Platform incentive gravity: it's why all the rental bikes end up at the bottom of hills, and why the most "popular" game on Roblox rewards you for doing absolutely nothing.

Tom's teenagers declare Roblox dead, overrun by "slop games" where 200 million people "play" by opening the game and walking away. Meanwhile, the rich, creative games they actually love are withering with tiny player counts.

We explore how platform economics create a gravitational pull toward the lowest common denominator—and what this reveals about meaning, metrics, and the hollowing out of engagement across all digital spaces.

Including-but-not-limited-to:

• Why the most popular Roblox game rewards you for pressing zero keys
• The bike rental study that perfectly explains platform incentive gravity
• How gamification strips meaning in service of metrics
• Why Tom's teenagers are already jumping ship to find actual creativity
• The connection between AFK mechanics, auto-clickers, and social media engagement
• Trail Makers vs. slop games: what actually captivates vs. what just accumulates hours
• Whether this connects to a broader meaning-making crisis
• How to recognise when you're trapped in someone else's incentive structure

Find out more about us and our work at crownandreach.com

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