A time sink (also timesink), time drain or time-waster is an activity that consumes a significant amount of time, especially one which is seen as a wasteful way of spending it. Although it is unknown when the term was coined, it makes an analogy with

heat sink A heat sink (also commonly spelled heatsink) is a passive heat exchanger that transfers the heat generated by an electronic or a mechanical device to a fluid medium, often air or a liquid coolant, where it is thermal management (electronics), ...

In video games

massively multiplayer online role-playing game A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a video game that combines aspects of a role-playing video game and a massively multiplayer online game. As in role-playing games (RPGs), the player assumes the role of a Player charac ...

s (MMORPGs), time sinks are a method of increasing the time needed by players to do certain tasks, hopefully causing them to subscribe for longer periods of time.Miller, Matt
Timesinks
''MMODesigner.com'', 31 May 2010. Players may use the term disparagingly to describe a simplistic and time-consuming aspect of

gameplay Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game. The term applies to both video games and Tabletop game, tabletop games. Gameplay is the connection between the player and the game, the player's overcoming of challenges, and t ...

, possibly designed to keep players playing longer without significant benefit. Time sinks can also be used for other gameplay reasons, such as to help regenerate

resources ''Resource'' refers to all the materials available in our environment which are Technology, technologically accessible, Economics, economically feasible and Culture, culturally Sustainability, sustainable and help us to satisfy our needs and want ...

or monsters in the game world.

Negative connotations

Many players consider time sinks to be an inherently poor design decision, only included so that game companies can increase profits. For example, one

Slashdot ''Slashdot'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''/.'') is a social news website that originally billed itself as "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters". It features news stories on science, technology, and politics that are submitted and evaluated by site ...

article describes time sinks as "gameplay traps intended to waste your time and keep you playing longer".Slashdot: "EverQuest: What You Really Get From an Online Game"
27 December 2002. In most games, boring and lengthy parts of gameplay are merely an annoyance, but when used in

subscription The subscription business model is a business model in which a customer must pay a recurring price at regular intervals for access to a product or service. The model was pioneered by publishers of books and periodicals in the 17th century. It ...

-based

MMORPG A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a video game that combines aspects of a role-playing video game and a massively multiplayer online game. As in role-playing games (RPGs), the player assumes the role of a Player charac ...

s, where players are paying recurring fees for access to the game, they become a much more inflammatory issue.

Game designer Game design is the process of creating and shaping the mechanics, systems, rules, and gameplay of a game. Game design processes apply to board games, card games, dice games, casino games, role-playing games, sports, Wargame (video games), war ga ...

s must be prudent in balancing efforts to produce both involving gameplay and the length of content that players expect. Time sinks are often associated with hardcore games, though whether this is a positive or negative association depends on the context.

Trade-offs

Implementing time sinks in a video game is a delicate balancing act. Excessive use of time sinks may cause players to stop playing. However, if not enough time sinks are implemented, players may feel the game is too short or too easy, causing them to abandon the game much sooner out of boredom. A number of criteria can be used to evaluate use of time sinks, such as frequency, length, and variety (both of the nature of the time sink and the actions taken to overcome it). What is considered a good balance depends in part on the type of game in question.

Casual games A casual game is a video game targeted at a mass market audience, as opposed to a Hardcore gamer, hardcore game, which is targeted at Gamer#Dedication spectrum, hobbyist gamers. Casual games may exhibit any type of gameplay and genre. They genera ...

are often expected to have less in the way of time sinks, and hardcore games to have more, though this is not a hard and fast rule.

General term

A time sink is an enjoyable but time-wasting activity. Some parents call video games a waste of time, while some introverts call parties a waste of time, making the term highly subjective; even sleeping could be considered a time sink. Some time sinks become popular and are therefore not as commonly referred to as a time sink. More examples of time sinks include watching a sports game, spending time at a bar, spending a day at the beach, day-long spa treatments, and camping in the woods. A time sink generally has a negative connotation but it can be a more neutral term.

s are known for time-wasting activity. However, the genre of

incremental game An incremental game (also known as an idle game, clicker game, or tap game) is a video game genre centered on minimal gameplay, player interaction, where simple actions—such as clicking a button—generate in-game currency. Players use this cur ...

s use waiting as a core feature. Players of such games can take pleasure in repetitive and easy tasks.

References

External links