User:CupofSandwich/sandbox

= Rewards in Games = Rewards in games are motivational set pieces purposely implemented within video games to encourage the player to keep on playing. There are different types of rewards in games that can be split up into three main sections, extrinsic and intrinsic properties, and social rewards.

Usually these terms are applied to a game as a whole, intrinsic rewards are rewards within the video game, new challenges, new levels, more story etc. And extrinsic rewards are rewards that exist outside the game itself, like playing money in Poker, or play DDR to lose weight.

Game developers can target their audience with either an extrinsic in intrinsic reward system, depending on what they perceive to be the games targeted audience. Players usually connect better with one of these two reward structures better than the other, and it is important to reward players with these structures in order to create an overall rewarding game experience.

Extrinsic Rewards
Extrinsic rewards are rewards that are given to players for completing tasks. Extrinsic rewards are based off tangible rewards the player can earn through in-game quests, objectives and tasks. These rewards have pre-requisites the player must achieve before obtaining the extrinsic reward.

The extrinsic motivation to the player is being stimulated from an outside source, the players desire to preform a certain task is being controlled by and external motivator. Knowing that the reward is coming from the outside, the outcome of completing the task is still rewarding to the player The most common and most debated external motivator is money, or some other form of in game currency. Below are other examples of extrinsic rewards: A game example of cosmetic reward is Team Fortress 2 playing a certain number of hours or earning a number of in game score will reward you with a hat, or other cosmetic reward. An example of promotion in games is Red Dead Redemption while connected online, you can earn experience point to level up you in game rank, by levelling up the player gains access to new weapons and mounts, not to mention being able to show off the users high ranked number. In game bonuses can be seen in the last two examples, but it does not take away to how important they can be to the player. In Overwatch every time a player levels up, they are rewarded with a loot box, which has a bunch of randomised items and goodies inside.
 * Cosmetic reward
 * Promotion
 * Bonuses

Intrinsic Rewards
Intrinsic rewards are intangible and hold no physical value. Instead, these rewards are found within the player themselves. This reward is related to player performance and successfully completing a task produced the intrinsic value, the higher the success rate the higher the reward will be. However different people will have a different perception towards what it worth aiming toward, there are many types of intrinsic rewards, such as: Completing any difficult task, takes plenty of time to practise and patients to achieve, one the user has overcome their chosen challenge, the intrinsic reward is achieved. Some players will often find themselves in a situation where they can show off what they can do in a game, sometimes in co-op or having a friend watch while sitting on a sofa. Once your done completing a task for or in front of someone you admire, to hear a simple “Good job” is all one can ask for. Some players will put in hours of practice to become an expert at a particular game, mostly this kind of person can be compared to the community of any kind of esport. The user will have dedicated time to becoming the best and showing their skills to others in the hopes to become recognised and gain a credible reputation. A sense of pride for a player can be felt from completing a notoriously difficult game. Two examples would Ghouls n Ghosts and Dark Souls, reputation of these games are wide spread, and for anybody within the same community circle as the user, proclaiming they had completed said games, would fill the player with intrinsic pride.
 * Sense of achievement
 * Praise from peers
 * Recognition
 * Pride

Social rewards
Social rewards are more of a side effect of the two prior rewards types covered, however having a social goal towards meeting new people or strengthening bonds with old friends, can be the ultimate desire of the player. It is possible for the user to take part in every reward type without interacting with anybody personally, which is why social rewards are in a typing of its own.

Social rewards cannot be separated into different sub categories, as each goal of prior mentioned rewards each have their own flavours of what kind of social interaction one could have, to separate each individual experience into sub category would be a near impossible task, spanning a nearly endless list of outcomes.

Mesolimbic Pathway
All theoretical sources stem from a biologic process, none of these reward types can work without the mesolimbic pathway. it is sometimes referred to as the reward pathway, is a dopaminergic pathway in the brain. When certain tasks are completed, dopamine is released from the brain and into the body. Most reward system increase the levels of dopamine and can become addictive, which is why some players are continuously playing games in the search for the next high.

The dysregulation of the mesolimbic pathway and its output neurons in the nucleus accumbens plays a significant role in the development and maintenance of an addiction.