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Fun Versus Meaningful Video Game Experiences: A Qualitative Analysis of User Responses

The Computer Games Journal volume 6, pages 63–79 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Emerging research on video games has suggested that feelings of both enjoyment and meaningfulness can be elicited from gameplay. Studies have shown enjoyment and meaningfulness evaluations to be associated with discrete elements of video games (ratings of gameplay and narrative, respectively), but have relied on closed-end data analysis. The current study analyzed participants’ open-ended reviews of either their “most fun” or “most meaningful” video game experience (N = 575, randomly assigned to either condition). Results demonstrated that “fun” games were explained in terms of gameplay mechanics, and “meaningful” games were explained in terms of connections with players and in-game characters.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

    Ryan Rogers

  2. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

    Julia Woolley

  3. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    Brett Sherrick

  4. West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Nicholas David Bowman

  5. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Mary Beth Oliver

Authors
  1. Ryan Rogers
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  2. Julia Woolley
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  3. Brett Sherrick
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  4. Nicholas David Bowman
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  5. Mary Beth Oliver
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ryan Rogers.

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Rogers, R., Woolley, J., Sherrick, B. et al. Fun Versus Meaningful Video Game Experiences: A Qualitative Analysis of User Responses. Comput Game J 6, 63–79 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40869-016-0029-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40869-016-0029-9

Keywords

  • Video games
  • Meaningfulness
  • Enjoyment
  • Eudaimonia
  • Needs gratification