Storyboard for WR152 - Research Essay (First Draft) by Shu Shi https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly This is the first draft of my research essay for WR152. en-us 2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC 2025-03-26 19:45:23 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Playcontrol.png Research Question iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671248 What game mechanics and design elements cause players to lose track of time when playing video games? To what extent do video games impact on people's time perception?

]]> 2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671248 Thesis iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671249 There are specific game mechanics and psychological elements, especially related to immersion, pacing, and reward systems, that strongly influence players' perception of time, often causing them to underestimate the duration of gameplay. These elements include:


Immersion Elements:

  • Detailed environments

  • Engaging storylines

  • Realistic and interactive gameplay mechanics

Game Mechanics:

  • Frequent rewards (achievement systems, level-ups)

  • Balanced game difficulty (challenging yet achievable)

  • Rapid pacing and immediate feedback

Psychological Factors:

  • High cognitive load games that require intense focus

  • Flow state that leads to loss of self-awareness and distorted time sense

]]> 2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671249 Various Views/Hypotheses to Consider iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671251

  • Some researchers argue fast-paced, action-based games have the strongest effect due to constant stimulation.

  • Others suggest individual psychological traits (attention span, susceptibility to immersion) are more influential than game mechanics themselves.

    • ]]>     2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671251     Exhibits iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671252

  • Honor of Kings (fast-paced, multiplayer combat)

  • PUBG (highly immersive, survival/shooting genre)

  • Portal 2 (slow-paced, puzzle-solving mechanics)

  • Stardew Valley (casual, relaxed gameplay)

  • Indie co-op games to analyze multiplayer/social interactions affecting time perception.

    • ]]>     2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671252     My Own Ideas iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671253

  • I plan to focus on how specific mechanics (rewards and pacing) actively alter player perception of time, supported by psychological theories like flow.

  • I'd prefer to analyze concrete examples of games (e.g., Honor of Kings, PUBG, puzzle games) as evidence.

  • I'll include a balanced discussion about both positive aspects (improved concentration, enjoyable experience) and negative aspects (risk of addiction, neglecting real-life duties).

    • ]]>     2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671253     Sub-questions iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671254 Game mechnics and time perception:

    • Which specific game mechanics (reward systems, pacing, difficulty) impact players' sense of time most significantly?

    • How do fast-paced games differ from slower-paced games in influencing time perception?

    • Can players consciously control their perception of time while gaming?

    ]]>     2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671254     Counter-Arguments to Thesis iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671255 Counterarguments

    • Some argue negative effects (like addiction or excessive gaming) overshadow positive effects.

    • Others suggest perceived time distortion largely depends on players' personal traits rather than game design.

    ]]>     2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671255     Argument Sources iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671260 Sources I have so far:

    • Tobin et al. (2010) "Video Games and the Perception of Time."

    • Sanders & Cairns (2010) "Time Perception, Immersion, and Music in Videogames."

    • Bediou et al. (2018) "Action Video Game Impact on Cognitive Skills."

    • Skalski & Whitbred (2010) "Perceived Time and Task Performance in Video Games."

    • Csikszentmihalyi's original "Flow" theory research.

    • King et al. (2019) "Time Perception and Excessive Gaming."

    ]]>     2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671260     Sub-questions iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671261 Players' experiences:

    • Do experienced and inexperienced players perceive time differently while gaming?

    • How does familiarity with a game affect the player's sense of time?

    ]]>     2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671261     Sub-questions iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671262 From players' perspectives:

    • Can players consciously control their perception of time while gaming?

    ]]>     2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671262     Sub-questions iiiivyss https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671263 Psychological aspects (flow state and immersion):

    • What is the psychological concept of flow, and how does it relate to time distortion in video games?

    • How can cognitive load (mental effort required by a game) alter players' perception of time?

    • How have previous experiments measured players' time perception?

    ]]>     2025-03-20 23:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/iiiivyss/w6obcrs9wq28mly/wish/3375671263