"They are just 2D pixels" understanding the motivation behind gacha gamers

• Main Author: Tan, Yi Hong
• Other Authors: Ring Joyce Pang Shu Min
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Social sciences::Psychology::Motivation
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/165384
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Gacha games are a form of video games that have grown in popularity in recent years. Considerable research has been done on the gambling aspect of gacha mechanisms, with some criticising it as exploitative. However, these studies tend to portray gacha gamers as passive consumers and fail to recognise the different reasons for gaming. This paper seeks to investigate the motivation behind gacha gaming. Study 1 examines whether the identity of a gacha gamer would influence their gaming habits and found that gacha gamers are neither stereotyped nor stigmatised. Studies 2 and 3 apply self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) to examine motivations for gacha gaming. Study 2 utilised a quantitative study and found that playing gacha games satisfies the three needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. However, these needs are not satisfied by in-game gacha mechanics. Study 2 also found that connection with other players and the formation of parasocial relationships with in-game characters satisfy the need for relatedness. Study 3 utilised a qualitative interview study and found similar results through the lived experiences of gacha gamers. Together, these findings help to explain the motivations behind gacha gaming and provide foundations for future research. Keywords: gacha game, self-determination theory, autonomy, competence, relatedness, motivation, stereotype, stigma