The Enjoyment of Videogames
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This document discusses motivations for playing video games. It begins by providing historical context of early video games from the 1970s to recent years. It then explores theories of play, noting that play is intrinsically motivated and a source of enjoyment. Several intrinsic motivations for playing video games are examined, including curiosity and a desire for mastery through exploration and problem-solving. Neurological rewards from learning are also discussed. The document then analyzes behavioral game mechanics and how they engage players through challenges, feedback, goals, and social elements. It proposes that games satisfy various human needs and motivations according to self-determination theory and Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
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The Enjoyment of Videogames
- 1. Enjoyment of Video Games Dipl. Psych. Christian Roth Department of Communication Science Motivations and Mechanics
- 3. Pong 1972
- 5. Crysis 2008
- 10. What is Play? Play is freely chosen, intrinsically motivated and normally associated with pleasure and enjoyment Play is a make-believe activity without serious consequences Johan Huizinga, Homo Ludens (1935)
- 11. Play as preparation Theory inspired by the observation that play often mimics adult themes of survival
- 12. play trains e.g. concentration, problem solving, social skills Play to gain skills and mood management
- 13. Curiosity …is an emotion related to natural inquisitive behavior such as exploration, investigation, and learning
- 14. Exploration in Video Games Players seek for ressources, treasure, items, adventures, challenges, surprises, story twists, etc.
- 15. The brain rewards successful learning (“aha-moments“) by releasing endomorphin, an opiate that we experience as pleasurable. Neurochemical reward
- 16. Game designer Raph Koster: „Fun is just another word for learning“ “Fun from games arises out of mastery. It arises out of comprehension. With games, learning is the drug.“
- 18. What is Play? Play is freely chosen, intrinsically motivated and normally associated with pleasure and enjoyment
- 19. Intrinsic Motivation motivation comes more from intrinsic drivers than from extrinsic
- 21. Perceived Autonomy and Competence
- 22. Open World / Sandbox Games
- 24. MMORPGs like World of Warcraft
- 25. Shooter games like Counter Strike
- 27. Social network games like Mafia Wars
- 28. Maslow‘s Pyramid of Needs All needs motivate us all the time, some stronger than others. Games can fulfill these needs Power, growth and survival are popular settings
- 29. Research Example
- 30. Motivations of Online Games Nick Yee, 2007
- 31. Motivations of Online Games Nick Yee, 2007 Identity
- 32. Escapism
- 34. Play theorist Brian Sutton-Smith: "the opposite of play is not work, it is depression.”
- 36. Reality is broken “Games make us happier, more creative, more resilient and better able us to lead others in world- changing efforts.”
- 38. Behavioral Game Mechanics Gold medal mechanics that engage people and make games entertaining
- 39. Structured Experience clear goals, clear rules, clear feedback motivating challenge motivating evaluation fun
- 40. Feedback accelerates Mastery points are an easy way to measure skill
- 41. Combination of mechanics in the popular social network game Farmville clear goal clear rule clear feedback clear actions
- 42. pleasure/pain hope/fear social accept./ rejection Simplicity Factors: time, money, physical effort, social deviance facilitator, spark, signal, affordance, call to action
- 43. Games engage us in Flow Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, 1960s, positive psychology
- 45. Scaffolded Challenges 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Easy learning: simple challenges and fast milestone rewards More and harder challenges, more and different kinds of rewards, milestone rewards harder to achieve matched to the users‘ growing skills Epic ending / endless game (new milestones added permanently)
- 47. Intermittent Reinforcement Games tap into our primal response patterns
- 48. Collecting a set is a powerful mechanic
- 49. Competition and Status social comparison is a strong mechanic
- 50. The 4 Fun Keys Hard Fun Fiero People Fun Amusement Easy Fun Curiosity Serious Fun Relaxation emotion < choice < mechanic > choice > emotion
- 51. Thank you very much for your attention! Department of Communication Science Contact Christian Roth roth@spieleforschung.de