How Players Interpret Success and Failure in Games

In video games, players frequently regard the outcomes of both their victories and defeats as having greater significance than just a mere number on the screen; instead they relate to the outcome very personally because each victory and defeat carries emotional significance for each player's own experience. For example, one player sees that he has won a match as a confidence booster while another player looks at the same win as inconsequential at best. Likewise, the same player could be inspired to continue play after experiencing a defeat and at the same time experience frustration and disappointment. Therefore, whether a player feels a sense of accomplishment or remorse will ultimately depend on how he reached his goal, what he was hoping to achieve, and the expectations he had before he started to play the game.

The personal implications of winning

Winning gives the player confirmation that she did something correctly and received validation for her efforts by winning. Winning shows the player that the time invested in her strategy was worthwhile, and also gives her instant feedback of her actions through the game's response to her strategy.

For competitive players, the success achieved through winning often reinforces their belief that they are on the right path to improving their skills, or moving up in the rankings or recognizing that practice has tangible benefits. While less serious players may only view winning as an enjoyable occurrence that enhances their time spent playing, in both instances it will boost their self-esteem and motivate them to continue playing.

When Winning Doesn’t Feel Like Winning

There are times when someone might win, but that win doesn’t feel like a meaningful accomplishment. In situations where winning is perceived as being too easy, where your opponents are all weak, or where the game has performance issues, the typical emotional feeling associated with winning will not be there. Because of this, players do not feel that their victory was fully earned; thus, they experience minimal emotional benefit from their win, and that emotional response to winning fades quickly.

Another avenue through which players may receive insight into how to see their success is through discussion with other players within the community. Through forum discussions, player anecdotes, or common experiences, players can gain insight on how they may view their successes differently than they originally thought. When players use the various social media platforms like Aboutslots to communicate with each other about their emotional highs, memorable experiences, and so on, even a so-called simple victory will feel like something bigger than just another "win". Instead, their shared experiences makes their victories feel like more than they truly are.

The Emotional Weight of Failure

Losers often feel differently depending on their particular situation. In some instances, losing is simply part of the game; the same matchup may not go your way on this occasion, but perhaps the next time will. If a player has high expectations for themselves and/or a win is critical to their overall success in a competitive environment (in which an error can have a much bigger impact), then being defeated can create a great deal of emotional pain.

Players search for ways to explain why they lost. They may blame themselves for poor decision-making and misfortune, teammates for their mistakes; they may even attribute some bad luck to something related to the game’s mechanics or systems. Whenever there is a justifiable reason for a loss; accepting it will always be easier; however, if the player believes the defeat was completely arbitrary or outside his or her control, frustration develops much more quickly, and the player feels much stronger.

The Role of Control

An individual is more accepting of both winning and losing when there is a perceived greater amount of control over the outcome of that action. When a player feels that their choices directly impacted their success or failure, they will feel as if they have earned their victory and will understand the cause of their defeat. Knowing that you have earned your victory and understand the cause of your defeat allows the player to improve and continue to play.

When the perception of control disappears due to chance, unclear mechanics, or any other reason, the player is no longer able to attach meaning to the result. The player may feel that nothing they do has any effect on the outcome of the game, leading to a significant decrease in their interest in playing. This is the reason for the importance of having fairness in rules and having easily understood rules, as it allows the players to understand why they received the result they received.

The Stories Players Build

Many times people will take their in-game experiences and create little narratives or stories for themselves. These experiences can either be a positive memory (as in winning after hard work) or, over time, it may turn into a comedic story regarding an experience where you were defeated by an opponent, etc. This adds another layer to your gaming experience beyond what you see as just simple "gaming" (i.e. playing against others) — it turns your gaming experiences into an emotionally-based social interaction between yourself and your community.

Whatever you experience during one match will eventually become part of your story for each match. Many players can tell you about a tough challenge they faced and how they overcame it, along with many unique things they accomplished while playing the game. All these memories contribute to how the game enhances your life story, rather than simply being an enjoyable few hours of playing video games.

Why Players Keep Moving Forward

Through each match, players continue returning due to what is made available to them during each match. The wins build confidence within players while the losses highlight areas of improvement and collectively form a cycle that continues to engage players and provide a real sense of progress.

Each match provides players with an opportunity to retry, correct mistakes, and pursue an improved outcome, without any end to the process — with new possibilities for every new attempt created. These elements (effort, feelings, and chance) together are what give value to the gaming experience and lead players to continue returning.