research-article

“An Odd Kind of Pleasure”: Differentiating Emotional Challenge in Digital Games

Authors:

Julia Ayumi Bopp,

Elisa D. MeklerAuthors Info & Claims

CHI '18: Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Paper No.: 41, Pages 1 - 12

https://doi.org/10.1145/3173574.3173615

Published: 19 April 2018 Publication History

Abstract

Recent work introduced the notion of emotional challenge as a means to afford more unique and diverse gaming experiences. However, players' experience of emotional challenge has received little empirical attention. It remains unclear whether players enjoy it and what exactly constitutes the challenge thereof. We surveyed 171 players about a challenging or an emotionally challenging experience, and analyzed their responses with regards to what made the experience challenging, their emotional response, and the relation to core player experience constructs. We found that emotional challenge manifested itself in different ways, by confronting players with difficult themes or decisions, as well as having them deal with intense emotions. In contrast to more'conventional' challenge, emotional challenge evoked a wider range of negative emotions and was appreciated significantly more by players. Our findings showcase the appeal of uncomfortable gaming experiences, and extend current conceptualizations of challenge in games.

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Cited By

Tomé FPires AJiskrová ASaial ACampos P(2024)"I Found it Cathartic": Exploring Empathy and Mental Health Awareness in Psychological Horror Video GamesProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36770838:CHI PLAY(1-21)Online publication date: 15-Oct-2024
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Tyack AMekler E(2024)Self-Determination Theory and HCI Games Research: Unfulfilled Promises and Unquestioned ParadigmsACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/367323031:3(1-74)Online publication date: 15-Jun-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3673230
Bhatnagar PLaattala MDutta SHämäläinen P(2024)Understanding the Design of Emotionally Impactful Game FeelCompanion Proceedings of the 2024 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play10.1145/3665463.3678781(24-30)Online publication date: 14-Oct-2024
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Index Terms

“An Odd Kind of Pleasure”: Differentiating Emotional Challenge in Digital Games
1. Applied computing
  1. Computers in other domains
    1. Personal computers and PC applications

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cover image ACM Conferences

CHI '18: Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 2018

8489 pages

ISBN:9781450356206

DOI:10.1145/3173574

General Chairs:
Regan Mandryk
University of Saskatchewan, Canada
,
Mark Hancock
University of Waterloo, Canada
,
Program Chairs:
Mark Perry
Brunel University London, UK
,
Anna Cox
University College London, UK

Copyright © 2018 ACM.

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Published: 19 April 2018

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Cited By

Tomé FPires AJiskrová ASaial ACampos P(2024)"I Found it Cathartic": Exploring Empathy and Mental Health Awareness in Psychological Horror Video GamesProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36770838:CHI PLAY(1-21)Online publication date: 15-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3677083
Tyack AMekler E(2024)Self-Determination Theory and HCI Games Research: Unfulfilled Promises and Unquestioned ParadigmsACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/367323031:3(1-74)Online publication date: 15-Jun-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3673230
Bhatnagar PLaattala MDutta SHämäläinen P(2024)Understanding the Design of Emotionally Impactful Game FeelCompanion Proceedings of the 2024 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play10.1145/3665463.3678781(24-30)Online publication date: 14-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3665463.3678781
Cuerdo MBaskaran DMelcer E(2024)Exploring how Emotional Challenge and Affective Design in Games Relates to Player ReflectionProceedings of the 19th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games10.1145/3649921.3650023(1-12)Online publication date: 21-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3649921.3650023
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Väkevä JMekler ELindqvist J(2024)From Disorientation to Harmony: Autoethnographic Insights into Transformative Videogame ExperiencesProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642543(1-20)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
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Gonçalves DBarros DPais PGuerreiro JGuerreiro TRodrigues A(2024)The Trick is to Stay Behind?: Defining and Exploring the Design Space of Player Balancing MechanicsProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642441(1-16)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
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LeFevre CChung C(2024)New Understandings of Loss: Examining the Role of Reflective Technology Within Bereavement and Meaning-MakingProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3641968(1-15)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
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Vatsal RMishra SThareja RChakrabarty MSharma OShukla J(2024)An Analysis of Physiological and Psychological Responses in Virtual Reality and Flat Screen GamingIEEE Transactions on Affective Computing10.1109/TAFFC.2024.336870315:3(1696-1710)Online publication date: Jul-2024
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