Authentic Fun
Authentic Fun is a Roblox group affiliated[citation needed] with I HATE ART. It was created (and is currently owned by) Huck. The group has one main goal: Find Good Roblox Games, with other goals to elaborate on what this means.
Goals of Authentic Fun
Authentic Fun acknowledges that a lot of, if not a majority of popular Roblox games are deceptive, exploitative, or not particularly fun. "Fun" is subjective, of course, but a lot of games seem to exist just as an excuse to give the creators money, and many resort to some pretty shady tactics in order to do so. (Not to mention, Authentic Fun, like I HATE ART itself, tends to skew older than the average demographic, which can make it more difficult to find good Roblox games as an Adult On Roblox.)
Another thing that the creator of Authentic Fun noticed is that Roblox users rarely recommend games to each other; many players just pray the Roblox algorithm will, magically, bestow upon them a genuinely good Roblox game. And the algorithm sucks. It would be a lot nicer if people appreciated Roblox games sincerely and discussed them as something that can be appreciated, critiqued, and analyzed.
1. Pushing back against dark patterns
"Dark patterns" are game design techniques that game developers, including Roblox developers, may utilize in order to trap or trick players into a sort of toxic dependency on a game. Things like monetization practices that incentivize spending hypothetically infinite amounts of money, or "addictive" gameplay that punishes players for not devoting their attention to the game.
2. Appreciating Roblox development as art
3. Making games according to Authentic Fun's principles
Projects
These are things created by Authentic Fun members.
Articles / Essays
- February 21, 2024: Roblox, and "Authentic Fun", an article on Huck's website reviewing various games.
Games
- March 10, 2024: FM's Indoor Pool, Huck's hangout and sensory room-inspired game where you are in a pool.
Relevant Links
- Roblox group
- Dark Pattern Games, a glossary of dark patterns with a directory for (often mobile, non-Roblox) games that use them.