Learning Game Design with Arcade Berg

Curiosity

Today I read a really great post about Curiosity over at "Johnny Holland Magazine". To quote the site:

Johnny is an open collective talking, sharing and finding answers about the interaction between people and products, systems or processes.

-Johnny Holland Magazine

The text was about curiosity and interaction and can be found here:
http://johnnyholland.org/2009/08/24/curiosity-and-interaction-design/ (7/9/2009)

It has absolutely nothing to do with gaming or game design per se, but it's still a great read for any designer, because it's really easy to directly translate most of the content into game design.

In it, you'll find explicit tips on how you can tease the customer (for us; player) to wanting to know more. Exploration games, anyone?

Apparently this behavioral economist; Geroge Loewenstein has a "Information-Gap Theory" which states that “curiosity happens when we feel a gap in our knowledge.”

The article goes on and on with great insights and things that makes my mind sparkle with excitement!

The feeling we get from these information gaps is best described as deprivation, which is critical to understanding why it is we are motivated by curiosity. In order to “eliminate the feeling of deprivation,” we seek out the missing information. This is of course ironic, considering that we routinely seek out puzzles, mystery novels and other curious situations that create this sense of deprivation. However, it’s important to note that many researchers once viewed curiosity as something aversive; a decision-theoretic view suggests we should only want to know something if it helps us make more informed decisions. Why would be attracted to something that offers no extrinsic benefit? Many other debates have surrounded curiosity: Is curiosity internally or externally stimulated? Is curiosity a primary drive, like hunger or fear? Is curiosity a state or trait? And this one: “If people like positive levels of curiosity, why do they attempt to resolve the curiosity?”

After reading it, even if it's not a master piece in anyway, I suddenly realize how I somehow never really given the simple (well, extremly complex!) concept of curiosity enough thought regarding game design! What an incredibly powerful tool it is.

I think I knew this already, but I needed a whack on the head to realise it. It's really time for me to read up on curiosity, as after reading this I have a gap of information about it... It makes me curious.

I'm hooked.