Title

Understanding the Contribution of Narrative-Focused Video Games on Players’ Experience of Empathy

Creator

Kouklaki, Milena Olga

Abstract

The effects of video games on players’ psychological experience have been the preferred research focus in the field for the past two decades. Recently, researchers have shifted their attention from the effects of adversity to the embrace of empathy. Narrative-focused video games, specifically, allow players to form an empathetic relationship with the characters of a game. The aim of the present thesis is to provide a comprehensive and unique synthesis of the effects of principal narrative elements on video game players’ experience of empathy. The thesis concludes that perspective-taking, the implementation of narrative techniques, and player immersion are the key factors through which empathy is experienced. Although ludic gameplay is negatively correlated to empathy, it is nevertheless a necessary dimension of video games which, in combination with narrative methods, can be potentially utilized to elicit an empathetic response from players.

Keywords

video games

empathy

narrative

Subject

information technology

Date Available

June 10, 2024

Type

Oral Presentation

Course

HEL 2602 Honors Thesis II

Instructor

Ganetsou, Evanthia G.

Session

Oral Presentations

Location

Art Center Auditorium

Event

Year 2024 | 8th Annual Student Research and Creative Arts Symposium