When I think of gaming, I first picture the hard-core pc and console players who spend hours playing games like Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto and Final Fantasy, so their transition to online massive multiplayer games, like the ever popular World of Warcraft, seems quite natural. It’s an opportunity to expand a pastime they love, create a social connection and share the experience with more people.
Studies indicate that online gaming can afford not just entertainment, but also social aspects, such as meeting other like-minded players, building friendships and relationships and exploring various modes of socialising (Quandt & Kroger 2013 pp. 58-60). A recent Facebook report found that 49% of 18-34 year old gamers would be more inclined to continue playing if they felt they were part of a community.
Personally, I’ve never been much of a gamer. While I enjoyed occasionally playing Super Mario and Donkey Kong, my only use of social gaming was a short-lived fondness for Words with Friends. It was a fun way to wake the brain up on my commute to work, but the novelty soon wore off with the increase of creepy types trying to flirt or the ones who would quit mid game because they didn’t like being beaten by a girl.
When Facebook opened up the doors to developers in 2007, a new form of social gaming appealing to diverse demographics flooded in. Some of the first popular and free to play smartphone and social media games were Farmville, YoVille and Mafia Wars. One of the most popular today is Candy Crush with over 10 million daily active users (Gough 2019). According to Think Gaming, Candy Crush rakes in over $1.5 million daily from in app purchases.
While there are some social benefits to casual gaming, studies suggest that excessive online gaming or gaming addiction can lead to stress, isolation and in extreme cases, aggression, financial loses and impacts on real life work and personal relationships (Griffiths 2013) .
Candy Crush has come under criticism with reports saying that Candy Crush addiction is real, articles on why people are so attracted to it, there’s even blogs on recovery and seeking help.
A research project for the Journal of Gambling Studies found significant similarities between Candy Crush and slot (Pokie) machines. The study which measured both physiological and psychological reactions concluded that impacts of near misses/losses experienced by game players was the same as those of slot machine users, arousing the urge to keep playing (Larche et al 2016).
It’s not surprising when the game looks like holding a mini slot (pokie) machine in your hand.
References:
Gough, C. 2019, ‘Most popular Facebook games as of May 2019, based on number of
daily active users’, Statista, August 2019, <https://www.statista.com/statistics/267003/most-popular-social-games-on-facebook-based-on-daily-active-users/>.
Griffits, D. 2013, ‘An Overview of Online Gaming Addiction’ in Multiplayer :
The Social Aspects of Digital Gaming, Routledge, London. Available from:
ProQuest Ebook Central, viewed 20 September 2019.
Larche, C.J., Musielak, N. & Dixon, M.J, 2017, ‘The Candy Crush Sweet
Tooth: How ‘Near-misses’ in Candy Crush Increase Frustration, and the Urge to
Continue Gameplay’, Journal of Gambling Studies, June 2017, Vol 33, Issue 2,
pp. 599-615, < https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-016-9633-7>.
Quandt, T, & Kröger, S 2013, Multiplayer : The Social Aspects of Digital
Gaming, Routledge, London. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central, viewed 20
September 2019.
Social Gaming, 2019, CollinsDictionary.com, <https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/social-gaming>.
Images:
Candy Crush Device [Image], 2015, in Pixabay, Pexels, <https://pixabay.com/photos/candy-crush-device-electronics-game-1869655/>.
Mom said to go outside Meme [Image], in MEME, <https://me.me/i/mom-said-go-play-outside-ok-mom-98b400f8aad84a169ee57aa8be44311e>.
Morpheus Meme [Image], d?, in Quickmeme, <http://www.quickmeme.com/p/3vvh8w>.
Slot Machines [Image] 2014, in Pixabay, <https://pixabay.com/photos/casino-game-of-chance-slot-machines-3260372/>.
Video game controller [Image], 2017, in Pixabay, Javier, R. <https://pixabay.com/vectors/video-game-videogames-control-gamer-2154473/>.
Rebecca Fairley 