Ted Talk: 7 ways Video Games Reward the Brain

In Tom Chatfield's "7 ways Video Games Reward the Brain" he discusses how and why people play so many hours of video. Chatfield himself plays video games, and so does his wife. He is a sucker for getting on the back of a rare steed in a game, like World of Warcraft, covered from head to toe in armor. 

People play so many hours because it involves them in ways that could not be accomplished other wise, and they get rewarded for it. "Every time you do something, you get credit; you get credit for trying. You don't punish failure." People are not discouraged, they are only motivated to try again. When they succeed they are met with great satisfaction.It may not be a very noticeable thing but it all adds up. People want to get rewards for what they are doing, but getting an item of much higher value with small odds very is thrilling, "A known reward excites people, but what gets them really going is the uncertain reward." A certain level of uncertainty is what drives people, it is similar to gambling: the smaller the chance the higher the reward, of course it is much less risky. But that's the point, the less likely it is to get the ultimate reward it  is the better you feel when you finally get it. Chatfield points out that " the biggest neurological turn-on for people is other people." Given praise by our peers is the biggest reward, not only in gaming but everyday life. People are able to cooperate in ways that will allows them to things not possible when alone.

You can find the Ted Talk here:  7 ways Video Games Reward the Brain