🤓 Interaction Nerds by UXA | F25.08

Game Over. Play Again? - Casinos, Sports Betting, Productivity (Lock-in) Apps, Balatro, Loot Boxes, and Physical Controllers

Oct 28, 2025

Interaction Nerds Fall 2025 Issue 8 Header

👋 Announcements — UXAcademics!

UXAcademics is happening next Monday 11/3 from 5-6:30 PM in NSH 3305. Learn about HCI courses, electives, and more from UXA board and other members that have taken them before class registration starts 📝📓🍎

(Be on the lookout for more info regarding our first Figma workshop next Wednesday 🤫)

🎰 Casinos, Sports, & Waifus: Gambling in All its Forms

Written & edited by: ❤️‍🔥 Audrey Zhao

example of a casino with a Friedman interior—note the low ceilings and densely packed machines.

It’s no secret that casinos are predatory institutions that feed on people lured in by “striking it rich”. But, subtler forms of gambling such as sports betting and gacha games are just as exploitative. The big question is: how do these manifestations of gambling successfully draw people in?

Gambling

🫘 Focus Friend: Are ‘Lock-In Apps’ Sustainable Long-Term?

Written & edited by: 😛 Helen Fu

A cozy, animated room filled with plants and whimsical decor. In the center, a round brown character with a tiny sprout on its head stands on a colorful checkered rug, smiling. To the left, a red wall mailbox is framed by leaves and flowers near a mirror surrounded by greenery; a nearby shelf holds books, a paint palette, stars, and a rainbow. On the right, sunlight streams through a wooden‑framed window lined with potted plants. In the background, a green table sits beneath a softly glowing hourglass symbol, adding a magical touch.

As a college student, you’ve probably heard this phrase before. Locking in means cutting out distractions—closing TikTok and Instagram Reels, stepping away from games, and eliminating anything else that stops you from focusing.

With the right tools, you can potentially train yourself to lock in for a certain period and get stuff done. The question is: are these tools sustainable for focusing long term?

Lock In

👾 From CoD to Balatro: What makes Video Games so Addictive?

Written & edited by: 😈 Niki Wang

Vibrant spread of playing cards on a red‑blue abstract background, with a partially open red “Balatro” deck box featuring a jester. Visible cards include two Jokers (one with a banana on green), the King of Spades, King of Diamonds, 10 of Diamonds, and 4 of Hearts. Mix of traditional and playful designs; dynamic, colorful composition emphasizing card‑game theme.

Ever heard stories of people spending thousands of dollars on in-game purchases or hundreds of hours on famously addicting games like Candy Crush? Maybe you’ve found yourself burning hours away on a game and thought to yourself “wait… am I addicted?” It might not be a self‑control problem so much as a design one.

Video Games

🎮 The Curious Case of Buttons

Written & edited by: 👽 Joelle Lee

Illustration of six gaming controllers on a white background, including a handheld console, two gamepads, a racing wheel, a flight joystick, and a control panel with joystick and buttons.

From “clicking” to “tapping” a button… where have all the physical buttons gone? The iPhone home button was laid to rest in 2017, ushering in the age of contactless interactions like Face ID, Apple Pay, and more. However, sometimes physical feedback is necessary, namely with video game controllers.

Physical Buttons

🤔 Who’s behind the scenes?

The editors behind this week’s issue are 😛 Helen Fu, 👽 Joelle Lee, 😈 Niki Wang, ❤️‍🔥 Audrey Zhao, and 🦑 Kaitlyn Ng

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