Hello,
I am always fascinated by motivation, at work, school, games and in life. I wanted to write about player motivation and understanding differences between intrinsic / extrinsic motivation, and its importance. I’d like to take HotS as an example.
Intrinsic / extrinsic motivation is a theory in psychology put forth by Edward Deci & Richard Ryan in the '70s and '80s. It’s often used in education and management, but also important to understand when you create a product for other users (like gamers). I’m sure this isn’t new to many people.
In short, intrinsic motivation means doing something for the sake of doing it - because the thing in itself is enjoyable. For example one might enjoy doing sports, because it is simply fun to do.
Extrinsic motivation is the kind of motivation where one does something to attain a certain goal. This can be money, feeling appreciated, or that exciting lootbox!
But here’s the crucial part: adding extrinsic goals reduces one’s intrinsic motivation. Adding a reward (or threat of punishment) makes an activity less enjoyable. It is important to understand that this can be a source of frustration and can be counterproductive if you are trying to make an enjoyable game.
A short example: I like to play HotS because it’s a fun game - it is enjoyable. However, there’s a system that says if I do X or Y, I can get in-game money (gold). All of a sudden my focus is on reaching this goal of getting 3 wins or whatever, and my enjoyment of the game drastically plummets. Maybe I’ll play for a lootbox, some gold or whatever. I stop playing for the sake of playing.
Adding extrinsic goals is a very efficient way to motivate players to keep playing. However, if player enjoyment is priority nr 1, adding these goals is counter productive.
Do you recognize any of this? Are there instances where you feel the same, or do you disagree in any way?
Some sources (I can’t post links, but look it up on Google Scholar):
Ryan, R. M. & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions and New Directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25, 54-67.
Deci, E. L. (1971). Effects of Externally Mediated Rewards on Intrinsic Motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 18(1), 105-115.
Self-determination theory on increasing intrinsic motivation (for those interested)
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68-78.