Exploring New Social Frontiers with Games | Poornima Seetharaman | TEDxMAHE Bengaluru

TL;DR

From personal gaming journey to game design career and insights into game mechanics and psychology, a reflection on the evolving world of gaming.

Transcript

hi everyone I am Kima and I'm here to take you through exploring new social Frontiers with GS and I know the title sounds very big and large but it's a very simple journey of how I came into gaming and what we continue to do here so let's get started so this started back in 2000 and this was when I got introduced to games uh I did dabble with a bit... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Early gaming experiences can unknowingly shape future careers in game design.
• 😀 Female gamers often face gender bias and harassment in the gaming community.
• 👾 Game designers leverage psychological elements to engage players and enhance gaming experiences.
• 👾 Emotional storytelling through game mechanics can create powerful connections with players.
• ❓ Inclusivity and diversity in the gaming industry are crucial for fostering a supportive community.
• 👾 Economy within gaming mirrors real-world economic principles and motivates player progression.
• 👾 Games like "Dragon cancer," "Gris," and "Journey" showcase the potential of games for emotional storytelling and unique player experiences.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Kima's introduction to gaming shape her career in game design?

Kima's childhood experiences with games like Age of Empires and Warcraft 3, coupled with creating campaigns and receiving feedback, unknowingly laid the foundation for her game design career.

Q: What challenges did Kima face as a female gamer in the gaming community?

Kima shares incidents of gender bias and online harassment, highlighting the hurdles women face in the male-dominated gaming industry, often leading to them concealing their gender while gaming.

Q: How do game designers incorporate psychological elements into game mechanics?

Game designers utilize feedback loops to trigger dopamine release, manipulate probability to engage players, and implement coyote time to enhance player experience and emotions within games.

Q: How do games like "Dragon cancer," "Gris," and "Journey" emotionally engage players through storytelling?

These games use immersive storytelling, visual/audio cues, and unique game mechanics to evoke deep emotional responses and create meaningful connections between players and the narratives.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Narrator Kima shares her journey into gaming, from childhood experiences with Mario and Tetris to discovering Age of Empires and Warcraft 3 in high school.

• She reflects on her early days of game design, facing challenges as a female gamer, and the evolving landscape of inclusivity in the gaming industry.

• Kima delves into game design concepts, discussing the reflection of life in games, economy within gaming, and emotional storytelling through game mechanics.