Why Some Video Games Are So Hard to Stop Playing
Why Some Video Games Are So Hard to Stop Playing
Why Some Video Games Are So Hard to Stop Playing
By Andrew Fishman
January 15, 2024
Summary
Many video games intentionally include design elements crafted to keep people playing as long and as often as possible.
Tactics like these naturally make infinite games much harder for players to walk away from.
The "Zeigarnik effect" ensures that incomplete quests will haunt players who want to stop playing the game.
Games like these can cause serious problems for vulnerable gamers.
Jack eventually decided to stop playing this predatory game.
He didn't want to stop playing video games altogether, but he recognized the psychological manipulation built into infinite games.
Are they finite or infinite? Do the developers want to entertain you or squeeze money out of you? Are you playing on your schedule or theirs? Switching to finite games can make it easier to find balance in your life.
Reference
Fishman , A. (2024, January 15). Why Some Video Games Are So Hard to Stop Playing | Psychology Today. Www.psychologytoday.com. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/video-game-health/202401/why-some-video-games-are-so-hard-to-stop-playing