The Struggle is Spiel: On Failure and Success in Games

• DOI: 10.1145/3472538.3472565
• Publication Date: 2021-10-21T22:48:54Z
• Authors: Julian Frommel; Madison Klarkowski; Regan L. Mandryk
• Keywords: Fear of failure; Failure causes

Experiencing the thrill of success is one digital gaming's pleasures, but often also involves crush repeated failure. To explore and failure in play, we conducted a mixed-methods study which 182 participants described scenarios their experiences therein. Our results suggest that should be considered relation to players' goals, differentiated into temporary perpetual failure, (the struggle) integral experience (overcoming struggle). We further show although generally more enjoyable than players who enjoy challenge are likely competence find enjoyment within findings contextualize what perceive as success, that, for many players, overcoming struggle