Can gaming make us happier?

游戏能使我们更快乐吗?

LSE IQ podcast

教育

2022-12-06

29 分钟
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Contributor(s): Dr Aaron Cheng, Michael Steranka, Joanna Ferreria | Gaming has become a normal part of many people's everyday lives, from mobile to console games it is easier than ever to be a gamer. But how do online games affect us?  This month, LSE iQ asks: Can gaming make us happier? We talk about online abuse in gaming and the toxic nature of some gamers and how a location-based game like Pokémon Go gently nudges players to go outside to play and interact with others.  Mike Wilkerson talks to: Dr Aaron Cheng, Assistant Professor in LSE’s Department of Management; Michael Steranka, Product Director at the creators of the game Pokémon Go Niantic; and Joanna Ferreria an online blogger and avid gamer.  Research blog: https://www.lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-news-from-LSE/2022/d-Apr-22/Location-based-mobile-games-like-Pok%C3%A9mon-Go-may-help-alleviate-depression
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  • Pokémon is a global franchise, founded in 1996, and it's become a huge part of popular and gaming culture ever since.

  • There have been films, a TV series, a trading card game, and over 20 different video games.

  • The Pokémon franchise includes the world's top-selling toy brand and even has its own theme park.

  • The main aim of players in the Pokémon universe is to find and capture as many Pokémon as possible.

  • This can be done by exploring different areas and trading with other players.

  • People fell in love with the idea of being able to collect their favourite Pokémon.

  • So, when Pokémon Go was created in 2016, there was no doubt that there was already a massive dedicated fanbase.

  • You might remember

  • that summer as the time hordes of people flooded local parks looking almost zombie-like in how they were fixated to their phones

  • while running around chasing invisible creatures.

  • This is what Pokémon Go did to people.

  • The location-based mobile game encouraged players to get up off their sofa and explore the real world around them by finding and catching their favourite Pokémon.

  • But there were questions about the release of yet another game in the franchise,

  • and Pokémon Go received some negative press.

  • Was this just going to be another addictive game?

  • With the location-based aspect put people in harm's way by encouraging them to concentrate on tracking down a virtual creature rather than paying attention to their surroundings?

  • Or could there be an upside?

  • Welcome to LSE IQ, the podcast where we ask social scientists and other experts to answer one intelligent question.

  • I'm Mike Wilkerson from the IQ team, where we work with academics to bring you the latest research and ideas.

  • Up until now, I've been mostly behind the scenes editing episodes,