Date of Award
2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Noble, Christopher
Area of Concentration
Humanities
Abstract
This thesis investigates how video games produce emotions in their players by virtue of their complex structure of design and mechanics. I apply Spinoza’s mechanical account of emotions or “affects,” to identify the relationship between the game’s elements and the human player. In order to understand why a game makes one would feel a certain way, one must reflect to examine the causes within the game, utilizing their emotional responses as a guide for thoughtful engagement. Three different types of video games are presented as case studies to analyze the nature of these games, along with providing my experience of playing them to describe how my emotions came forth.
Recommended Citation
Kim, Cindy, "PLAYING WITH OUR EMOTIONS: HOW VIDEO GAMES AFFECT PLAYERS" (2021). Theses & ETDs. 6082.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6082