Game designers say they also use standard motivational strategies that apply to school work, too.
Whether it s blasting space aliens or maneuvering a race car, the first few levels of a video game are simple enough to give any player a sense of mastery, explains Jason Della Rocca of the International Game Developers Association. I must really not be good at this. In contrast, he says, early success boosts confidence and invests the player in the game. They want to beat the fourth race because they already beat the third race. Slowly raise the bar .