2022
Tuuri, Kai; Vahlo, Jukka
Discovering the Motivational Constitution of ‘Playing Games for Fun’ Proceedings Article
In: Göbl, Barbara; van der Spek, Erik; Baalsrud Hauge, Jannicke; McCall, Rod (Ed.): Entertainment Computing – ICEC 2022., Springer International Publishing, 2022, ISSN: 0302-9743.
Abstract | Links | Tags: Fun, Gameplay, Motivation, Self-determination
@inproceedings{Tuuri2022,
title = {Discovering the Motivational Constitution of ‘Playing Games for Fun’},
author = {Kai Tuuri and Jukka Vahlo},
editor = {Barbara Göbl and Erik van der Spek and Baalsrud Hauge, Jannicke and Rod McCall},
url = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-20212-4_3},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20212-4_3},
issn = {0302-9743},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-10-24},
urldate = {2022-10-24},
booktitle = {Entertainment Computing – ICEC 2022.},
issuetitle = {21st IFIP TC 14 International Conference, ICEC 2022},
journal = {Lecture Notes in Computer Science},
volume = {13477},
publisher = {Springer International Publishing},
abstract = {Regardless of its all-encompassing and ubiquitous nature, game and play researchers have often steered away from applying fun as a research concept. If a concept seems to be associated with everything, it logically follows that the concept lacks explanatory power. In this paper, we do not merely settle for the blunt conclusion that fun is not an interesting research concept. Rather we start to explore the phenomenon of fun by approaching it through three lenses: motivation to play, gameplay experience, and psychological need satisfaction. By analyzing two large survey samples collected in Finland (N = 879) and South-Korea (N = 1519), we cluster survey participants into player types according to their gameplay motivations. It is revealed that all players are more motivated by fun than by other need-based gaming motives, but also that a significant minority of players are only motivated by fun. By studying player preferences of the player types, it is furthermore highlighted that these Fun-Seekers generally dislike most gameplay activities and differ from other player types also regarding their genre play habits. Practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.},
keywords = {Fun, Gameplay, Motivation, Self-determination},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Regardless of its all-encompassing and ubiquitous nature, game and play researchers have often steered away from applying fun as a research concept. If a concept seems to be associated with everything, it logically follows that the concept lacks explanatory power. In this paper, we do not merely settle for the blunt conclusion that fun is not an interesting research concept. Rather we start to explore the phenomenon of fun by approaching it through three lenses: motivation to play, gameplay experience, and psychological need satisfaction. By analyzing two large survey samples collected in Finland (N = 879) and South-Korea (N = 1519), we cluster survey participants into player types according to their gameplay motivations. It is revealed that all players are more motivated by fun than by other need-based gaming motives, but also that a significant minority of players are only motivated by fun. By studying player preferences of the player types, it is furthermore highlighted that these Fun-Seekers generally dislike most gameplay activities and differ from other player types also regarding their genre play habits. Practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.