Wallace (2015). Game mechanics and human behavior. - Article summary

The underlying game mechanics (e.g. code) affect the psychological aspects of a game. In Skinner’s operant conditioning, partial reinforcement through unpredictability of reward makes reinforcement most successful. The variable interval schedule (i.e. time) is also very effective. Behaviours based on partial reinforcement schedules are difficult to extinguish. Modern games often employ operant conditioning strategies to encourage people to show behaviour the game developer desires.

Superstitions often arise in games due to accidental associations. Game developers can also remove superstitions by adjusting game mechanics. Extrinsic reward in video games can make players who play on intrinsic motivation (e.g. liking the challenge) less likely to play. Game mechanics can also lead to unintended behavioural consequences.

There are several benefits of video games:

1.  Cognitive benefits
   Playing video games can lead to improvements in cognitive skills (e.g. spatial perception). The improvement comes after playing video games for a short period of time (e.g. an hour a week for a week) and the improvements are durable. Training (i.e. through video games) might reduce gender differences in cognitive skills (e.g. spatial perception).
2. Motivation and persistence
   Playing video games may lead people to be more persistent in everyday life. However, this evidence is correlational and not causal.
3. Emotional benefits and flow
   Playing video games can lead to a more positive mood and flow. Activities that have a potential to create flow have a delicate balance between the person’s ability and the challenge of the task and require intense concentration and focus. In addition to this, they offer clear goals, timely feedback and a sense of control over what happens. Flow is a positive and motivating mental states.
4. Social benefits
   Playing video games can yield social benefits. Cooperative games can lead to more pro-social behaviour. However, anti-social video games (e.g. violent video games) lead to less pro-social behaviour.

Action game players see a larger useful field of view and appear to have a deeper reserve of attentional resources that could be applied to a task. Action game players also show a shorter attentional blink. Strategy games may improve problem solving skills.

Flow refers to a mental state in which the person is completely absorbed in an activity and time flies by. In a state of flow, a person experiences a loss of self-consciousness and a distorted sense of time.

The Proteus effect states that a virtual avatar’s appearance affects its user’s behaviour (e.g. more attractive avatars lead people to behave in ways as if they are more attractive).

Serious games are used for learning (1), skill development (2), rehabilitation (3) and other applications (4). A serious game should have the same features that define computer and video games in general (i.e. interactivity, rules and constraints, clear goals, challenges and feedback). Educational games steer away from the traditional sequence of education (i.e. instruction, practice, assessment). Serious games are also used in corporations (e.g. military and companies). Serious games can also train healthcare workers and encourage patients to adhere to treatment in the face of negative side effects. Many educational games fall short because they fail to implement the features that make games so compelling and motivating.