Video Games Hack Your Brain (In a Fun Way)

Most of us can probably think of a time when we were enjoying a video game and then suddenly...it's 2 am. And that may not be entirely your fault! Video games are designed with elements that suck you in and put you in a state of flow, making it easy to miss how just much time is passing.

Hosted by: Brit Garner
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[karfsma]

"shuts out your inner self-talk" and this is why I play video games. it helps me ignore my anxiety and depression.

[VoilaTadaOfficial]

Game Design degree here, and gotta say this was a really good summary of the flow state and difficulty curves, but the *really* good games actually don't have a steady curve like the one shown in the video. Often there are little spikes and valleys in it too, because of another facet of flow which is testing mastery. Part of what keeps you engaged is a moment to really push your upper boundary of flow with a bit of challenge but just enough to teach you something, and then let you relax a bit to reflect on that challenge. Kind of like exposure therapy, which was talked about in an earlier episode, only a lot more subtle. So subtle that many people don't even know they're learning.

Or alternatively some players may not have learned the prerequisite information for them to be able to learn through game challenges, and may even find the game too challenging for them to get close to flow. For example, in 3D platformers like Super Mario 64 (a 3D Super Mario game) one of the things the game designers learned is that some people are really bad with depth perception in 3D games, because the screen is a 2D display of a 3D world. To help players learn how to interpret the 3D world, 3D platformers have almost universally incorporated a shadow directly under the player when they jump, so they can see what they are above. If a player still has trouble with 3D platforming, but isn't aware of this feedback, they can't get very far in the game because they don't have the prerequisite knowledge to be able to progress and may get frustrated with the difficulty, taking them out of flow. In Astro Bot, a modern 3D platformer that was made for VR, the designers gave the character a laser beam that pointed straight down to give the player a sense of depth, despite actually being in 3D because of VR. For players that struggle with 3D depth perception in games, starting with a VR title like Astro Bot might allow them to learn the things they need to in order to reach flow with games with more vague feedback, like those platformers with their drop shadows.

However, not everyone is the same with regards to this, as many people do not actually expect to learn anything as they're challenged in a video game, and instead try to simply coast through an experience and prefer games to hold their hand more as they guide them through the story, scenery, sounds, and music more passively, like an interactive movie. These experiences are usually more immersive rather than flow inducing, but hold a similar enticement for the right audiences.

[trevorgustavgreen]

I never expected to get a game design lesson on SciShow

[BRUXXUS]

Factorio is one of those it hooks me so much that I'm actually AFRAID to start playing that because when I do, suddenly I realize it's like 9 hours later and I haven't eaten or slept. (It's a REALLY good game.)

[Baby_boodle]

Learning the specifics of how games can do this kind of makes me see why I find it to be such a helpful coping tool as an autistic/ADHD individual.

[GabrielMisfire]

Listening to this video, while playing Tetris late at night to combat anxiety, sure is a fun coincidence :)

[pedroscoponi]

The idea of standardizing which games are used to test the effects of games in general on people is the kind of thing that sounds _obvious_ once you hear it, but I never in a million years would've thought of it. Would also help single out what's general from what's genre specific... 🤔

[garysteven]

Video games and science, two of my favorite things in the world ❤️

[Samie_Ikigai]

*Watches this after stopping playing a game and its 2am* Yep accurate

[LaceNWhisky]

I like how they mention Tetris and "a first-person shooting game". Because Tetris is iconic and there are *SO GODDAMN MANY GENERIC FPS GAMES OUT THERE!*

[Do_Odles]

Brit looks positively radiant in this :)

[ItsShatter]

Brit Garner is a great video host and speaker!

[logicandlaughs]

I'm not a fan of when people comment on big changes in a person's appearance... especially when the backstory of the change isn't known. So Brit, hope you are doing well and healthy. Have always enjoyed your presentations and this one was great! It definitely explains why I like to "fuzz out" with a video game for awhile after a long day of teaching. :)

[infinihedron]

The first time I finished Soul Edge, I was in an arcade in the basement of the University of Alberta Student's Union Building and didn't realize that the fire alarm had been going off for 15-20 minutes while I was playing the game.

[dGames]

Wow, Brit looks like she's getting in shape! Well done!

[limalicious]

Me who doesn't play video games: *Huh, this sounds like when reading a really good book.*

[AC-cgbe]

Can't say I've ever had this happen with too many computer games.

Watching SciShow videos, though? Yeah, I've lost track of time a lot when going down that rabbit hole.

[kidnf]

next episode: how developers turn fun into casino traps.

[kurankeikun]

Hopefully, we can also start seeing more games that are very fun and very educational in the mainstream. This will help the children who have trouble concentrating in schools to help catch up to their peers.

[TheJasonmassia]

Great video! It actually explains a few things..😊
By the way.. Lookin' good Brit!