Psychology of Gaming: Why Do People Play Games?

Star Educator

Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(223)

What motivates us to play (and keep playing) games? #UKteacher

Class Experience

US Grade 8 - 11

Why do people play games? How do people play games? What can games teach us about people?

This class aims to give learners an opportunity to discuss and think about why people play games, and how people form strategies and preferences about the games they play.

As an icebreaker, learners will be asked to share a little about the games that they play. This class is suitable for players of any type of games - it can be computer/video games, tabletop games, outdoor games, sports, or something...

This class is taught in English.

55 minutes per week in class, and maybe some time outside of class.

The player types (Achievers, Explorers, Socialisers, and Killers) reflect styles of playing within a game (for example, selecting objectives such as unlocking rewards, finding all collectibles, connecting with other players, or beating all the enemies). Despite the name 'killers' as one category, this does not signify any specifically violent content in the context of the class, and will be discussed in terms of beating or capturing "baddies" or opponents within age-appropriate games.

Original sources/citations for academic research and theoretical concepts used in the class

Perspectives on motivation - academic theories:
1) Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 
50(4), 370-9.
2) Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. (1975). Beyond Boredom and Anxiety: The Experience of Play in Work and Games. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

"Player types" academic research article:
Bartle, R. (1996). Hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades: Players who suit MUDs. Journal of MUD research, 1(1), 19.

Player Psychology and Game Design - Will Wright's Masterclass:
https://www.masterclass.com/classes/will-wright-teaches-game-design-and-theory/chapters/exploring-player-psychology

Available times

Pacific

Table of available sections

Meet the teacher

Dr Steph Acaster

Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(223)

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ABOUT ME
I love learning, and I enjoy exploring knowledge and finding new ways to combine topics or...