Feature: 'The Psychology Behind Games'

In today's main feature article (free reg. req.), Anders Hejdenberg, the former lead designer for lead designer for Battlefield 2: Modern Combat's multiplayer sections, discusses how psychology and brain function can be analyzed to help design better games. Anders comments, in the introduction to this in-depth feature: "We are all familiar with the feeling we have when we are completely caught up in a great game. The state where we are completely focused on playing, and all other things become irrelevant. This article is about that feeling – why we get it when we play games, and how we can design games that give us more of it. In the first part of the article we will look at how we function as humans; what our drives are and why we enjoy certain activities... The second part of the article focuses on how games can be designed to cater to the player's needs, interests and abilities." You can now read the full Gamasutra feature on the subject (free registration required.)