In the Flux: A Constructivist Perspective on Effort and Emotions in Tabletop Games

Abstract

Playing games involves mental exertion, this includes strategizing and taking actions. Earlier research has primarily focused on objectively measuring and quantifying this effort. Such attempts do not consider the subjective nature of effort from different players' perspectives. This has resulted in a gap in our understanding of players' experience. Effort being an integral part of gameplay experience, this gap affects our understanding. To address this gap, we conducted an empirical study using qualitative methods from a constructivist viewpoint, which involved ten tabletop games of different genres. Our analysis of the collected data sheds light on the association between rules and players in relation to effort. We argue that effort emerges dynamically as players interact with the rules, indicating its nature of being in a "state of flux". This dynamic nature of effort is inextricably linked with fluctuating player emotions. These findings prepare the grounds for understanding the nuances of player experiences and emotions through the lens of effort within a constructivist framework.