Table of Contents
kind words #
So this kind of an in-progress reflection about a 'game' I've bought recently. It's an example of how technology can manipulate us for the better. Instead of polarizing opinions and overall deceiving us, like most social networks do.
The game is called 'kind words'.
the game #
The term 'game' is loosely used here. It's not a game where you can win or loose. There is not even a 'gameplay' to speak of. It's more of a communcation platform. Think of it as 'non-social-network'.
ambience #
There is a nice 3D diorama representing 'your room', or 'your home' that you can hardly customize. All the 3d is in a 'low-poly' art style, with lo-fi music. Slow animations and warm colors. All the settings is set to put you in a cozy mood.
And eventually, none of it might matter because you don't interact with any of that.
mechanics #
As I said no gameplay. All your actions happen in menus. There are not many anyway. Here is a list, the explanation is just behind.
- read 'public letters' from strangers
- answer to 'public letters' from stranger
- post a 'public letter'
- read your private answers
- send a sticker to your answerer
So you can send a 'public letter' that is very limited (~400 characters on 4 lines I think). They are anonymous, and everyone will be able to see it at some undetermined point in the future. Depending on unknown factors it can be minutes or days.
The answers have a somewhat bigger character limit; about 20 lines. They are private. Only the original poster will see them. Then the OP can send a sticker to the person who answered.
Stickers are the only 'gamified' part of the application. It's bunch of collectibles that you can use to customize your room. There are about 20 and it's trivial to get them all. They are also used as a mean of communication, usually as a proxy for saying 'thank you'.
Think of it as an emoticon you can only use once you've seen it.
The key point here is that you CANNOT have a real conversation. There is no back and forth. You post something, you get an answer. The end. Nobody knows who you are, there is no reputation, no profiles, no evolving culture. Everything is ephemeral and disposable.
Yet it works.
I've seen people telling really hurting and sad stories, confide secrets or just share a good laugh. The sheer honesty is really stunnning. There are people talking about their relationship issues, their fears their health issues.
Some of them are more terse: "I had a bad day, send me a good joke". Or the opposite "Write to me. I won't be able to answer, but you'll be read".
Of course there could be all lies, but what's the point ? There is nothing to gain by lying anyway, nothing a troll could enjoy.
At first I was too shy to do anything. Then I answered to people asking for funny feedbacks. The "Give me your worst breakfast recipe" kind.
Then I posted a few answers to persons who had situations I knew. I was a bit reluctant. When someone is that honest and open hearted, you don't want to hurt them.
I did finally write a message. It was very personnal and I felt silly for doing it. And, surprisingly, relieved also. But over a few days I received really moving answers, and it made me feel better.
Now this looks as an advertisement but it's not. I think it's what internet and especially social networks should feel like. It's what they would've been if they were designed for the purpose they advertise. But all of them are optimized for money-making and attention-grabbing so that's what we get.
The real question is
why does is work ? #
Anonymity and ambience play a role here. But I'm also convinced that the limitations on the mean of communication are also a plus. Genova Chen is famous for making Journey, a deeply connecting game with a single emote as the only channel of communication.
There are also world-class game designer working on the topic of 'designing for friendship': link
But 'kind words' is different, it's not about friendship since you cannot create a nurture a lasting relationship.
I see some similarities with rawtext.club, and its shlog (or small audience blog) system. Anyway it's turtles all the way down. So how do you design something like that ? How long before a public post is visible ? By who ? Until when ? How do you handle an imbalance between posters and answerers ? Do you moderate ? How ? Can it be decentralized ? Do you need to have an authentification scheme ?
It makes me want to design something similar. Even if don't end-up actually coding it. It might be something local-first such as RTC, it might be a nice toy to publish on gemini, it my be my next game jam project.
For the sake of it, let's design such a system together. If you have insights, ideas; by all means, reach out. Mail me, shlog-back, whatever. I think social networks designed for meaningful interactions can exist. I wanna know how.