Video game developers create games with two things in mind: to attract, and to keep individuals playing their games. One major tool they use is the reward system.¹ At face value utilizing the reward system does not appear to be a harmful tactic. However, the use of reward systems can keep individuals tied to a game for hours. “They have evolved their techniques to keep their players playing and paying, even directly copying techniques from the gambling industry."¹ Rewards are often used as behavioral motivation. The dog is given a treat when it sits, a child is rewarded with a toy when they say please, in video games the player is rewarded for making advancements in the game. The gamer subsequently spends time chasing after the next reward or level.²
Not only do rewards keep players playing but they also create a dependency on rewards to stay motivated and engaged in an activity. The unrealistic reward systems prevalent in gaming causes individuals to feel entitled to a reward after the completion of any activity. Intrinsic motivation decreases as rewards increase.³
The need to achieve: Players perceptions and uses of extrinsic meta-game reward systems for video game consoles³
Carlos Cruz, Michael D. Hanus, Jesse Fox - Computers in Human Behavior
“Individuals start playing to receive more rewards rather than due to an internal desire to keep playing.”
“Considerable research suggests that giving someone a reward for a task not only increases extrinsic motivation, it decreases intrinsic motivation.”
“Badge systems can enhance motivation for interested players, and increase enjoyment, engagement, and time spent playing the game."
Dopamine: Are Video Games Hijacking Our Potential Players?¹ La Fleurs
Game developers are consciously providing dopamine hits (rewards) to keep the user engaged. “How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible? … We need to sort of give you a little dopamine hit every once in a while” - Sean Parker, Former Facebook President
“All tech companies recognize the need to stimulate the brain’s reward system, including the video game industry. They have evolved their techniques to keep their players playing and paying, even directly copying techniques from the gambling industry.”
“Many people like to describe a spike in dopamine as ‘motivation’ or ‘pleasure.’ But that’s not quite it. Really, dopamine is signaling feedback for predicted rewards…The amount of dopamine released is magnified when the reward is not guaranteed—for instance, when people gamble. Your brain keeps pumping out dopamine to figure out how a reward works.”
“One study entitled “Evidence for striatal dopamine release during a video game” found that dopamine released during a video game session increased by nearly 100%. The magnitude of change of … was similar to that observed following intravenous injection of amphetamine and methylphenidate, Dr. M.J. Koepp, University College London, first author, said. Other experimental studies have found similar results. Amphetamine is one of the active ingredients in Adderall, while methylphenidate is the active ingredient in Ritalin.”
“There appears to be a reward system deficiency in individuals who are addicted to the internet and to online gaming, and this is the reason for why they seek pleasure and rewards in the form of gaming. Natural rewards are not experienced as rewarding enough and therefore these individuals seek stronger rewards in order to recreate a balanced state in the brain, which will drive internet use and gaming behaviors, Daria Kuss, Course Leader MSC Cyberpsychology, Nottingham Trent University.”
“Video games are designed to provide rewards irregularly thus keeping the gamers playing and experiencing higher levels of dopamine.”
Video games produce continuously enjoyable experiences the need for enjoyment and the means of achieving it, namely gaming, become habitual.
“Video games make gambling more enjoyable. Gamers maintain larger dopamine releases when gambling than non-gamers.”
“The tech companies are aware of what makes both gambling and gaming entertaining. They are employing direct gambling mechanics into their games to make their games even more entertaining and addicting. But instead of offering money, they offer social rewards.”
The Effect of Intrinsic Game Rewards on Player Enjoyment Max Huldin, Filip Norrman - Malmo University
This study was conducted with the intent to learn what the best rewards were to keep player engagement.
The conclusion states “the importance of presenting the player with a continuous stream of objectives and rewards is visible. For every action, the player needs some underlying intrinsic motivation, if no clear trigger for this motivation is present the player will either quit or substitute it with something of their creation.”
Video Games Rated A for Addictive² Robert T Muller Ph.D. - Psychology Today
“Video games seem to hijack this reward system very efficiently.”
“[Video games] employ well-known behavioral conditioning principles from psychology that reinforce repetitive actions through an elaborate system of scheduled rewards. In effect, the game rewards players to perform increasingly tedious tasks and seduces the player to ‘play’ industriously.”
“School-work and job performance suffer as gaming turns into an escape from life. It becomes troubling when video games are used as the main way of coping.”
How Gaming Affects Dopamine Reward Circuitry Dr. Kanojia
Wonderful 9 minute video discussing how the reward systems in our brain works and why video games cause other activities to create less enjoyment.
Random rewards in video games and their impact on player engagement Marcus Holmberg, Alex Modee - KTH Royal Institute of Technology
This study conducted by Marcus Holmberg and Alex Modee aimed to investigate the effect of random rewards systems within a video game and its effects on player engagement. The points below are quotes from the study regarding rewards in general.
“Reward systems are an important aspect when it comes to creating an engaging experience as they serve as motivators for the player.”
“Video games have an inherent need to be engaging in order to make users want to continue playing and in-game rewards are one element that can serve to motivate players.”
“Player engagement can be defined as the level of continuation desire or the motivation to proceed experienced in-game over a sustained period of time”
“Video game rewards systems.. a positive return that serves to reinforce player behavior within a video game.”
Why Rewards Are Destroying Your Motivation Brigitte Granger - Supporti
“Exchanging a reward for behavior is transactional. By putting a reward at the receiving end of an activity, it implies that there’s a cost (the action) and a benefit (the incentive). The activity now feels like work. You’re no longer doing the activity for the activity’s sake. Instead, it’s the means to an end.”
“You’ll often see games designed so that the prize gets bigger with each challenge. To stay engaged, you need to keep making the reward more exciting.”
How Much Is Too Much? Test Could Show Effect Of Gaming On Your Kid’s Brain Andrew Newberg M.D. - KSRO
This article tells the story of a 10 year old, his mother and his addiction to Fortnite.
Through a study using fMRI scans it is evident that “game play delivers dopamine hits to the brain’s reward center.”
“People with internet gaming disorder, and addictions show these rewards centers are enlarged. It takes more and more dopamine for people with this problematic gaming behavior to experience the same levels of euphoria.”
“Gaming produces so much dopamine on such regular intervals, that the part of the brain that makes us happy about little things, gets lazy or out of shape.”
“The modified reward system leads to lower enjoyment from the same level of rewards that excited a person in the past, and hence propels people to seek additional rewards; in this case, possibly also from substance use.”
How Dopamine Impacts Gaming GameQuitters.com
“Dopamine is closely connected to the reward center in our brains. So whenever we see a reward worth chasing, our body starts producing sufficient amounts of dopamine to motivate us to complete the task, no matter how strenuous or difficult the task might be. Instead of feeling pleasure doing everyday activities, the addicted person will feel bored. Only the substance, video game, or the drug they take will provide enough dopamine to feel pleasure and excitement. Thus, the more of the substance or drug an individual takes, the more of it will take to feel the same levels of pleasure as before. Eventually, repetition leads to addiction. The same can happen with video games.”
“Getting that dopamine spike has never been easier than now”
“With video games, the gratification is instant – you don’t need to wait weeks or months to feel the satisfaction. This is one of the main reasons why you might prefer gaming to other activities. Research has shown that playing video games releases the same amounts of dopamine as when you take drugs like ecstasy. Scientific studies have confirmed this as well.”