“That notoriety goes a long way.” This effect of invoking players’ needs for competence and relatedness also drives the appeal of niche console games like the Dark Souls series, whose sophisticated play controls appeal only to expert gamers. Last month a player made news in the online gaming world for completing Dark Souls without taking a single hit from an enemy—the game guide video-game equivalent of pitching a perfect game in baseball. Ultimately, video games offer a unique blend of challenge, entertainment, and social interaction that taps into fundamental aspects of human psychology. Whether you’re seeking a way to unwind, connect with others, or simply enjoy a good story, there’s a game out there for everyone. Video games cater to this by providing a structured environment where players can gradually improve their abilities. Whether it’s honing reflexes in a fast-paced shooter, solving intricate puzzles, or strategizing in a complex simulation, the process of getting better at a game is deeply satisfying.
These social bonds among players also help propel a healthy sense of competition—another component to speedrunning that, according to Toftness’ research, keeps gamers returning to the hobby. Once routes are determined and new tricks are discovered, it comes down to the player who can execute those community-mined tricks most consistently. Like any sport, the drive to do better can help build confidence and strength.
Why Do Gamers Love Speedrunning So Much Anyway?
Insights from psychology and computer science can illuminate the conditions that transform frustration into satisfaction (and vice versa)—which may help us design better ways to engage people in challenging tasks outside gaming. Another reason I believe we love video games is because they give us a sense of accomplishment. The feeling you get when you complete a good game is a feeling that’s hard to compete with. That’s why we continue to play games that make us scream and rage quit.
Computer games often require rapid processing of sensory information and prompt action. Players are therefore highly motivated to reduce their reaction time (RT). Studies consistently demonstrate that intelligence is among the most desirable qualities a person has. Whether it’s trying to survive an intensive college schedule, appreciate the finer points of Machiavellianism, or impress friends with an accomplished understanding of string theory, we all have our reasons. GameSpace aims to be a one-stop shop for all your gaming news, reviews, videos, streams, opinions, and forums. We aim to cover not only the games and the people who make them, but also the culture and trends around the industry.
This cognitive stimulation is one of the reasons why people of various ages find gaming intellectually engaging. For other speedrunners, though, playing the same game over and over is sometimes as simple as retreating to something familiar. For Hicks, playing classic Sonic games transports him to simpler days in his youth, before he cared for people with traumatic brain injuries for a living. Speedrunning Sonic 3 was also an opportunity for me to return to my childhood in 8-bit form, to best the game I’d watch my brother play some 20 years ago. Beyond the community, the competition, and the self-improvement, there’s also comfort in the repetition.
Teens (and people of all ages) seek out opportunities to be challenged and to master a given task-even if that task is finding inane words on a soon-to-be recycled strip of cardboard. Specifically the bits of the brain responsible for spatial orientation, memory formation, strategic planning, and fine motor skills. Gameschooling is a home education style that involves using games partly or wholly to create learning opportunities for children of all ages. This distraction can have genuine therapeutic value when used judiciously.
Games
Mark Griffiths is a professor at Nottingham Trent University who’s written about gaming friendships in the pandemic, and studied socialisation in video games for decades. In 2003, he published a study that showed a quarter of 11,000 players of the online role-playing game Everquest said their favourite part of the game was connecting with other players. He says the study was a direct and early contradiction of the stereotype that video games are isolating, and gamers antisocial (even though those early pandemic memes jokingly played off those stereotypes). Many video games have achievement and reward systems that provide players with a sense of accomplishment.
Not only is it fun and relaxing, but games are starting to change the world beyond from just entertaining us on our sofas. “With the growing significance of gaming as a means for self-expression and personal evolution, it’s crucial for brands to connect to these motivators to help players bring their gaming personas to life in the real world.” Aside from the physical benefits of gaming, video games excel at setting clear goals and showing a player’s progression toward those goals. This approach already radiates across the social networking where progress bars litter sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Spotify.
Today, hundreds of web portals like Kidsknowit.com offer teachers a reservoir of tools to help educate students. Games are an indispensable learning tool, but we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of their teaching potential. This built-in desire to feel accomplished often pushes sports stars to return to the game after retirement. Work meets our three invisible needs in some of the same ways that games do. Psychologists and sociologists are only now beginning to understand why the human ability to play is so powerful. But unlocking the mystery behind this desire may do more than help us understand our obsession – it could reshape and improve society in powerful ways.
The Psychology of Gaming and How it Taps into the Pleasure Centers in Our Brain
In other words, whether you’re a daily Wordle player or slaying enemies in a fantasy role-playing game like Elden Ring, a gamer is a gamer. The researchers took five groups of non-gamers, and made them play a phone game for one hour a day over four weeks. A 2013 study published in Cell investigated the effect that playing action games, like ‘Rayman Raving Rabbids’, could help dyslexic children aged 7 to 13 year read faster, with no loss in accuracy.
The satisfaction derived from completing a challenging quest, unlocking a new level, or achieving a high score triggers a release of dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical. It’s the same sensation as completing a crossword or completing a gruelling exercise programme. This neurological response reinforces positive behaviours, encouraging players to continue playing. Understanding gamer psychology involves recognising the range of motivations that drive individuals to pick up a controller or sit down at a computer. The most competitive of players seek the thrill of victory and the satisfaction of overcoming challenges. Some people draw themselves to the social aspect, utilising online multiplayer platforms to connect with friends or make new connections across the world.
In this age of long-haul social distancing and mental-health strains, gamers have long had a tool that’s now bringing some relief to those who’ve never picked up a controller before. The explosive growth of gaming during the pandemic has shown that many have found a new outlet for much-needed connection in isolation. A long and boring tutorial before getting to try something (or the opposite, no tutorial or opportunity to build up skills at all!) can be demotivating. This teaches people about their own preferences around receiving instructions and learning new skills. A funny animation when a player fails or dies in a game motivates them to try again more than if there was no animation or consequence. This method of motivation can be used to encourage resilience in other settings too – a funny or positive consequence of trying and failing is generally more motivating than having no consequence.
For example, they may use targeted advertising to reach specific demographics of players. They may also use social media and other online platforms to engage with players and build a community around their games. Game design plays a crucial role in shaping player behavior and psychology. Game developers use a variety of techniques to keep players engaged and motivated. For example, they may use rewards such as points, badges, and achievements to encourage players to keep playing. They may also use feedback mechanisms to provide players with a sense of progress and accomplishment.