Why Do You Play Video Games?

A recent study at the University of Essex has concluded that they have found the reason why people like to play video games.

The scientists said that games are “an ideal platform for people to try on different hats and take on characteristics that they would like to have.” The study itself consisted of hundreds of casual and hardcore gamers alike that played video games in a laboratory to monitors several different factors.

Research showed that when given the opportunity players felt better about themselves when acting through a new identity, whether that’s in the form of a different gender, hero or villain.

Dr Andy Przybylski added that “a game can be more fun when you get the chance to act and be like your ideal self. The attraction to playing video games and what makes them fun is that it gives people the chance to think about a role they would ideally like to take on and then get a chance to play that role.”

The study looked at everything from players’ emotions to their motivation to play the games themselves. They found that the enjoyment elements were higher then there was little or no overlap between someone’s actually self and the character being played.

How interesting….. But why do you like to game? Do you like the escapism? Or the chance to be pure evil?