Exploring Playing Motives, Persistence, and Disengagement in Young Children's Active Video Game Play

Aims: Video game playing motivation has been explored using various theoretical frameworks. Studies have included player motivations, psychological needs, gratifications, and expected outcomes. Less work has been done on the subject of gaming persistence and disengagement, while sustainable player engagement is relevant for both industry and public health. Methods: Recent literature on player motivations, persistence, and disengagement is reviewed. Separately, a grounded framework is developed via a two-step process that involves 20 open child/parent interviews and 10 interviews that follow a two-week within-family trial of a motion-based console system. The literature is contrasted with this information to identify areas where theoretical development is needed. Results: Existing theoretical work fits well with starting motivations. A natural split emerged within-game session engagement and engagement with the game as a whole. Elements associated with persistence and (dis)engagement over time are harder to conceptualize within current theory. For instance, in-game investment drives future game choice, as players take ownership of digital assets. Within game-sessions, this translates to 'unfinished' business such as half-finished missions. With regards to cessation, the completion of objectives in a session demonstrates the dynamic nature of game play: completing objectives creates a natural break in the continuing flow of game play, and thus provides a clear opportunity to quit the game. Discussion: Current approaches to explaining game engagement are a good starting point, but would benefit from a more explicit focus on the dynamic nature of video gaming over time to better understand game(session) persistence and cessation.

Jaar van publicatie:2017