The Aim Of Playing: Why Do We Create Games

Player emotions and developer's labor are just sides of the same coin

This time I don’t have a technical post for you, but more a reflection about the end aim behind playing videogames and actually the other side of the coin; why we create them? What is the intention behind a experience? I really want to invite you to this reflection journey.

Perception is the quickest and first tool to judge any type of Entertainment when it’s unknown for us, our brains are generally lazy and it is easier to create a quick structure of what we see or hear based on prejudices than investing time to actually understand if it could work for us.

These mental structures trigger the emotions that either draw us in or close the door entirely.

But… There is something beautiful at videogames, they can change your emotions quickly, they are designed having your brother in law, yes he that that never touched a gameboy or even knows about Hollow Knight (and why should he, right?)

But I’m quite sure he probably tried Angry Birds at some point, and then why that same guy that never touched a handheld console was at some point playing with a smartphone…

The Joy behind a Toy

Just looking at the previous image for few seconds, your brain starts with the association of all the possible usages including both positive and negative, instantly you can feel that you want to push those red buttons NO MATTER WHAT!

Humans are unique because we practice behavioral neoteny. This is the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood. While most animals stop playing once they reach reproductive age (because play is "expensive" in terms of energy), humans never stop.

Engaging in playful activities helps adults cope with stress and enhances mood, actually, applying what I mentioned to social media, one of the motivations behind the “doomscrolling” concept is the easiness between new stimulations that triggers dopamine in our brain.

But speaking again about videogames, I think the best games have a perfect balance between the generation of Endorphins (Strees-relieve) and Dopamine (Reward and motivation)

There are many examples of titles that have an almost perfect balance of those emotions, but I really think Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best example. Is a game where you can spend literally hours just walking on your horse looking at the forest, animals and all the dinamic elements of the title to relax (Endorphins)

But at the same time you can take your rifle and go all in being the scariest threat of the western (Dopamine)

Why Do We Create Games?

We is an expensive word at this context, so I need to include the majority of forces that actually keep the industry alive (despite the reality)

We are usually talking about the state of art behind videogames. But for that art to reach your brother-in-law's smartphone, a massive, invisible machinery has to turn. The videogame industry can only grow—and more importantly, stay with us—if the financials are as solid as the code.

Leaving aside for just few seconds the reality behind capitalism, I really think authentic creators and gamedev studios around the world, during their prototypes, really think about the way your emotions will be connecting with the gameplay. That’s why playtesting within others shoulder is so important, as the emotions you may felt once during the creation of your game are gone after all the iterations.

Why Do I Create Games?

I really love to work on my daily job (non gamedev related) within structures, being able to predict, adapt and then improve the value of what we do as a team. It is engaging, it is rewarding, you feel impactful taking decisions.

But thinking about the creative process, the ideation of the impact a certain mechanic/system will have through the player emotions during it’s session is my main driver towards a videogame release.

I want my future child to connect with that humble game I once created and no one paid for it.

And… Why Do You Create Games?

I will be more than happy if this article triggers your reflective mode and maybe boost your inspiration within the creative process.

I really think from time to time, we need to stop and just say to ourselves: Why?

Thank you for reading