title: The pleasures of success: game-related efficacy experiences as a mediator between player performance and game enjoyment.
abstract: In the present study, the interplay of player performance, game-related self-efficacy experiences, and the resulting effects on game enjoyment are investigated. We hypothesized that a player's performance stimulates enjoyment via its potential to stimulate game-related self-efficacy experiences. In a laboratory setting, participants (N = 213) played a jump 'n' run game. Their performance during game play was recorded by log-file software, and efficacy and enjoyment were assessed with questionnaires. As predicted, both player performance and game-related self-efficacy experience were significant predictors of enjoyment. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that game-related self-efficacy experience significantly mediates the relationship between player performance and game enjoyment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. sabine.trepte@uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trepte
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reinecke
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D057181:Pleasure; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018910:Video Games