Getting Gamers: The Psychology of Video Games and Their Impact on the People who Play Them

If you're not familiar with psychological motivations in games and are interested in the topic this is an easy book to recommend. It is a great overview of where games overlap psychology. Tons of examples of specific psychological knowledge with specific examples of how they apply to games. I've encountered a lot of these from different behavioral psychology books and my games experience and still found examples that increased my knowledge.There are a few points that keep it from 5 stars in my mind. The author leaves a lot of loose threads where he has made connections in his mind but not explain them fully in the book. For example he talks about the Dunning-Kruger effect in tutorials and specific games, but leaves you hanging as to whether the specific games have addressed it or what the benefit would be to telling players they suck at a game earlier. I think that points to a larger organizational problem with the book. The sections seem forced and not fleshed out based on the larger topics. It feels like the book is covering a checklist of topics and a page count.

Getting Gamers is a totally engrossing survey of both the unique ways video games help us understand human psychology and the psychology of gamers themselves.Jamie Madigan has created something special with Getting Gamers. While I generally hesitate to credit books with legitimizing videogames--as I think we're past needing to legitimize a medium that's so ubiquitous--Getting Gamers does do so but in a unique way. In some chapters, especially those discussing MMOs, Madigan explores how virtual spaces (ie, videogames) can be used as testing environments for psychology theories. Sure, we can articulate a test of the Proteus Effect in real life, but it's so much easier and more controllable to do so in a virtual space.Getting Gamers is essential reading for psychology nerds and for scared parents who need to see how important videogames really are.I recommend either downloading a sample from the Kindle store or watching these two videos that overview a couple of the topics from the book.Search Google for “Why Do Videogame Fanboys/girls Want to Fight You?” and “Why Are Some Online Gamers So Mean?

Getting Gamers is an excellent psychological study of gamers and the industry.This book is a must for game designers, and even more so for executives at game development companies. As Dr. Madigan points out, a better understanding of gamers and the craft of gaming as an exercise in psychology will make the industry better, more entertaining for more people, and likely more profitable. The book also speaks to the psychology student and those interested in what makes pop culture thrive in general. This would be an outstanding addition to psychological courses on human interaction and several other areas. The students are likely to find it far more engaging than some other texts, primarily because so many of them are gamers of one type or another. Even in business, and I work in a financial services business, should find some elements of this book helpful as we frequently discuss the concepts of gamification of processes to engage clients.I am not an active video gamer, even the phrase casual gamer might be gracious. Over the years I have played my share of games and certainly some were more immersive for me than others. Dr. Madigan has done an admirable job of pointing out why some games appeal to me, and why others may not. I have been an active tabletop gamer and the psychological principles outlined here work across most game play hobbies I have experience with. The same is true of fandom in the science fiction and fantasy realm.I highly recommend this book if you have any connections to the gaming world, psychology of human interactions, behavioral economics, or fandom of any type.

Excellent book that does a fantastic job of investigating the psychology behind gameplay, game design, and sales tactics. I highly recommend this book for anyone generally interested in psychology, those wanting to avoid sales tactics, anyone wanting to exploit those tactics, or make their games/apps/medium more engaging. The case studies & tactics described in this book apply to games, as well as products & people in general. Many studies dissected & applied within the book will be recognizable to those who have studied/learned about them in different contexts.Besides being insightful, Jamie Madigan, the author has an entertaining, down-to-earth voice that will easily carry you through the concepts. He references & pokes fun at video games non-stop, so any gamer like myself, will be highly amused throughout the read and super excited about every recognizable reference that you have also had the pleasure of playing - like an elaborate inside joke that you are completely in on.

A useful read for anyone interested in the psychology behind game playing and game design. It's written in an accessible and occasionally funny style which keeps it interesting, as some of the books on this subject can be a bit on the dry side. There are also helpful recaps at the end of each chapter which summarise the 'takeaways'. The best use for this book is as an intro to deeper reading on the subject, and the scientific studies or papers discussed are all referenced which give you a good link to researching areas you're interested in in more depth.

Easy to read and understand, with a light hearted style and plenty of research behind it, Getting Gamers is a wonderful introduction to how psychology and video games interact.

Brilliant "Geek read" for on the train or alike. highly recommend.

Compré el libro porque me gusta mucho su podcast, psychology of games, y no decepcionó.

Livro muito bom, atendeu plenamente as minhas expectativas!Proposta inovadora e conteúdo muito bem selecionado, com certeza recomendo a compra!