@thoughtpunks "The game fiction and the mechanics don't support one another."
That's a huge deal. That is exactly ludonarrative dissonance and why people talk about it, except that the people who are actually trying to build a functioning, playable, enjoyable game don't need the words "ludonarrative dissonance" to understand game fiction and game mechanics should work harmoniously together to create an experience which is satisfying.
Which is why ludology doesn't get discussed as such in gaming fora.
The reason that writers who do understand formal analysis and lit crit, artists who do understand formal art theory and aesthetics, and game enthusiasts who understand ludology don't talk about it is because it doesn't help do it.
It is quite good for pretentious posturing, however, it makes a really good cover for people who aren't actually competent at getting the work done to toss around words which don't really have meaning on a regular basis.
That's not why things get rehashed regularly, mind you. That's because the issues in question actually have no simple answer. In case you wondered.