Study links poor gameplay mechanics to player aggression

A new study has suggested that players develop feelings of aggression due to poor gameplay mechanics rather than the violent content in video games.

Researchers from the University of Oxford carried out a series of tests with a modified, non-violent version of popular title Half-Life 2.

The modified game would have players "tagging" enemies who would then evaporate, instead of violently removing them.

Only a handful of players were allowed to play through a tutorial showing them the controls, and the modified version was also tested alongside the original version.

The researchers found that players who didn't play through the tutorial felt less competent and became more aggressive, compared to the people who played the original, violent version of the game.

"We focused on the motives of people who play electronic games and found players have a psychological need to come out on top when playing," said Dr Andrew Przybylski from the Oxford Internet Institute.

"If players feel thwarted by the controls or the design of the game, they can wind up feeling aggressive.

"This need to master the game was far more significant than whether the game contained violent material.

"Players of games without any violent content were still feeling pretty aggressive if they hadn't been able to master the controls or progress through the levels at the end of the session."

The findings were published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.