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Why can't I stop playing these games?
BY Jordane delahaye Observer TEENage writer Glenmuir High School
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
We've all been there. The clock tells us it's time to call it a night, but we don't want to do so until we've completed just one more level, then 90 minutes later, we're still using that same excuse.
There's something about well-designed games that captivates players. Every title has its own secret sauce, but solving the mystery of their appeal isn't as hard as you might think. In fact, it often comes down to six factors.
Sounds: Those little pings and muted explosions might not stand out in your mind when you're playing, but they have a lot to do with why you can't stop. The next time you play Bejeweled® or Peggle® you'll notice how the notes get progressively higher on combinations. That's one of PopCap's secret weapons. It turns out that people really respond to the rising pitch.
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On-screen changes: Another trick is a constantly evolving screen. Every action you take changes the way the game looks in some form or fashion. Every time you do something, you've essentially got a new visual stimulus in front of you. This helps to increase concentration and keeps your brain going.
Generous scores: Ever notice how high your score is in most casual games? In the end, it doesn't mean much, but you still feel a real sense of accomplishment. That's deliberate. Aiming for a score of one million is a lot more engaging than shooting for 1,000.
Low pressure: Sometimes a ticking clock adds to the fun of a game, but it's often a distraction - and an unnecessary source of stress. That's why PopCap games tend to be slow-paced or have no time limit at all. There were plenty of word-based games before Bookworm®, for instance, but most had timer elements to them. That created a high-pressure environment. Instead of making the game time-based, PopCap added new ways to lose, such as the burning tiles, allowing the player move at his or her own pace.
Cognitive benefits: Between keeping your brain stimulated and avoiding high pressure, playing these games actually has some beneficial qualities. Stress levels go down and attention spans increase.
Big rewards: Many PopCap titles are offshoots of existing games. Bookworm®, for instance, owes a big debt to Scrabble®. At their core, the games typically aren't fun to watch being played. So when a user hits a new level, there needs to be a significant visual reward.
With Peggle®, a lot of work went into the 'extreme fever' area at the completion of a level, where you get the rainbows, fireworks and 'Ode to Joy' is played. That's a big pay-off for the player.
So, keep all this in mind and maybe next time you will actually be able to stop playing long enough to get some work done.
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