Emotions in Video Games: An Investigation of Game Mechanic Influences

An increase in various video game development has contributed significantly to the growth of eSports, reflected in millions of active users on game distribution platforms. The foundation of most video games is game mechanics, potentially capable of keeping players interested. Although it helps in the development of video games, there is also a notable research gap in understanding the potential negative consequences game mechanics could have on the emotional state of players, and could result in serious mental health problems, such as addiction, despair, and anxiety. This paper aims to investigate how game mechanics affect emotional state, providing an insight into the game design influences. To address the problem and provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of video games on players’ emotional states, this study proposed to identify the effect of different mechanics from a review of existing video games on emotional states employed through a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. To ensure players are familiar with game mechanics and in-game terms, participants were chosen from the experienced ‘League of Legend’ players who are at least level 10 in the game. A questionnaire was used based on the five-point scale rating system and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) scale. The findings revealed that combat (core), collectible (feedback), and multiplayer (social) game mechanics, have a significant positive correlation to the positive emotions of the PANAS scale, thus presenting a more nuanced and balanced perspective on the impact of game mechanics on the emotional state of players.