Psychology of Video Games Podcast Episode 97 - Why We Like Really Hard (and Really Easy) Games
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Sep 1, 2024 Dive into the fascinating psychology behind why we love both incredibly difficult games, like Dark Souls, and delightfully easy ones, such as Cookie Clicker. Explore how emotional engagement and player motivation influence our gaming choices. Delve into concepts like predictive processing, and discover how maintaining a balance between challenge and feedback enhances enjoyment. Uncover the significance of incremental progress and the emotional responses associated with mastering complex gameplay. It's a thrilling exploration of our gaming preferences!
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Balancing Game Difficulty
Game designers should aim for difficulty levels that allow players to experience a 50% success rate. This balance keeps players engaged and encourages them to improve their skills.
Understanding Game Appeal
Players enjoy games by reducing uncertainty, which leads to feelings of success and engagement. This applies to both hard games like Dark Souls and easy games like Cookie Clicker.
Unexpected Engagement
Jamie Madigan played Idol Heroes, an idle game, and lost track of time for over an hour. He found the experience surprisingly engaging despite its simplicity.