The science behind gaming: Three fascinating breakthroughs in 2024 video game research
And a quick review of the latest Pokemon game hitting mobile phones.
While we're starting to turn a corner, research on the impacts of gaming continues to get a bad rap.
For every story highlighting the hobby's benefits, there are two or more stirring up panic about its impact on social development or addictive tendencies. The coverage isn't exactly representative of what's actually happening in global academia.
Reading InGameScientist's excellent Substack, Just One More Turn, on exciting monthly developments in video game research has made me realise that this body of work is significantly more diverse than the black-and-white headlines suggest.
In that spirit, and with the year drawing to a close, I've teamed up with InGameScientist and asked them to pick the three most fascinating pieces of video game-related research they've surfaced this year.
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Borderlands Science: Gamers Solving Real-World Scientific Problems
In April 2020, a unique pattern-matching mini-game was added to Borderlands 3. Players could earn experience and rewards by taking a break from shooting through Pandora to play this seemingly simple game. Behind the scenes, however, it was using player inputs to match genomic sequences for various bacteria — a tedious task even computers struggle with.
While games aimed at turning gameplay into scientific results aren't new, this approach was particularly clever. By incorporating the mini-game into an existing game and creating an effective reward loop, players' gameplay in the mini-game directly impacted their character in the main game. Researchers at McGill University, working with Gearbox Software, published an article this year detailing their results. Over 135 million puzzles have been solved by players since the mini-game's launch, helping researchers further understand the microbiome.
Tetris as a Preventative Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Video games are already used to rehabilitate hand-eye coordination and modify behaviour. A recent study found that playing Tetris for just 20 minutes can prevent the formation of traumatic memories. Participants were shown a traumatic film, then asked to recall its details after a 30-minute break. One group played Tetris for 10 minutes during this rest period.
Initially, both groups had similar recall levels. However, when participants were polled weeks later, the Tetris group showed significantly reduced film recall. The unique aspect of this treatment is its one-off nature, with an immediate impact on negative memory recall — unlike many therapies that require ongoing treatment.
Simulating Global Health Industry Issues Through Gaming
Medication adherence for chronic conditions is a major global health challenge. In Australia, up to 50% of those with chronic health conditions don't take medication correctly — a statistic mirrored in other markets like the US.
Researchers at the University of Warwick devised a creative study to explore medication adherence behaviours. They developed a game that would warp and obscure itself — representing disease symptoms — which could only be cleared by entering specific codes, symbolising medication intake.
The results surprisingly matched earlier adherence studies. Frequent reminder notifications proved most effective in ensuring participants used the codes to clear the game. While numerous factors can affect medication adherence, the study provides an intriguing model of how clinical behaviours like taking medications can be simulated by game behaviour. It's also a clear demonstration that game playing can be used as a proxy to study other real-world behaviours.
What are your thoughts on scientific research surrounding video games? Have you encountered any other studies this year that have intrigued you? Let us know in the comments.
What I’m playing: Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokémon Go was a global phenomenon that had people roaming neighbourhoods searching for pocket monsters. As a junior PR consultant, I found myself briefing business journalists on the relevance of Pikachu and pals, spending hours explaining this crazy trend.
Fast forward a decade, and Pokémon has struck mobile gold again with Pokémon TCG Pocket. It's a decent addition to a franchise starved of new releases this year. The game is an ode to the Pokémon card game, rivalling Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic: The Gathering as a free entry point into card game mechanics.
Pokémon TCG Pocket is a low-touch experience centred on opening booster packs. You get one free pack every 12 hours, with options to earn or buy more. The pack-opening process is tactile — swiping across the screen to reveal cards, much like Fruit Ninja, with music and visual flair.
Battling unlocks after a few days, following a six-stage tutorial. The gameplay is intuitive and quick to pick up. Early on, the game lends you full decks, gradually allowing you to create your own as your collection grows.
Online play still suffers from Nintendo's frustrating friend code system. Finding friends remains difficult, with the same 16-character code system that has plagued their games for years.
The game is simple yet feature-rich. Each short 10-15 minute session reveals new systems without feeling like a never-ending tutorial. However, the hallmarks of mobile game monetisation are present. Spending options range up to $150 for enhanced experiences, targeting what games industry calls the 'whale' market.
There's an underlying concern about the game's target audience. Kids are the primary market for the Pokémon trading card game, and the monetisation model risks exploiting their lack of spending control. Thankfully, there are parental controls available.
Currently, the game is a one-way funnel with no tie-in to the physical card game. Unlike Magic: The Gathering's Arena, there's no cross-pollination between digital and physical play. However, this might change in future updates.
As far as free mobile games go, Pokémon TCG Pocket stands out. It runs smoothly — a marked improvement over Magic: The Gathering's crash-prone Arena. I'd gladly pay for a full version of this game, which says something about its quality.
Worth trying if you like: Card games, Pokemon, light-touch mobile games.
Available on: Android, iOS
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A nice roundup and collab from two of my favourite newsletters!