Mass market, mystery boxes and metric-driven design: The legacy of FarmVille

Mass market, mystery boxes and metric-driven design: The legacy of FarmVille

With the original FarmVille shutting down after 11 years, we explore the impact the hit social game had on the industry

As I wrote about myself a bit recently, FarmVille’s impending shutdown closes the book on an incredibly influential game (for better and worse) and a huge part of gaming history. This article takes a closer look at FarmVille’s legacy, discussing its role in bringing games to mass market and early steps in metric-driven design and what we might today call loot boxes.