The Power of Play

CHAPTER 8GAME TIME, GAME TYPE

Discovering work suitability through games

What if games could serve as a guide to finding work that suits us best? This chapter aims to explore this question and uncover the underlying motivations that drive our game choices.

While we all have our individual reasons for playing games, whether it's to unwind after work or pass the time during the week, there is a deeper essence to why and how we play. By delving into the core motivations and values that drive us, we can identify patterns closely linked to our unique motivations, providing us with valuable insights.

Unlike work, games offer a multitude of choices that are much more fluid. Initially, we may be influenced by the games available to us, such as those owned by our older siblings, significant others, or our parents. However, over time, we naturally gravitate towards games that align with our personal preferences. The process of choosing specific games serves as a powerful compass for understanding what truly motivates us.

This aligns with the findings of the self‐determination theory research we explored earlier, which revealed that, when given autonomy, we self‐select choices that reflect our authentic selves. While short‐term factors like circumstances, available options, and marketing messages may temporarily sway our decisions, in the long run, we naturally converge toward choices that define us.

Therefore, it is crucial to examine the longer‐term patterns of our choices, with minimal ...