Persuasion is used as a common mechanic in many video games. However, this mechanic in its current form often jeopardizes the immersive experience of players and causes a break in the continuity of the game's narrative.
The Problem with Current Persuasion Mechanic
In many games, persuasion is treated as an outright win or lose mechanic. Some games have even taken persuasion to the extent of being just another 'button' that players can select to win a conversation or an argument. However, this is a far cry from how persuasion works in the real world, leading to dissonance for the player.
Impact of Broken Immersion
Continuous player engagement is pivotal in gaming. When a mechanic, such as persuasion, breaks this immersion, it can lead to player disinterest and frustration. Players might feel disconnected, which can significantly impact their overall gaming experience. To add to the concern, the current state of persuasion mechanics hardly provides any sort of satisfaction or emotional reaction from players usually associated with successful persuasion in real-life scenarios.
Improvements for Future Games
Critics are calling out for video game developers to improve this persuasion mechanic keeping in mind the experiences and reactions of players. One way to do this would involve developing scenarios in which persuasion isn't merely used as a win-or-lose mechanic, but incorporates the complexity and variability of real-life persuasion.