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WhitepaperLoading... The Journal of the Canadian Game Studies Association23 Jun 2018

Always On: Understanding the Intrinsic Motivations for Playing Games on Smartphones

Summary

Smartphone gaming functions as a pervasive, on-demand mechanism for psychological need satisfaction, driven by intrinsic motivations that transcend traditional gaming paradigms. By applying Self-Determination Theory alongside constructs such as flow and escapism, the research establishes that the primary drivers of mobile game enjoyment are competence, autonomy, relatedness, flow, and the ability to escape daily stressors. These factors collectively explain why smartphone gaming has become a ubiquitous activity, serving as a vital outlet for fulfilling psychological requirements that are frequently unmet in the user’s broader daily environment.

The analysis, based on a survey of 340 Australian smartphone users, reveals that not all traditionally cited gaming motivations translate to the mobile experience. Notably, competition and social arousal do not serve as significant predictors of enjoyment within this specific medium. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the relationship between these intrinsic motivations and overall enjoyment remains consistent across diverse user groups. Demographic variables, including age and gender, as well as individual levels of playfulness, do not moderate how these psychological drivers influence the gaming experience.

These findings necessitate a shift in how the industry conceptualizes mobile engagement. Because the smartphone is an always-on device, gaming has evolved into a pervasive pursuit that relies on immediate, accessible gratification rather than the competitive or social structures common in console or PC gaming. By grounding these insights in established psychological frameworks, the research provides a robust foundation for understanding mobile gaming as a distinct, essential category of media consumption that prioritizes personal psychological fulfillment over external social or competitive benchmarks.

Always On: Understanding the Intrinsic Motivations for Playing Games on Smartphones

Always On: Understanding the Intrinsic Motivations for Playing Games on Smartphones

Key insights

Age, gender, and playfulness do not moderate intrinsic motivations' impact on enjoyment.

Mobile gaming's 'ever-present accessibility' allows instant psychological need satisfaction.

Mobile gaming has evolved into a mainstream entertainment medium for diverse demographics.

PENS scales are effective for measuring general smartphone gaming motivations.

Summary

Next steps

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