Deliberate negative feedback that keeps a contest live, at the cost of weakening the link between performance and reward.
Rubber-banding in racing games, the NFL draft order, and progressive taxation are the same device. The trade-off is unavoidable: keeping the contest live necessarily weakens the link between merit and reward.
In practice
- A league that redistributes broadcast money keeps twelve clubs competitive and dulls the reward for building the best squad.
- A grading curve that lifts the bottom of the class keeps the room engaged and makes the top grade mean less.
- Standing
- The design analogue of redistribution, with the same trade-off.
- Subject
- Play & Game Design
- Essay
- Small worlds with visible rules