Objective: Understand the “why” driving players to their games.
Use material from Chapter 1: What Makes Us Play
Quest: Choose 2-3 games you’re familiar with, or select from this list of classic games to start from. Answer some challenge questions about what appears to motivate players to play each game.
It’s critical that game developers understand the “why” that drives players to their games. Try this as a group exercise if you can, as it’s useful to have your perspective challenged since many players bring different motivations to the table.
For each game you select, answer the following questions:
What motivators of play apply to this game? Which motivator is most prominent?
Many games support concepts like mastery, but fewer support concepts like comfort or competition.
What motivator of play is most compelling to you specifically for this game?
This may not align with what is emphasized by marketing.
Enduring Play: Player Motivation
In Season 1 Episode 1 of Enduring Play, we speak with Celia Hodent, PhD, a UX Strategist and trained psychologist who walks us through some of the mechanics of player motivation. Listen to the episode below or at the show notes page to answer the following questions:
- What motivator of play as described in Chapter 1 was supported in Fortnite by adding the Squads mode to the game as described in the podcast?
- Why might the concept of “yellow paint” as a wayfinding tool upset some players? What Motivator(s) of Play might be negatively impacted by the presence of visible wayfinding, and what might you do about it to ensure all players are included?
