Inside the Largest Virtual Psychology Lab In the World

bearhuntz writes: Riot Games has been using League of Legends as a psychology lab to run scientific experiments and reduce toxic player behavior for a while now. This article explains some of the experiments they're doing, and what the results have been. "For example, one product is a restricted chat mode that limits the number of messages abusive players can type per match. It’s a temporary punishment that has led to a noticeable improvement in player behavior afterward —on average, individuals who went through a period of restricted chat saw 20 percent fewer abuse reports filed by other players. The restricted chat approach also proved 4 percent more effective at improving player behavior than the usual punishment method of temporarily banning toxic players. Even the smallest improvements in player behavior can make a huge difference in an online game that attracts 67 million players every month."

Comments

Re:first to post Clockwork Orange

[blue trane]

Why can't you just use an /ignore function? Why impose your idea of what is abusive on everyone else? We have the technology to implement censorship at the client, without forcing prior restraint upon anyone.

Re:first to post Clockwork Orange

[Skidborg]

Why, exactly should Riot Games be obliged to spend their resources supporting a toxic player that their other (profitable) players find distasteful? They have a business to run. Don't pretend that LoL matches are some kind of forum for enlightened and creative thought. It's a game. A game which is made worse for all involved when enraged ranting is allowed to fill the chat in place of useful tactical communication.