Game Narrative Lab Research

At the Game Narrative Lab, we focus on the social and behavioral impact of video game narratives in which the protagonist faces discrimination. We want to wage how the world can use video games and immersive media for social good.

• Players’ experience

  
  
  One of our core projects is to study game narratives through players’ experiences. Because game narratives are co-constructed (the game narrative designer plans for every possible narrative path, but each player’s experience is unique), it is important to put the player at the center of the game, both when creating the narrative and when studying it. To study players’ experiences, we use mixed methods from the humanities and social sciences (observation, questionnaires, retellings).

• Prosocial behavior

  

  Can video game narratives leverage empathy for people who are discriminated against and impact social attitudes? While the global media discourse still focuses on video games promoting violent behavior, several research studies since 2009 have been centered around the positive social impact of video games following the Game for Change movement.  

• Prosocial Video Games: The Impact

  

  Prosocial games are defined by Gentile et al. as games in which game characters help and support each other. These prosocial video games have been shown to: 

  • Induce prosocial behavior in players (Gentile et al. 2009; Greitemeyer & Osswald 2009) 
  • Cause health-related behavior change (Beverly et al. 2021)
    • The National Institutes of Health is funding multiple researchers who demonstrate how the use of Virtual Reality can help with:  
      • Restoring physical movement (Therrien et al. 2016)
      • Helping to fight fear (Salay et al 2018)
      • Distracting from pain (Schmitt et al. 2011)