After many hours of playing, you will find that you are not satisfied yet and want to play more!
In fact, this is because our brains cannot differentiate between “true” reality and virtual reality. So, it applies the same reward system to both realities. Therefore, having a medal for the world’s best player in kung fu gives you the same feeling of getting the world’s best player on esportbetting.net!
The main difference here is that online game gives us these rewards without facing difficulties. So, they evoke satisfaction feelings easily because we did not put effort or time into reaching this pleasure!
Since our brains look for ways to save effort while getting good results, the mind will prefer games over reality.
Therefore, game developers come up with a cocktail that combines stunning graphics and immersive stories to lure you into gaming for hours on end.
How games meet our needs?
Indeed, any game can fulfill self-actualization needs by offering a solution to a task. However, some complex games like MMORPGs can apply to our entire range of growth needs.
Games help us satisfy our social needs by allowing us to chat with other players, and to create friendships.
They have also allowed us to satisfy our discretionary needs by enabling us to show ourselves in the game’s community. In other words, the more needs – the richer and more satisfying the game experience.
However, game developers still need to define how players will meet those needs within the game.
So, the game offers additional features (F2P) that players can purchase with money.
These features have become a great way to generate additional income for gaming companies. It seems that players are very volatile about buying these features. For example, you can find many players who buy them for thousands of dollars. On the other hand, some players offer their accounts on games for selling.
Contrary to the analyzes of many experts, the popularity of free games is declining! Because players are always looking for something additional and new dimensions within the game, which is not available in free games!
Psychological motives for video games
Video games have been around for decades. Do you remember, when we were kids, the days when we were do nothing but playing Pacman on the arcade or playing Pokémon on Gameboy Colors?
And when we grew up, we found the same level of fun playing online.
Although a lot of research has been done on the potential negative health effects of video games, the positive effects of video games are not often highlighted! why they are so attractive? why we play and keep playing? However, many studies clarify the main factors that motivate us to play games.
Nick Yi, who is one of the first scientists to study motivation, has discovered three motivational components in games.
There is an achievement element, which includes the desire to advance to the next level, interest in the virtual rules, and the desire to achieve victory over others.
Second is the social element, that is the desire to connect with others, building friendships, and make alliances
Finally, there is the immersion component, which is the creation and customization of a playable character in the unique story as well as the desire to escape from real life. But there must be more reasons why we love to play so much, right?
Why do we love games so much?
Another study, made by Richard Ryan and Edward Dacey, found two other motivational factors according to self-determination theory. This theory concluded that man’s behavior is driven by the needs of competence, independence, and relationship.
Therefore, if these needs are fulfilled, we do these activities more, even in virtual reality! In games, we gain efficiency through continuous streaming, meaning continually reaching the next level, which is a fully focused state of mind.
This flow is met when the game challenges the player enough that it remains interesting and makes the player want to continue playing. In other words, it should not be too difficult or too easy as it becomes boring. We gain independence because we voluntarily control and play these games.
Finally, we obtain interconnectedness as we can communicate and cooperate with others in a different way from real life.
Some other studies looked at the game’s hallmarks that attract players. One study found many features such as fun and relaxation gained from games, lack of restrictions like those that might exist in real life, game art, interactivity, and competition.
Well, no wonder why don’t we just go to different worlds to rescue the Princess Peach in Super Mario’s game?!
