Computers in entertainment · 2004 · 88 citations · 0 references
Social SciencesStrategic ManagementStrategyBusiness StrategyCompetitive AdvantageGame TheoryGaming CultureVideo Game StudiesAffective GamingEmotional InvestmentMolds
Emotion in games is a controversial blend of artistic expression and commercial interest, likened to unlikely pairings such as pineapple and pizza. The paper examines why incorporating emotion into games can increase profits. The authors outline nine reasons linking emotional design to higher profitability. The study concludes that emotion in games is driven by both artistic motives and financial gains.
Why put emotion into games? The answers are art and money. Sure, it's an unholy alliance, but so are pineapple and pizza, windmills and tiny golf courses, the military and intelligence, and canned fruit and gelatin molds. Don't get me wrong. I think of myself as an artist first and a businessman second. But game companies that don't make a profit aren't game companies for very long. There are at least nine reasons that putting emotion in games can lead to greater profits, and it's worth taking a few minutes to mention them.