Success price: why do we rarely throw complex games

I think many are familiar with the condition when you start to do something, at first very interesting and fun, and then bam! -And something breaks up. You tried, worked, prepared, and as a result you returned to the very beginning – it did not work out.

In real life, this happens quite often: faced with difficulties, people throw a barely started business. «Not mine».

Of course, not everyone does this. But, I think, almost everyone has such a friend, or even two, and five … I can say this about myself, although now I try to fight this with this.

I abandoned a lot of things: book blogging, the creation of a table, hundreds of deferred plots, my stories … But, it’s funny, at the same time I went through all the parts of Dark Souls. That is, in my life, I constantly stop doing something without completing. But this does not apply to games! And even if I get away from the game, but I will return after a while and go to the end, closing Gestalt.

Sometimes the difficulty in the game is not just «enemies have become stronger, but you are weaker». Sometimes this is really a new experience. For example, the first The Evil Within, in which new enemies appear with each new complexity and increases not only their number, but also quality. I enjoy it. I am always very interested in how the game is changing, what restrictions are imposed, what will change in battles. It happens that “complexity” is a test and test for strength, but sometimes it is also excitement. I still want to prevail, such as, for example, in Dark Souls . “Dilute, pester the souls and finally show who is the main thing here with that pathos guard who infuriates me with one presence and always kills me. It happens that at first I pass the game on ordinary difficulty, study it, and then I increase the bets to the “nightmare” complexity. By the way, you will laugh, but in the games I gained the skill of secrecy and understanding how exactly human attention works in specific situations

Dani, 21 years old

In the last material, I analyzed what “interest” is, how it arises and how it affects the games that we like. Thanks to him – and the truth – you can find many interesting classes – not only games. But interest may not be enough to continue the chosen business. Fatigue, fear of mistakes, failures, defeat, learned helplessness-a lot of things from this list can close interest and quietly extinguish it.

But again-it does not always work with games. Otherwise, there would not be metroids, cuckolds and saleslaiks, where everything is tied to the fact that you are constantly dying to go ahead one day. And many other games, in fact. You can say even more: some play in order to challenge them!

For example, I have friends who are taking games only on a nightmare. There is a friend who passed the second part of the «dark souls» naked on fists. (I still think he is a suicide).

So why are we ready to quit undertaking in the real world, but quite often we continue to play complex games? Thanks to what mechanism it works, and on what fuel? Let’s talk about this in my new big material.

What inspires us to achieve goals?

We will not pull the cat for a cat’s tail. This is all a matter of motivation. Yes, only it happens different.

In life, a person may not have enough understanding that the problem is solved. Against this background, the game, to some extent, even wins. But the question here is not even that a person does not understand that the barrier in front of him is overcome. And in the very fact of «uncertainty that it can turn out». With such an installation, a person does not want to take up the solution of problems that such thoughts cause. For example, a person has a desire to receive a diploma. This is their task, the goal to which you need to go. But after desire, the thought comes: “I definitely can’t cope, I will not have education, I won’t get to work, go a janitor, go huddle and die in the garage”. This is a “castrophization” – the belief that the goal will not only not be justified, but can also lead to terrible consequences. In games, nevertheless, much more often there is a feeling that you can handle it

Ulyana Usova, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist (TG @YLANAGEL)

In general, motivation is one of the relevant topics of psychology over the years. Or rather – the study of the motives of people’s behavior. How and why we do one or another thing. For example, in scientific articles quite often raises the issue of educational motivation of schoolchildren and students.

In the work of Tatyana Stepanova “Study of the motivation of success and motivation for fear of failure in the structure of educational motivation of university students” says: “Effective interaction with students is impossible without taking into account the features of its motivation”. What does it mean, how it is generally related to games?! Anya, you already went with your head, and?

Th-sh-sh-sh, let me agree. Soon we will return to the games again. But we must delve a little into the scientific theory, so that our conversation with you becomes more subject.

So. The bottom line is that there can be different reasons for motivation: to become better in any area, fear of financial losses, the threat of life, the desire to receive approval, respect for other people and much more. Soviet psychologist Boris Dodonov in the book “Emotion as a value” distinguishes four important components of motivation:

(I think you understand that he wrote is not entirely true, but I convey the essence. I hope you forgive me a little liberty in the wording)

Also, types of motivation can be combined into “circles” of internal and external motives. Benefit, punishment, expectation of good karma is all – external motivation. There is still internal: «Orientation to the process of any activity».

Confidence increases the likelihood that the game will be completed to the end. Even if a person does not yet know exactly how he will do it. Such a feeling can appear for various reasons. For example, if similar games have already been completed. Well, or if my favorite streamer managed to do it. There are almost always feelings in games that if you make an effort, then everything will work out. In life, no one will give any guarantees

Ulyana Usova, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist

That is, once again. To like the game we like – we need interest. So that he should change something, it was touched on in the last material. But in difficult places and games, we are ready to repeat the same time after time in the hope of improving the result. (And I told you what madness is?). In fact, we often change in them, which is why a sense of satisfaction arises at the end. But for the brain it would be few, because there is always a crown “oh, well, this game to hell!». Damn, by the way, crossed himself from the complexity of some projects.

But the motivation, the desire for victories, status, power, if I may say, work in parallel with interest, often replenishing it, like an eternal engine.

Climbing to the top: step by step

Games are more favorable to errors. Even if they are committed, there will always be an opportunity to try again. Game mistakes do not affect real life, and therefore do not seem so terrible. If a person, for example, will not protect the diploma in life, then this may affect his future. In the game, he will be able to rely, quit, use different technical capabilities – and all this will not affect anything. In addition to spending money on the game and the time spent on it

Ulyana Usova, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist

According to the theory of Rafail Shakurov, the Soviet and Russian psychologist, the motive is seen as a person’s movement to attractive value, which is internal motivation.

From a psychological point of view, an object representing value to a person contains two elements:

Motive is always an aspiration that goes into actions. You want something valuable-you go after that. But several conditions must be met:

It may seem that in the game a person is getting better. But, for the most part, even after the most severe victories in the game space, self -esteem in life does not change in any way. Our human brain is very specific in essence. He has certain reactions and incentives that he remembers. If we watched the video, and it became good, then on the subcortex it will be written: “To get good sensations”. The idea may appear in the games: “How cool I pass everything here,” but this will only increase the likelihood that a person will continue to look for similar games, to win the same there, but not to think about himself in other situations. Of course, in this case, there is always a chance that in the virtual space of pleasures there will be more than in life. And then achievements there will be valued more than in reality

Ulyana Usova, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist

According to the article “Development of volitional qualities among athletes at the initial stage of sports training” by Rubakhina E. E, the «overcoming» of barriers is simply necessary at the beginning of any sports lesson.

Ideally, the coach should carry out each training session so that the student receives a specific skill, studies one specific technique or exercise so that each time there is an understanding that you have already achieved something: “Too easy task is ineffective to maintain determination and education of perseverance. However, an excessively difficult task can cause a feeling of disappointment, the loss of faith in its forces. The optimal difficulty spurges students to greater mobilization of opportunities, gives a challenge to pride and stimulates students’ activity to overcome difficulties ”

Simply speaking, everything that does not kill us … either makes us stronger, or spreads us on asphalt. The main thing is to adhere to the balance.

Sports and games are really similar. No wonder there is such a thing as «e -sports». In order for a professional player in a network game, it takes many hours to train, show perseverance, willpower inherent in athletes. Sports should be engaged even when you are tired, or even if you defeated fatigue. Otherwise – do not hone skills. This is all about determination, overcoming yourself, which cannot be dispensed with not only an athlete, but also an e -sportsman

Ulyana Usova, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist

It’s funny, but speaking of the motivation of young athletes, the author of this article also mentions that it is important to «enjoy training». Despite the difficulty, pain, tears – we must continue to engage. In this regard, “elements of creativity” can help in order to perceive failures and defeats, and rivalry, and a certain feeling of himself “pioneer”.

Nothing reminds?

The difficulty in games awakens the excitement in me and the desire to prove to myself that it is on the shoulder. And, the more time I spend on an attempt to go through one or another place, the more I feel the fuse. It seems to me that sports and games are related. But the emphasis on the constant improvement of skills and getting a better result is for me their main similarity

Mikhail, 22 years old.

Slowly, through theory and definitions, we are again revived in the world of game complexity, like a character in front of a bonfire. There is a huge boss in front of us, and something alluring and attractive shines behind him … Each of its action is a separate task-study, find out, release your skills. Each time it seems more and more overcoming. Or a huge camp in the center of which our victim sits. But every blow can kill us, without regret and the ability to escape. And you have to study the routes of people, crawl on their knees under the floors and sewage, only to understand at the end: I did it! The alarm did not work!

Visual overcoming barriers and a certain goal of the game – yes, at first – it seems very difficult. But halfway – it becomes not so scary.

In life, you can achieve a goal only if it is long, tedious and boring to improve in your business. This is usually a far -reaching goal, such as, for example: «finish universities». To achieve this, you need to learn about five years, succeed in all exams, and there is no guarantee that everything will work out at the end. Games in this regard easily win. They usually have a certain time for which they pass, specific goals, objectives and achievements. In games, often a huge final goal is divided into many small tasks. This is a good way to motivate in life. An important fact – all these actions should have a global goal. Both in life and in the game. Because if there is no understanding why you collect ten flowers, then you may not return to the game

Ulyana Usova, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist

Well, besides, in almost all games, the achievement will come out for this. “Secretity itself”, “Divine killer”, “invincible blade”, “crazy bullet” … Yes, I take the names from my head, but I am sure that somewhere there are just such Achivka! After all, the meaning is not in specific examples – you yourself can bring them by simply looking at your page on Steam or PSN if you use them.

The question is the very essence – victories and small achievements are often recorded on the results achieved, staining them even more.

I sometimes like to spend time for any game of increased complexity (most likely because it is not interesting at a slight level), but I have no desire to go through it to the end at all costs. I am not a gambling person, but if the risk is justified, then you can try. Basically, I play such games with friends, so the main motivation acts: the fun that you can get by hearing a friend’s reaction to some failure, and the joy of the fact that we managed to go through something difficult. Of course, the games to me, to some extent, helped to become more confident and braver than before. They also helped me develop “reasonable perseverance”-discipline in terms of committing any business

Misha, 22 years old

Game and Life: The issue of self -esteem and achievements

According to the study by David McClelland, an American psychologist, the author of the theory of needs, it was noticed that if during the tests people felt better than their neighbors – their need for achievements increased in proportion to their faith in themselves.

Here we also find ourselves near the issue of self -esteem. Who more often pass complex games: confident or insecure people? Who often plays out to the end?

If the complexity in the game increases the fascination of the gameplay, then I am interested in such a “hard-fashion”. If, instead of the need to search for tactics in a battle or the right actions in puzzles/platform sections, developers focus on numbers (the enemy’s more health and strength, without change in behavior), then I do not see the meaning of playing an increased complexity. I do not consider myself a gambling person. If the game does not reward the player for choosing difficulty, then playing on Hard – not

Schepych, more than 100 games

It is difficult to say for sure that this person will pass, he will give up. Much depends on his skills, life scenarios and unclosed needs. By the way, this is found in sports. Not everyone will engage in them professionally and go to world competitions. But those who do this do it for various reasons. Also with games.

Much depends on the player himself. Motivation of rewards will only work for those who, from their game experience, will generally reach the first achievement. Less in -depth people may simply not live to victories and disappointedly quit the game

Ulyana Usova, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist

Yes, not everyone plays at a nightmare level of complexity or disappear in the Soulslaiks. But certain people need achievements, like some athletes. If they begin to play-only because of the difficulties themselves-they are unlikely to be abandoned.

Excitement, adrenaline, belief in oneself, achievement-one follows from the other and becomes fuel for a person, motivation and returning a constantly leaving, coming interest.

I do not pass complex games. And if I do not succeed, I can easily abandon the session I started. It seems to me that the games should give pleasure and a feeling of saturation of leisure, and not force to suffer and die, standing in one place. I am not a gambling person at all and I do not like this emotion

Sergey, 19 years old

And at the end at the bottom of your screen will appear the icon: “You are beautiful, did what not everyone can!»

No, well, cool!

And if with such a “sports” motivation in the game there is a beautiful visual, an enchanting music, an interesting prescribed plot or an entertaining ENT, then it is very difficult to refuse to jump over such a barrier. We all become an Alice, who stands in front of a small door to a magic country … But in order to enter there, we need to uncorn the lid on a strange and incomprehensible slope that asks himself to drink.

And here we are already – heroes. We ourselves decide how and what to do, in what form and sequence. And we are also praised for this (!).

I like complex games. And, including passing, there are a «nightmare» on the complexity. I cannot call myself a gambling person, but sometimes I want to feel the difficulty for the victory to seem more significant and nicer. Simple games can sometimes get bored. It seems to me that with games my reaction speed has become higher than before

Seva, 19 years old

But, except for praise, I talked about something else, is it not so? Who is the most attentive?

I talked about the fact that during overcoming these barriers not only an external assessment is important. But also the feeling that you have achieved something.

Development and complexity

For example, when the ballerina for the first time sits on the twine, the Seedgist stretches a record number of “pancakes”, the runner runs the same distance faster and faster – they all see the result of their efforts. And at the same time they change.

In my understanding, it all looks like computer games. Only efforts begin to apply … in the player’s head.

We think about tactics, memorize routes and movements, honing the skills until, finally, we achieve it-the result.

I love games where the atmosphere and complexity repel you and tell with all your appearance “dude, you have nothing to do here, go play children’s entertainments”. My favorite games from this category are Resident Evil 7 and 8, Manhunt, Outlast, Dead Space 1, 2, Remake. I am motivated by the opportunity to step over myself and plunge into an unusual atmosphere for me. It seems to me that sports and games have the main similarity is the interest of being the first among the rest. Thanks to them, I became more attentive. I also began to notice atmospheric sounds (embedents) that play against the background. You rarely find games where there is no music against the background. She sometimes and does not seem to be music, but more with noise (Manhunt, hello), but sets the right mood. How it helped me? I began to experiment with my music. It turned out to be very interesting, trying to set your mood in the track, make it crypt, for example

A.To.a cyrca4, 24 years old

Tell us in the comments how close to you what I talked about today? How much they agree or disagree with me? I am always open to new knowledge and interesting conversations. I hope you too!

And most importantly

Do not stop winning! ^^

The best comments

As a rule, if the game is complicated, then it is in the furnace. I do not have much free time to spend it on the “business” of a skill to play a certain game (when I could play at 20). The only exception if this is a kind of work of art or the game really liked for some reason.

By the way, yes. It would be necessary to touch on dishonest games, where the problem is not in complexity, but in the mechanics and so on. But I didn’t think about it. Although there are lovers for such games: D

Thank you for having and left a comment! ❤️

Just few people played in both mora.

Yes, mistaken is normal. But you can not always get to yourself. I am ready to forgive other people’s mistakes, but not my own. Which is being worked out with a psychologist. And in Inra, it is never terrible to be mistaken XD

I have not reached the level of pumping myself in life, it is very cool! More precisely, I do something, but this does not bring so much pleasure yet xD

Thank you very much for reading and left a comment! ❤️

Surprisingly, no one talks about mor 2. This was really the most difficult game in my life. Although I played differently

Well, somehow, after reading the article and the opinion of that psychologist, it seems that all players play games precisely with the aim of winning and proved. After all, this is not so, and in the previous article the author mentioned various interests in the games among gamers.

I’m going to live in games, so to speak, running away from the difficulties of ordinary life, at least a couple of hours after work before going to bed. I go there to save the princesses, win dragons, expel evil and all that. The process of game, gameplay and the study of the world are important to me, and not the ultimate goal and credits. While the game captivates with its gameplay, it is interesting to me. As soon as I get stuck on some difficult moment and I can’t overcome it, even after a dozen attempts, then, I have several hundred other worlds in Skim’s games, where you can save, win and save dragons, princesses and worlds, respectively. If the game does not rush, then figs with it. I did everything I could go to a new adventure.

I was always surprised that some players are worried about their place in the leaders tables, trying to be the first to achieve some crazy goals (such as pumping the hero to the maximum level at the starting location), and generally pursue exclusively the goal of dominating others.

This is strange, because who doesn’t care what is the nickname from Korean hieroglyphs in the first place? I doubt that the same sportingly oriented players directly rejoice for other players that they managed to beat some kind of record or fulfill a difficult goal in the game. It is most likely indifferent to them. It is important for them to take the place of this leader. It’s true. And in the end, they will also give a damn about their achievement, except for themselves. And to prove something there for yourself, this is an even more strange thing. If you can, then you can, you can’t – and you don’t need, there are other interesting classes. For the sake of meaningless trials, I see no reason at all.

And here literally at the same time this article and the video of Wes come out.

Thanks for the blog!

For 15 minutes now I think how to write an answer to a question from the title ..

On the one hand, I agree with you, and from all of the above, it can really be assumed that complex games are abandoned less often.

On the other hand, I will give examples from my «game» life.

Unfortunately, I did not play Dark Souls, this is not my genre, but I will make a reference to GTA: Vice City. On the conscience of the mission with a helicopter, a bunch of ruined keyboards 🙂 When I ran into this, it was not an occasion to quit the game, because the GTA series is not about the difficulty, but about “Just for Fun”.

But in the FIFA series, the difficulty is the basis of the game, otherwise it does not make sense to play at all. But you can throw it because after some time it becomes dull, even online.

I remember that the first passage of Alan Wake threw it, because it was difficult for me and I only reached the moment where I was clamped on some kind of wooden platform
And then in waves I attacked evil spirits, and I was extremely crooked))

Super Meat Boy tried 3 levels and realized that my whole gamepad could still be useful to me.

Fahrenheit I threw during the mission with the runaway from beetles in the office, because the curvature of the hands and a little unrealistic control on the PC could lead to a nervous breakdown.

I want to say that the difficulty is not the main reason why I quit playing, but not the main one, why I started or continued.

Also true. Of course, as it was just a little mentioned – there are other reasons to play or not play, and this is fine! And yes, some games are polished to break you with management or just boredom. Difficult, but not the challenge from whom you are waiting for victory: D

But in general, the text is about those who play and constantly return for new pain. Because, as was said, the question of the type, interest and self -esteem. And just a corny desire. Some have excitement and challenge, while others have this is not the main thing. I tried to convey all this in the text, including different opinions of people

And many thanks for what read and appreciated! ❤️❤️

Super Meat Boy “treated” the game depression, which began just after he returned from the army. At that time, he was straight on Hype, since then it spun:>

But here, of course, it is important to note that there are complex games, but there are dishonest or those that are mocking you right over you (IWBTG, CATMARIO or what’s it there), I don’t want to touch them exactly.

Before, when I was younger, I also overcame and tried in difficult games. All Dark Souls, Sekiro, Surzh, Super Mit battle, Gostraner. There was an interest to go through them as an experiment on oneself: I can or not? But pass the second time already hell will you make yourself. And why? What I haven’t seen there? Now that I have become older, the motivation has changed. Why spend a few hours on the game if you can spend them on something that will bring real benefit? Study of In. language (will help in communicating with new friends), the development of your body (helps to give Lulei gopniks), study the computer. programs (help to earn more). No, I didn’t quit playing at all, I just play when there was nothing to do at all or is extremely tired of other classes

And about the fear of mistakes. To make mistakes is normal! Any experience is useful – both positive and negative. And all sorts of Seolslaiks teach us this. I was mistaken? It’s okay, try to change something in your tactics or equipment or pumping. And you will succeed! In life, everything also happens

It is important that it is interesting to develop in the game (which is already written). I can recall MGR: Revengeance, which I went to S Rank on the complexity of Revengeance (maximum). It was really to pass, and memorizing the patterns of the bosses was exciting, although it was difficult. It is not surprising that I got a ton of pleasure from this.
I didn’t have this in other games. No matter how I love the Hi-Fi Rush, I didn’t succeed in relying it in high difficulty, I just didn’t catch it somehow, although I went through it at the very light and got a ton of pleasure

Oooh, I’m just going to go through it. On average, it already gives not the easiest experience: D

This is very cool!

By the way, I went into her after Sekiro, because I wanted some yard of XD

So I went and bought a disc 360 box

Complex games are not like I love, but I often play, I’m always afraid that I will strangle and won’t take it out until I always get it out.

Yes, I painted a little that not everyone goes to professional sport or strives for medals. But some are really very important. For example, I love the dials in all games. More precisely, LULB receive them, as well as achievements. Иногда из принципа добывала доятижения, которые есть у 0,5 игроков xd

Yes, there are people who do not play for achievements and so on. Well, or do not fall into the line of the buzz from the achievements, again. I had an opinion of 2 psychologist, with a slightly different vision of vision, but she did not want to become an expert. There she also touched on the theme. I no longer began her words on my own behalf, because I left it a couple of sentences + opinions of people who also show the difference between all of us

In fact, the thesis is this: who plays for achievements, victories, knows which game begins, specially increases the level of complexity and so on (enjoys this) – rarely abandon complex games

And which is the video, I missed? And I prepared the article for 3 weeks when I finished past material .

Only now the article says not only about Souls. I’m very sorry that you went through the article superficially. Journalist material, all articles have been studied before writing. In addition, at least 3 psychologists and 30 players have been interviewed. If you need where to pour your grunts and resentment for something in life, then I will really ask you to bypass my blogs so as not to spoil the mood of people. Thank you

And the UES year .
There is vidos about the most hardcore Achivka, a man sold his soul to MGS4)