Motivations of playing digital games: A review and research agenda

The global digital gaming industry has grown rapidly in recent years. Rapid technological advancements are changing the ways in which players can interact with video games as individuals and collectives. In addition to the increased penetration of games, the reasons for which people play and employ...

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Main Authors: Cheah, Isaac, Shimul, Anwar Sadat, Phau, Ian
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: WILEY 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88983
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author Cheah, Isaac
Shimul, Anwar Sadat
Phau, Ian
author_facet Cheah, Isaac
Shimul, Anwar Sadat
Phau, Ian
author_sort Cheah, Isaac
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The global digital gaming industry has grown rapidly in recent years. Rapid technological advancements are changing the ways in which players can interact with video games as individuals and collectives. In addition to the increased penetration of games, the reasons for which people play and employ games need careful attention. In this paper, we have systematically reviewed the peer-reviewed journal articles (n = 91) relevant to the gamers’ motivations of playing digital games. In addition to analysing the publication trends, we have identified and discussed a set of six key motivational themes (immersion and flow, gratification and affect, escapism, social interaction, identification, and goal orientation). Subsequently, we call for further research on theoretical and methodological advancement as well as individual/social wellbeing and dark sides of digital gaming in relation to players’ motivation.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-889832024-01-11T00:10:24Z Motivations of playing digital games: A review and research agenda Cheah, Isaac Shimul, Anwar Sadat Phau, Ian Social Sciences Business Psychology, Applied Business & Economics Psychology digital game flow gameplay gaming motivation immersion systematic literature review AUGMENTED REALITY GAMES MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME SOCIAL INTERACTIONS PLAYERS PERSONALITY ADDICTION GRATIFICATIONS ENJOYMENT BEHAVIOR SELF The global digital gaming industry has grown rapidly in recent years. Rapid technological advancements are changing the ways in which players can interact with video games as individuals and collectives. In addition to the increased penetration of games, the reasons for which people play and employ games need careful attention. In this paper, we have systematically reviewed the peer-reviewed journal articles (n = 91) relevant to the gamers’ motivations of playing digital games. In addition to analysing the publication trends, we have identified and discussed a set of six key motivational themes (immersion and flow, gratification and affect, escapism, social interaction, identification, and goal orientation). Subsequently, we call for further research on theoretical and methodological advancement as well as individual/social wellbeing and dark sides of digital gaming in relation to players’ motivation. 2022 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88983 10.1002/mar.21631 English WILEY fulltext
spellingShingle Social Sciences
Business
Psychology, Applied
Business & Economics
Psychology
digital game
flow
gameplay
gaming motivation
immersion
systematic literature review
AUGMENTED REALITY GAMES
MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME
SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
PLAYERS
PERSONALITY
ADDICTION
GRATIFICATIONS
ENJOYMENT
BEHAVIOR
SELF
Cheah, Isaac
Shimul, Anwar Sadat
Phau, Ian
Motivations of playing digital games: A review and research agenda
title Motivations of playing digital games: A review and research agenda
title_full Motivations of playing digital games: A review and research agenda
title_fullStr Motivations of playing digital games: A review and research agenda
title_full_unstemmed Motivations of playing digital games: A review and research agenda
title_short Motivations of playing digital games: A review and research agenda
title_sort motivations of playing digital games: a review and research agenda
topic Social Sciences
Business
Psychology, Applied
Business & Economics
Psychology
digital game
flow
gameplay
gaming motivation
immersion
systematic literature review
AUGMENTED REALITY GAMES
MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME
SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
PLAYERS
PERSONALITY
ADDICTION
GRATIFICATIONS
ENJOYMENT
BEHAVIOR
SELF
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88983