Explaining the formation of eudaimonic gaming experiences: a theoretical overview and systemization based on interactivity and game elements
Over the past years, scholars have explored eudaimonic video game experiences—profound entertainment responses that include meaningfulness, reflection, and others. In a comparatively short time, a plethora of explanations for the formation of such eudaimonic gaming experiences has been developed acr...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Communication |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1215960/full |
| _version_ | 1797677042694619136 |
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| author | Daniel Possler Nicholas David Bowman Rowan Daneels |
| author_facet | Daniel Possler Nicholas David Bowman Rowan Daneels |
| author_sort | Daniel Possler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Over the past years, scholars have explored eudaimonic video game experiences—profound entertainment responses that include meaningfulness, reflection, and others. In a comparatively short time, a plethora of explanations for the formation of such eudaimonic gaming experiences has been developed across multiple disciplines, making it difficult to keep track of the state of theory development. Hence, we present a theoretical overview of these explanations. We first provide a working definition of eudaimonic gaming experiences (i.e., experiences that reflect human virtues and encourage players to develop their potential as human beings fully) and outline four layers of video games—agency, narrative, sociality, and aesthetics—that form the basis for theorizing. Subsequently, we provide an overview of the theoretical approaches, categorizing them based on which of the four game layers their explanation mainly rests upon. Finally, we suggest the contingency of the different theoretical approaches for explaining eudaimonic experiences by describing how their usefulness varies as a function of interactivity. As different types of games offer players various levels of interactivity, our overview suggests which theories and which game layers should be considered when examining eudaimonic experiences for specific game types. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:39:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d7e8dde4c353406fb368d9eb889559ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-900X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:39:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Communication |
| spelling | doaj.art-d7e8dde4c353406fb368d9eb889559ed2023-09-22T10:39:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Communication2297-900X2023-09-01810.3389/fcomm.2023.12159601215960Explaining the formation of eudaimonic gaming experiences: a theoretical overview and systemization based on interactivity and game elementsDaniel Possler0Nicholas David Bowman1Rowan Daneels2Institute for Human-Computer-Media, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyS.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United StatesDepartment of Communication Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, BelgiumOver the past years, scholars have explored eudaimonic video game experiences—profound entertainment responses that include meaningfulness, reflection, and others. In a comparatively short time, a plethora of explanations for the formation of such eudaimonic gaming experiences has been developed across multiple disciplines, making it difficult to keep track of the state of theory development. Hence, we present a theoretical overview of these explanations. We first provide a working definition of eudaimonic gaming experiences (i.e., experiences that reflect human virtues and encourage players to develop their potential as human beings fully) and outline four layers of video games—agency, narrative, sociality, and aesthetics—that form the basis for theorizing. Subsequently, we provide an overview of the theoretical approaches, categorizing them based on which of the four game layers their explanation mainly rests upon. Finally, we suggest the contingency of the different theoretical approaches for explaining eudaimonic experiences by describing how their usefulness varies as a function of interactivity. As different types of games offer players various levels of interactivity, our overview suggests which theories and which game layers should be considered when examining eudaimonic experiences for specific game types.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1215960/fullvideo gamesinteractivityeudaimoniatheorygame layers |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Possler Nicholas David Bowman Rowan Daneels Explaining the formation of eudaimonic gaming experiences: a theoretical overview and systemization based on interactivity and game elements Frontiers in Communication video games interactivity eudaimonia theory game layers |
| title | Explaining the formation of eudaimonic gaming experiences: a theoretical overview and systemization based on interactivity and game elements |
| title_full | Explaining the formation of eudaimonic gaming experiences: a theoretical overview and systemization based on interactivity and game elements |
| title_fullStr | Explaining the formation of eudaimonic gaming experiences: a theoretical overview and systemization based on interactivity and game elements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Explaining the formation of eudaimonic gaming experiences: a theoretical overview and systemization based on interactivity and game elements |
| title_short | Explaining the formation of eudaimonic gaming experiences: a theoretical overview and systemization based on interactivity and game elements |
| title_sort | explaining the formation of eudaimonic gaming experiences a theoretical overview and systemization based on interactivity and game elements |
| topic | video games interactivity eudaimonia theory game layers |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1215960/full |
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