The Zeigarnik Effect and Pode

My wife is not big into video games, but I can always convince her to play a few levels of Pode with me. Pode’s puzzles are challenging, its story charming, and its visuals stunning. But all that aside, there is something about it that really relaxes you and, if you’re like my wife, may help your OCD. So on this episode of Psych of Play, were doing to look into the main mechanic of Pode and how it gives you a clever way to avoid something called the Zeigarnik effect.

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Games Shown:

Pode (2018) - Henchman and Goon
Celese (2018) - Matt Makes Games
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) - Nintendo
Octopath Traveler (2018) - Square Enix
Super Mario Odyssey (2017) - Nintendo
Zelda: Ocarina of time (1996) NIntendo
Journey (2012) - That Game Company
Braid (2008) - Jonathan Blow
Kingdom Hearts 3 (2019) - Square Enix
Legend of Zelda (1986) - Nintendo
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (2017) - Monolith Soft
Super Meat Boy (2010) - Team Meat, Edmund McMillen

Movies/TV/Clips:

Music Sources:

Cave Dungeon - Mario 64
Those first steps - Pode OST by Austin Wintry
Roots to the Stars - Pode OST by Austin Wintry
Thoughtful - Lee Rosevere
Heat Felt - Pode OST by Austin Wintry
Tech Toys - Lee Rosevere

Research Sources:

The Zeigarnik Effect:

Henchman & Goon Interview:

_Welcome to Daryl Talks Games_

Hi! I’m Daryl, and on this channel I explore the intersection between video games, psychology, and real life.

I’ve talked about how Pokemon and the Generation Effect can make you a better student. I’ve made a video on why game developers really should understand functional fixedness. And I’ve interviewed some of the best speedrunners on Earth to find out how exactly they make setting world records look so easy.

Primacy and Recency, subconscious associations, classical conditioning, divergent thinking, amnesia (the disorder not the game), if its psychological concept that relates to games, I’ve probably talked about it before or will in the future. But to be clear, psychology isn’t all I talk about. Every now and then I’ll dabble in a little bit of game design and sometimes I’ll just talk about life and how games really can make it better... and for some people are the best way to relate to the world around us.

So if all that sounds like a good time to you, subscribe to my channel, watch my videos, and if you feel so inclined, show a friend! If you take a look at my videos, I truly hope that you learn something or are entertained and that your day is better after watching!

#PsychofPlay #Pode #ZeigarnikEffect

[Henchmangoon]

Thanks so much for making this video! We found it very interesting and loved learning about The Zeigarnek effect! Thank you! 💛💙💛💙

[CurtisJensenGames]

Any game that brings a married couple closer together rather than further apart gets an A in my book.

[CalebWillden]

Now I want to see an Ocarina of Time mod with Morgan Freeman talking whenever you climb.

[yngvillhopen]

This makes me so happy I don't have words! This is exactly the kind of experience we were aiming for <3

[EtraGames]

Really loved hearing about this experience and am glad to know know what that nagging feeling for not completing things is called. Great video once again!

[kitthekat]

I was hooked, not by the video and the message behind it, but by the charming story of you and your wife, playing this lovely game. Sounds amazing.

[StriderGW]

These videos have so much honest positivity, it's such a nice experience to watch every time.

[CoxTH]

Can we just appreciate that the devs of this game are called Henchman and Goon?

[MrPanda]

I loved this video man! Your commentary is always so intelligent, and your psych theories are so spot on. As you probably know, I game together with my wife. Her situation is interesting as she loves co-op, partly because when we play together, she usually doesn't worry about completing everything and is usually just fine going through games leisurely with me. On the flip side, she becomes completely different when playing a single-player game. She absolutely MUST get through everything, to the point where she will follow walkthroughs (or have me read them to her) so she can get as close to 100% as possible. I thought that maybe it was due to the games being different genres, but even within the platformer genre, she doesn't care about getting everything in 100% whereas she will give it her all to complete similar solo experiences. My theory is that she's more invested when she's the only person playing a game, but when she's playing co-op, she doesn't mind going along with whatever the other player (a.k.a. me) wants to do. I personally try to get 100% for games that interest me, whether solo or co-op. Anyway, that was just an insight I had from my own life. Thanks again for your excellent videos! :)

[TarTast]

I'm so glad you made that distinction about ocd. I myself have ocd, and it can get frustrating when people say that they are "so OCD." I don't get pissed about it, but it can be frustrating when it's like an employer. I have had jobs where issues arose because ocd was causing me to disappoint my bosses, and instead of being compassionate and understanding that I'm going through something they can't understand, they'd respond with something like, "O yeah, I'm totally like that too. I'm so ocd about (insert random thing here." I know everyone has things they are obsessive about, but it's not the same. I check my door handles so much that I have bruises all over my palms. So yeah. I respect that you made the distinction. It's not the end of the world when people misuse the term ocd but I hope eventually people are a little bit more understanding on the subject. Thanks for another great video Daryl!

[niconavall]

Really interesting video. Its been a while since i have been thinking in the relation beteewn OCD and games, and how ubisoft open-world games with rubish side activities ultimatly make the gaming experience fail for some people, or how multiple companys take advantage of OCD with their "deluxe" and "gold" edition games.

Keep up the hard work!

[supernoodle]

Picked up Pode as me and my brother are similar in the sense of You and Callie, only I’ve got more exposure to games. It’s really brought us together and suggesting ‘Pode?’ has fixed a fair few fights. It’s genuinely great to work together and as someone with OCD tendencies (actual ocd, not pens in a straight line) it helps me in a similar sense, and for my brother, who is more like you, it allows him to ‘play’ a game and figure out the puzzles.

[DivinityStripes]

Can't wait to play this with my SO. Thanks for making a video on it!

[julio]

I'm a fan of your work, and also, now I will consider pode for my next couples gaming experience!

[Kraigon]

As someone without OCD but likes organizing things, I also think it's an important distinction to make.

[helenmaclay]

This reminds me of the gameplay and mechanics of Gris. Just walking around and seeing he changes really zenned me out next to the soundtrack. I found myself savoring moments and making sure I explored everything I could because it would inevitably change and a new beauty would arise.

[mausejule]

This is the most wholesome video I have ever seen. It really seems like this game was made specifically for the two of you which just enhances the experience you can have because you can identify with the tasks you are given in the gamey

[Lugmillord]

If Morgan Freeman starts to talk in-game, I'll hold that joystick upwards the whole time!
"Can you beat Ocarina of Time when only holding up and listening to Morgan Freeman?"

[charlii_dont_judge]

Man I am so glad I stumbled across this channel, I love video games, but hearing the psychology behind them is so fascinating! I wish you all the success in the world and best of luck to your lovely wife, I hope she can get a handle on what I know to be a devastating disorder.

[redi]

Thank you so much for making these videos and the channel. I'm currently studying Game Design, and many people tend to lean to Economic side of it (Game theory stuff) while ignoring how it affects us psychologically. Your videos educates me a lot and for that i want to say thank you so much and keep up the good work :D