I think this is pointing at something real. Have you looked at any of the research with the MDA Framework used in video game development?
There are lots of reasons a group (or individual) goes to play a game. This framework found the reasons clustering into these 8 categories:
the tactile senses (enjoying the shiny coins, or the clacking of dice)
Challenge (the usual “playing to win” but also things like speedrunners)
Narratives (playing for the story, the characters and their actions)
Fantasy (enjoyment of a make-believe world. Escapism)
Fellowship (hanging out with your buds, insider jokes, etc.)
Discovery (learning new things about the game, revealing a world and map, metroidvania-style games)
Expression (spending 4 hours in the character creation menu)
Abnegation (cookie cutter games, games to rest your mind and not think about things)
The categories are not mutually exclusive by any means, and I think this is pointing at the same thing this post is pointing at. Namely, where the emotional investment of the player is.
I think this is pointing at something real. Have you looked at any of the research with the MDA Framework used in video game development?
There are lots of reasons a group (or individual) goes to play a game. This framework found the reasons clustering into these 8 categories:
the tactile senses (enjoying the shiny coins, or the clacking of dice)
Challenge (the usual “playing to win” but also things like speedrunners)
Narratives (playing for the story, the characters and their actions)
Fantasy (enjoyment of a make-believe world. Escapism)
Fellowship (hanging out with your buds, insider jokes, etc.)
Discovery (learning new things about the game, revealing a world and map, metroidvania-style games)
Expression (spending 4 hours in the character creation menu)
Abnegation (cookie cutter games, games to rest your mind and not think about things)
The categories are not mutually exclusive by any means, and I think this is pointing at the same thing this post is pointing at. Namely, where the emotional investment of the player is.