Exploring the complexities of video game engagement, the piece delves into how rewards can both enhance and hinder player experience. It discusses the concept of flow and the psychological impacts of extrinsic versus intrinsic motivation. Using Klei Entertainment’s Don’t Starve as a case study, it highlights how explicit tasks can stifle creativity. The analysis emphasizes that while rewards can drive participation, the true motivation often arises from curiosity and personal satisfaction, as exemplified by the game Outer Wilds.
When Rewards Become a Double-Edged Sword
What compels us to dedicate countless hours navigating the intricate realms of video games? The reasons are likely as diverse as the games themselves. One significant factor is the concept of flow, a state of deep immersion and focus discussed by psychologists in the 1990s (Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi), where time seems to slip away. However, other elements also play a crucial role in maintaining our interest: emotional connections, thrilling challenges, captivating characters, and, of course, rewards. Trophies, rare items, achievements, and leveling up serve to fulfill fundamental psychological needs that game developers have meticulously researched to engage and entertain us.
“Complete this task, and you will earn that reward.” This seemingly straightforward directive raises the question: Is it enough to motivate players? In 2020, the insightful YouTube channel Game Maker’s Toolkit released an analysis titled “This Psychological Trick Makes Rewards Backfire.” This video explores the complex dynamics of in-game rewards and reveals how some strategies that seem effective can inadvertently hinder player engagement. Klei Entertainment, known primarily for the game Don’t Starve, serves as a compelling case study in this analysis. The game begins with Wilson, the main character, awakening in a strange clearing and needing to navigate a perilous environment alone.
During the initial prototype phase of Don’t Starve, Klei’s developers discovered that early testers encountered significant obstacles that stalled their progress. To assist players, the team introduced a series of small tutorial-like tasks, such as “survive x nights” or “collect x items.” Consequently, players became fixated on these objectives, viewing everything else as mere distractions. “By structuring the game around explicit tasks, we inadvertently taught players to rely on these objectives to find meaning in the game,” admits Jamie Cheng, CEO of Klei. The takeaway? Overly explicit tasks can stifle player creativity and diminish their sense of adventure. A detailed blog post from Klei highlights research dating back to 1987, where children assigned to draw were rewarded for their efforts. The results showed that “Children rewarded for drawing are less likely to engage in drawing independently compared to those who draw purely for enjoyment.”
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From this, Klei recognized that similar principles apply to virtual environments: Players who receive rewards may abandon enjoyable activities once the rewards cease, even if those activities were initially fun. Even more concerning is that players become so engrossed in the pursuit of rewards that they overlook other engaging aspects of the game. The studio ultimately addressed this issue by providing players with subtle guidance, such as highlighting essential crafting items, allowing players to explore and learn organically without rigid quests.
The Intricacies of Motivation
The psychological strategies employed by designers can significantly influence not just gameplay but also the underlying reasons players choose to engage. In 2018, major media outlets like Le Monde and Le Parisien credited the immense success of Fortnite to Célia Hodent, a psychologist who had previously worked with Ubisoft Montreal and LucasArt before joining Epic Games from 2013 to 2017. Her goal was to enhance user experience by applying principles from cognitive psychology, focusing on accessibility, engagement, and three core pillars: emotion, flow, and motivation. On one side lies extrinsic motivation, which drives us to perform actions to earn external rewards. This includes completing quests to receive prizes. Most games utilize a ‘reward cycle,’ where titles like Call of Duty grant higher ranks and cosmetic rewards, while fighting games offer new characters and styles. However, some rewards come with problematic conditions; while some researchers advocate for ergonomic systems, others criticize mechanisms that can turn gaming into an addictive experience. Operant conditioning is another method that creates a reward process, like loot, to enhance player investment—a common practice in free-to-play models that aim to sell cosmetics or perks.
As previously discussed, the drawbacks of relying solely on extrinsic rewards emerge when they become the primary motivation for players. This is where intrinsic motivation comes into play, which is more personal and encourages us to engage in activities for the satisfaction they provide, as described by self-determination theory. Whether it’s conquering a tough boss or solving a challenging puzzle, our brains release dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and satisfaction. To trigger this response, researchers suggest fulfilling three essential needs: the need for competence, where players feel capable and in control; the need for social connections, as players enjoy interacting with others for collaboration or competition; and the need for autonomy, where players feel their choices actively shape the game’s narrative. Outer Wilds exemplifies this, offering players a highly customizable experience. In this acclaimed indie title, players explore an open universe as an alien newly recruited by Outer Wilds Ventures, a planetary space program that combines elements of exploration and adventure. The twist is that after 22 minutes, the sun explodes, resetting the solar system and bringing players back to the start of the game loop.
Curiosity as a Reward
The principle of curiosity rewarded encapsulates the essence of Outer Wilds and many contemporary games. Players must engage in multiple time loops, exploring the universe to uncover the narrative, systems, and secrets hidden within. In this context, the ultimate reward becomes knowledge; a priceless asset for adventurers eager to delve into a universe that offers few answers at first glance.