Mobile Video Games Research Articles

Third places and national contexts among Generation Z in a mobile game: Quantitatively examining third place characteristics and well-being of players from Brazil, China, and the United States

Youth online engagement and well-being are especially important in emerging countries, but they tend to be understudied. Rather, the existing research tends to be more on the United States. This study examined third place theory of virtual spaces on individual-level well-being among the Generation Z from Brazil and China, especially comparing them to their U.S. counterparts. Well-being, both related to realizing your full potential and lowering psychopathology, is relevant to youth engagement in online spaces, because the spaces can help the youth express their true selves and engage in supportive online communities. The participants were players of a mobile video game whose three months of pre-survey gameplay data and survey data (N = 986) were analyzed. We compared countries on several third place characteristics, on well-being, and how the third place characteristics predicted well-being. We found that players from the three countries were significantly different in several third place characteristics (i.e., neutral ground, leveler, and conversation). Well-being was also higher among the Chinese players. Moreover, the leveler characteristic–commonality of game levels among players and their in-game friends–significantly predicted well-being. These findings from a mobile game help better understand youth online perceptions and behaviors in different countries, correlates to well-being, and contribute to the theory development of virtual third places and digital public spheres.

Mobile video game localization: a case study of Apple Store sub-category ‘play in Arabic’

Mobile video game localization: a case study of Apple Store sub-category ‘play in Arabic’

What is the learning model of physical education in the digital era? Literature review of various studies

The digital age has changed the landscape of physical education (PE), with technology playing an important role in the learning process. This article reviews various studies on the use of technology in physical education to understand the trends, benefits, and challenges in implementing digital learning models. The search in this study used the Harzing Publish or Perish application. The search was initiated using the Scopus database with keywords ("learning model" AND "physical education" OR "sports education" AND "digital era"). Initially, 12.654 publications were identified through the database search (Scopus: 2,831 articles). After following exclusion criteria, only 10 articles remained. The search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review showed that technologies such as mobile apps, e-learning, virtual reality, digital media, and video games can improve student motivation, engagement, and understanding. However, challenges such as infrastructure limitations, user readiness, and potential reduction of physical aspects in physical learning need to be considered. Therefore, a balanced approach between the use of technology and physical activity is needed, as well as adequate support to maximize the benefits of technology in physical education. Further research is recommended to explore more effective strategies in integrating technology into physical education learning across different contexts. Although there are many studies on adolescent girls' lack of engagement in Physical Education (PE) in the literature, most only investigate the root causes, while few take initiatives to address the inherent problems. Keywords: learning model, physical education, digital era, technological advancement

Little grinder, big concern - a questionnaire survey

Background: Bruxism in paediatric dentistry refers to the habitual grinding or clenching of teeth in children. This condition can manifest during the day or night and may have various underlying causes. Bruxism has multifactorial etiology including disturbed sleep cycle and excessive gadget use in children. Present study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of parents about bruxism in children who visited the department. Bruxism is a common concern in paediatric dentistry, presenting challenges for dental professionals and parents alike in managing and addressing its effects on a child's oral health. Methods: The study was conducted among the parents visiting the Department with their children for the treatment. A self-administered questionnaire about knowledge and awareness regarding bruxism habit, sleep cycle, and gadget use in children was made. It was shared with parents using E-methods. Data was collected and statistical analysis was done. Results: In this study, parents stated that 74.1% of children grind their teeth, and 63% of children did so while using the device. Children most frequently utilized mobile devices (51.9%), then TV (13%), electronic toys and video games (11.10%), laptops/PCs and tablets (6.50%). Before falling asleep, 81.50% of the kids used their gadgets, and after using them, 60.20% of the kids reported having trouble sleeping. Conclusions: According to this study, children who clench their teeth have disrupted sleep, and clenching of teeth is more common in children who experience stress as a result of prolonged use of gadgets. Thus, a significant relationship was seen between children's use of gadgets, sleep disruption, and bruxism.

Selling Bonus Actions in Video Games

In the mobile video games industry, a common in-app purchase is for additional “moves” or “time” in single-player puzzle games. We call these in-app purchases bonus actions. In some games, bonus actions can only be purchased in advance of attempting a level of the game (pure advance sales (PAS)), yet in other games, bonus actions can only be purchased in a “spot” market that appears when an initial attempt to pass the level fails (pure spot sales). Some games offer both advance and spot purchases (hybrid advance sales). This paper studies these selling strategies for bonus actions in video games. Such a question is novel to in-app tools selling in video games, and it cannot be answered by previous advance selling studies focusing on end goods. We model the selling of bonus actions as a stochastic extensive form game. We show how the distribution of skill among players (i.e., their inherent ability to pass the level) and the inherent randomness of the game influence selling strategies. For casual games, where low-skill players have a sufficiently high probability of success in each attempt, if the proportion of high-skill players is either sufficiently large or sufficiently small, firms should adopt PAS and shut down the “spot” market. Furthermore, the player welfare-maximizing selling strategy is to sell only in the spot market. Hence, no “win-win” strategy exists for casual games. However, PAS can be a win-win for hardcore games, where low-skill players have a sufficiently low success probability for each attempt. This paper was accepted by Hemant Bhargava, information systems. Funding: C. T. Ryan received funding from NSERC Discovery [Grant RGPIN-2020-06488]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.02348 .

Effectiveness of Two Types of Distraction Techniques in the Management of Pain and Anxiety during Dental Treatment in 6-9-year-old Children.

To determine the effectiveness of distraction with virtual reality (VR) distraction devices in comparison with mobile phone video games in the management of pain and anxiety during dental treatment in 6-9-year-old children. It was a comparative observational study. A total of 33 children aged 6-9 years who reported to the department for their first dental visit were selected and the subjects were divided into three groups. Group I patients were in a normal clinical environment without any distractions. Group II patients were given mobile phone video games. Group III patients were given a VR distraction device as a means of distraction.The anxiety levels of patients before treatment, after using a distraction device preoperatively, during local anesthesia injection, and after dental treatment were assessed. Pain after local anesthesia injection in each group was assessed. The easability of handling the patient and carrying out the procedure was assessed using a questionnaire. All data were collected and analyzed. The results showed when compared to the children in groups I and II, children in group III obtained significantly lower anxiety scores after treatment, and they also reported significantly decreased pain perception during dental treatment (p < 0.001). The pain while administering local anesthesia was greater for the control group and lowest for the VR group. It was observed that VR group patients were easier to handle and easier to carry out procedures than those in the mobile phone group. Virtual reality distraction is an effective distraction technique for reducing pain and anxiety in children during various treatment procedures. Virtual reality distraction can be used effectively in clinics.It is a patient-friendly technique and is more comfortable for both patients and dentists during treatment.It does not require any previous education and training and has a positive impact on memories of the treatment, leading to behavior modification. Chandran LS, Issac JS, Girija P, et al. Effectiveness of Two Types of Distraction Techniques in the Management of Pain and Anxiety during Dental Treatment in 6-9-year-old Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(3):291-296.

Efficacy of kaleidoscope, virtual reality, and video games to alleviate dental anxiety during local anesthesia in children: a randomized clinical trial.

Distraction is a technique used to divert a patient's attention from unpleasant procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of kaleidoscopy, virtual reality, and video games in reducing anxiety and pain during invasive dental procedures in children. Sixty-six children aged 6 to 9 years were randomly assigned to three groups during local anesthesia administration: Group 1 (kaleidoscope), Group 2 (virtual reality), and Group 3 (mobile video games). The anxiety of the children was evaluated using physiological measures (heart rate) at three different time points: before, during, and after the procedure. The Raghavendra, Madhuri, and Sujata pictorial scale was used as a subjective measure before and after the procedure. Subjective measures of pain were assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale. The data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. In the intergroup comparison, there were no statistically significant differences in the physiological measures of anxiety scores between the three groups before, during, and after distraction. Raghavendra, Madhuri, and Sujata pictorial scale scores were assessed before and after distraction, but no statistically significant differences were observed. Among the three groups, the children in Group 2 showed a significant reduction in pain scores. Compared with kaleidoscopes and video games, virtual reality is a promising distraction technique for reducing dental fear, anxiety, and pain during local anesthesia administration in children.

ANALISIS SENTIMEN APLIKASI MOBILE LEGENDS : BANG BANG MENGGUNAKAN LATENT DIRICHLET ALLOCATION

E-sports or electronic sports, is a video game competition in which players make video games as an alternative to officially recognized sports that have various values in the fields of sport, economics, social, achievement, and knowledge. Mobile Legends : Bang Bang is a mobile video game that goes into the multiplayer online battle arena genre (MOBA). These opinions need to be taken into account as input in the evaluation to ensure that the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang app can make a good impact on its users. In this study, data from the Google Play Store was used to analyze user responses to applications by classifying them into positive and negative categories. Furthermore, the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) method is used to group user opinions and identify topics that are frequently discussed. The results of the analysis showed that the majority of users responded positively to the Mobile Legends : Bang Bang application (72,7%) compared to negative (27,3%). The most frequently appearing words also indicate that positive sentiment words are more dominant than negative sentiment words.

GEQ and PENS Applications for Analyzing Levels of Player Experience and Satisfaction in Mobile Video Games

Nowadays, video games are getting popular due to the rapid growth of technology, especially mobile technology. Video games are now able to be played on mobile devices whether in single or multiplayer mode by using the internet and it's free and available everywhere. Understanding player experience in mobile video games is essential for developers and researchers. This research evaluates player experience in a mobile video game using the Game Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) and Player Experience Questionnaire (PENS). The evaluation was performed using an online questionnaire form to the participants (N = 110) who had played the specific mobile game. Using the Core Questionnaire from the Game Experience Questionnaire and Player Experience of Need Satisfaction module, this research found that the Game Experience Questionnaire shows high scores values in the aspects of Immersion (4.22), Competence (3.25), and Positive Aspects (4.38) which indicates a good player experience, and the Player Experience of Need Satisfaction shows a rather balanced yet high score for each value that indicates a satisfying player experience.

Educational affordances of music video games and gaming mobile apps

ABSTRACT The rapid advancement of mobile and computing technologies has made the enjoyment of music in the video gaming experience more accessible and affordable, and has raised the interest of educators in the affordances of music-related games for informal music learning. This study aimed to examine the educational affordances of music-related games through content analysis. User reviews of music gaming mobile apps and video games were collected from two major digital distribution platforms and analysed to identify patterns and meanings related to their educational affordances and learning design. The findings reflected a sense of competence, autonomy and engagement resulting from playing video games, which motivated players to become self-directed learners in the context of informal learning. Several bias and limitations were identified, suggesting that an overreliance on video games may lead to unbalanced musical growth and incomprehensive musicianship training.

Shorter self-reported sleep duration is associated with worse virtual spatial navigation performance in men.

Sleep has been shown to impact navigation ability. However, it remains unclear how different sleep-related variables may be independently associated with spatial navigation performance, and as to whether gender may play a role in these associations. We used a mobile video game app, Sea Hero Quest (SHQ), to measure wayfinding ability in US-based participants. Wayfinding performance on SHQ has been shown to correlate with real-world wayfinding. Participants were asked to report their sleep duration, quality, daytime sleepiness and nap frequency and duration on a typical night (n = 766, 335 men, 431 women, mean age = 26.5years, range = 18-59years). A multiple linear regression was used to identify which self-reported sleep variables were independently associated with wayfinding performance. Shorter self-reported sleep durations were significantly associated with worse wayfinding performance in men only. Other self-reported sleep variables showed non-significant trends of association with wayfinding performance. When removing non-typical sleepers (< 6 or > 9h of sleep on a typical night), the significant association between sleep duration and spatial navigation performance in men was no longer present. These findings from U.S.-based participants suggest that a longer self-reported sleep duration may be an important contributor to successful navigation ability in men.

Crossing borders: localization and paratext in Arabic mobile video games

Crossing borders: localization and paratext in Arabic mobile video games

Effects of a single bout of mobile action video game play on attentional networks

Background Video game play has been linked to a range of cognitive advantages, and investigations in this domain have predominantly utilized cross-sectional designs or long-term training paradigms. Nevertheless, the specific effects of engaging in a single bout of video game play remain poorly understood. Consequently, the objective of this study is to examine the influence of a single session of mobile action video game (MAVG) play on attentional networks among college students. Methods Seventy-two nonvideo game players were assigned randomly into an MAVG and a control game group. Participants in the MAVG group engaged in a 60-minute session of an action video game played on mobile phones, while the control group played a mobile card game for the same duration. All participants completed the attentional network test (ANT), which assesses alerting, orienting, and executive control network efficiencies, before and after the intervention. Results The MAVG group had significantly improved alerting network efficiency following the intervention, compared to before (p &lt; 0.05); the control game group did not. Neither executive control network efficiency nor orienting network efficiency were found to be improved by the intervention. Conclusion The present data demonstrated that a single bout of MAVG play can improve alerting network efficiency selectively in young-adult college students. MAVGs may be useful for promoting attentional function with the advantages of being accessible virtually any time and anywhere.

Comparative study of interaction methods for mobile gaming while running on a treadmill

Mobile video games that integrate physical activity, such as treadmill running, offer a unique combination of entertainment and exercise. This study presents a comparative evaluation of interaction methods used in mobile games during treadmill running, focusing on smartphone accelerometers, smartwatch accelerometers, and the smartphone’s front camera. The goal of the research is to test whether the three interaction methods are suitable for use in treadmill-based games. For this purpose, the study aims to understand the strengths and limitations of each method to inform the design of more engaging and efficient mobile running games. The results indicate that all three methods provide acceptable accuracy for a game like the one used in the study. However, the findings highlight that the camera-based interaction method stands out for its immersive experience and reduced reliance on external devices. These findings contribute to the design of future mobile games that integrate physical activity, offering valuable insights for users looking to combine digital enjoyment with physical exercise.

The association between future self-continuity and problematic mobile video gaming among Chinese college students: the serial mediation of consideration of future consequences and state self-control capacity

BackgroundTo explore the relationship between future self-continuity and problematic mobile video gaming among Chinese college students and to examine the serial mediation of consideration of future consequences and state self-control capacity on the association between future self-continuity and problematic mobile video gaming, based on Identity-Based Motivation Theory.MethodsThe Problematic Mobile Video Gaming Scale, Future Self-continuity Scale, Consideration of Future Consequences Scale, and Short Version of State Self-control Capacity Scale were administered to a sample comprising 800 college students (338 males accounting for 42.3%). Multivariate analysis and latent variables analysis were utilized to explore the separate mediating role consideration of future consequences and state self-control capacity played in the association between future self-continuity and problematic mobile video gaming, and their serial mediation also was investigated. The Bootstrap method was employed to test the significance of these mediation effects.ResultsThe negative association between future self-continuity and problematic mobile video gaming was moderately found. Students with increased consideration of future consequences from higher levels of future self-continuity have decreased their problematic mobile video gaming. Future self-continuity significantly positively predicted state self-control capacity, which in turn significantly negatively predicted problematic mobile video gaming. The serial mediation was also found.ConclusionThe findings revealed why differences in identification with the current and future selves become influencing factors in problematic mobile video gaming. This study observed the mediating role that consideration of future consequences and state self-control capacity play in the association between future self-continuity and problematic mobile video gaming.

Impact of Screen Time on Children’s Development: Cognitive, Language, Physical, and Social and Emotional Domains

Technology has become integral to children’s lives, impacting many aspects, from academic to socialization. Children of today’s generation are growing up with digital devices, such as mobile phones, iPads, computers, video games, and smart gadgets; therefore, screen time has become ubiquitous in children’s daily routines. This paper provides a review of screen time usage and its impact in children across multiple developmental domains: cognitive, language, physical, and socio-emotional domain of children under eight years of age. The cognitive domain considers factors such as attention span and memory; language domain examines vocabulary, speech, and language development; physical domain focuses on motor development, exercise, sleep, and diet; and social-emotional domain considers relationships, self-identity, and emotional behaviors/regulation. Our findings are mixed, as there are both benefits and drawbacks in technology use, but screen time in children requires controlled observation and monitoring for sustainable improved progress across developmental domains. Specific recommendations advise that children’s screen time per day should be limited to zero minutes (min) (0–2 years), &lt;60 min (3–5-years), and 60 min (6–8 years).

Functional MRI of inhibitory control processing in problematic mobile video gamers

With the development of mobile technology, mobile video games provide people with a more convenient way of entertainment, but problematic playing could also bring some negative consequences. Prior studies have indicated that Internet gaming addicts were accompanied by impaired inhibitory control. However, as a relatively new form of problematic game usage based on mobile devices, little is known about the neurobiological underpinnings of inhibitory control in problematic mobile video game (PMVG) users. Adopting an event-related fMRI Stroop task, the present study aimed to examine the different neural correlates of inhibitory control between PMVG and healthy control (HC) subjects. Compared with HC group, PMVG group showed greater brain activities in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during the Stroop process. Moreover, correlation analysis showed that brain activities extracted from the voxel in the DLPFC cluster had a significantly negative correlation with reward sensitivity. Our current findings may suggest the compensating effect in key brain regions of inhibitory control in problematic mobile video gamers relative to healthy controls.

On the role of digitalization and globalization for the development of mobile video games in the education of the future: trends, models, cases

The global world processes of digitalization have influenced the development of educational services and products market. To provide qualified education modern educational institutions need to use effective tools for organizing, managing, and facilitating the educational process with the help of mobile video games. The article aims to analyze the modern processes of education digitalization and the role and prospects of mobile video games in the education. The implementation of mobile applications in the educational process can provide a competitive advantage for higher education, as well as enhance the quality of individual student learning, and be useful for teachers and educators who intend to improve the methodology of the educational process. The results of the study show the growing of the market for mobile video games in education, the increase of investment and the formation of market leaders over the past 5 years. Based on the research methodology, the specifics of mobile video games use in today's global space were conducted, and the involvement of information giants such as Google, Amazon, and other companies actively involved in the digitalization of education was investigated. It is determined that modern models of the educational process should be integrated with digital ones, actually forming a mixed model, between traditional and digital, which can improve the professional students’ qualification. The conclusions and suggestions indicate that the key areas of mobile video games in education will be the creation of applications for mastering technical specialties, the demand for which is rapidly growing in the world. The practical part of the article consists in the analysis of the mobile video games development prospects and the characteristics of their key advantages and main trends in the educational market.

Eye problems and musculoskeletal pain in Pokémon Go players

Individuals benefit from Pokémon Go (PG) gaming because this mobile augmented reality geolocation video game provides an attractive opportunity to increase physical activity outdoors and socialize. However, based on gaming and electronic media studies, intense involvement with PG is likely related to adverse phenomena, such as arm pain or eye-related problems. We aimed to test how PG use (problematic vs. non-problematic gaming and gaming time) is related to physical symptoms (pain in three body regions and computer vision syndrome). To dissect game-specific effects, we controlled for general problematic smartphone use, phubbing, and electronic media usage. PG players (N = 455) completed an online survey. We found that PG players with problematic game use reported more pain and vision problems. Problematic PG use was a better predictor of physical symptoms than PG gaming time and variables related to electronic media use. Problematic PG use and problematic smartphone use were correlated but independent predictors of physical symptoms. We conclude that the type of participation rather than the time spent playing predicts poorer physical health among PG players.

Effect of Excessive Screen Time on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children: A Longitudinal Study.

Background: This study investigated the effect of different components of screen time (mobile phone use, TV/video viewing, and video gaming) on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) development in children aged 9–12 years. Methods: This was a two-year longitudinal study conducted with 175 children (49.7% girls, mean age = 9.5) in Japan. CRF was assessed using a 20 m shuttle run test conducted at baseline and again at follow-up. Children were categorized as “Good” or “Poor” based on the change in CRF scores for each gender. Screen time was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire at baseline and termed as “high” if children reported ≥ 2 h/day. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed after adjusting for gender, physical activity, and time of data collection. Results: Children scoring “high” on mobile phone use had lower odds of being categorized as “Good” in CRF change (crude odds ratio (OR): 0.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15–0.90 (adjusted OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.12–0.91)). There were no significant effects of TV/video viewing (crude OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.84–2.81) and video gaming (crude OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.48–1.97) on changes in CRF. Conclusions: Limiting excessive mobile phone usage might be important for ensuring healthy development of CRF in children.