of Grind-Blindness can be easily managed. If you suspect that you or a loved one may be experiencing a Grind-Blindness related emergency, please log off immediately and go outside. Pet a cat. Feed the birds. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Eat a vegetable.
Note: switching to less repetitive activities is rarely an effective cure, as all sustained player activities in Elite: Dangerous are highly repetitive and ultimately unsatisfying.
Together, we can manage the effects of Grind-Blindness on the Elite: Dangerous community.
We Are Greater Than The Grind!™
