Being enjoyably challenged is the key to an enjoyable gaming experience: an experimental approach in a first-person shooter game

Abstract

Applied to video games, Csikszentmihalyi’s work on flow evidences that a positive gaming experience is intrinsically self-rewarding and primarily determined by the skill/challenge balance. A multi-layered measure of enjoyment is built to take these components into account. Gamers were asked to report the concentration-enjoyment they experienced during a first-person shooter game, and to better assess the gap between skill and challenge, the challenge enjoyment was also rated. Along with concentration level, concentration enjoyment is used to build a gaming experience typology that accounts for the self-rewarding component. An enjoyment-based challenge mapping is also drawn up, crossing challenge enjoyment and challenge level. The results show that this integrative enjoyment measure strengthens the causal link between challenge and gaming experience. Most importantly, the findings suggest that challenge or concentration-based enjoyment measures outweigh the standard concentration and difficulty measures as they are more likely to ensure a pleasant and positive experience (flow or relaxation) for the gamers. Indeed, regardless of the reported level of challenge, a gamer is more likely to have a positive experience when challenged at a level she perceives as pleasant. This article emphasizes the importance for game publishers of gathering enjoyment-based concentration and challenge assessments to ensure a positive gaming experience and gamers’ commitment.

Optimizing beat synchronized running to music

“…As such, our results seem to suggest that finding a new phase angle balance induces such feelings of agency. Similar to the skill-challenge balance [39, 40], being in and out of balance with a slightly demanding phase angle seems to more positively impact enjoyment levels compared to maintaining a preferred, less demanding, phase angle. Alternatively, error minimization towards NMA can be seen as a regulatory mechanism to homeostasis (an equilibrium state consisting of predictive, expressive and effort processes) [12].…”

“…However, in the two conditions that affected cadence most (S5 [-70°] and S5 [+30°]) a small but significantly higher enjoyment rate, or a tendency towards such an effect, was observed. According to literature on gaming [39] and exergames [40] the balance between skill and challenge is crucial for being intrinsically self-rewarding. When challenged at a level that the gamer perceives as pleasant, he or she is more likely to have a positive experience.…”

“…Although differences in enjoyment were not very obvious, small, slightly significant increases in enjoyment were reported for the strategies that impacted cadence. Spontaneously guiding runners a little away from their preferred running behavior could add just enough challenge to their exercise, resulting in a more rewarding experience [39, 40].…”

Study on Wiping Operation to Accelerate Human Activities on Hidden Object Game

“…In the hand-game, the player moves hands actively when moving their body parts. Thus, this play style might make the player improve the challenging spirit [19,20]. The scores of "sensory and imaginative immersion", "flow", and "positive effect" are more than 4.…”

The Potential Interaction Between Time Perception and Gaming: A Narrative Review

“…From the literature, it would appear that both attentional and emotional processes could be contributors in the emergence of compromised time control among gamers. It has been repeatedly shown that having fun and enjoying an activity helps individuals experiencing a flow state (e.g., Brailovskaia et al 2018;Corcos 2018;Limperos et al 2011). Therefore, it could be hypothesized that since disordered gamers react more strongly to gaming stimuli, and can associate negative outcomes with pleasure, not only will it be easier for them to underestimate time, but they will also tend to experience flow states more easily than healthy gamers (e.g., Ko et al 2013;Ravaja et al 2006).…”