Source 1: Flow and Immersion in Video Games
Citation: Michailidis et al., (2018). Frontiers in Psychology. Link Category:
#immersion#psychology
- What it covers: This academic paper scientifically defines “immersion” and distinguishes it from the concept of “flow state.” It reviews decades of psychological research to create a unified model of how players engage with virtual worlds.
- Why it is valuable: It provides the necessary scientific vocabulary for the project. Understanding the cognitive difference between “being in the zone” (flow) and “feeling present” (immersion) is critical for analyzing RPGs.
- Who would benefit: Students writing academic papers on gaming or developers trying to understand the “why” behind player retention.
- Limitations: It is a dense academic text filled with jargon, making it less accessible for casual readers.