Getting lost is a sensation that may cause a bit of panic in the real world, yet somehow in a game is one of the most rewarding, refreshing, and strangely peaceful things you can experience. Today on Psych of Play, we take a deep dive into how that feeling of being lost and then finding your way again affects our psyche, how games capitalize on our natural curiosity, and what games can do to make their environments truly captivating. Get cozy... and enjoy the ride :)

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▶Games Shown

Ori and the Blind Forest (2015) - Moon Studios
Control (2019) - Remedy Entertainment
Ghost of Tsushima (2020) - Sucker Punch Productions
Hollow Knight (2017) - Team Cherry
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) - Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) - Nintendo
Minecraft (2009) - Mojang
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) - Rockstar Games
Skyrim (2011) - Bethesda
Horizon Zero Dawn (2017) - Guerilla Games
Dark Souls (2011) - FromSoftware
Dark Souls 3 (2016) - FromSoftware
Super Metroid (1994) - Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006) - Nintendo
Dandara (2018) - Long Hat House
The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask (2000) - Nintendo
Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) - Square Enix
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019) - Intelligent Systems
Dead Cells (2017) - Motion Twin
Axiom Verge (2015) - Thomas Happ Games LLC
Subnautica (2014) - Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Spiderman (2018) - Insomniac Games
No Man’s Sky (2016) - Hello Games
Far Cry 4 (2014) - Ubisoft
ABZU (2016) - Giant Squid

▶Clips/Movies Shown

Avengers: Infinity War (2019)
Carole & Tuesday (2019)
The Incredibles (2004)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
The Big Bang Theory (2007)
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)
Interstellar (2014)
Django Unchained (2012)
Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999)
Looney Tunes (1930-69)
Tom and Jerry (idk, its old af)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Cellular (2004)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Primal (2019)
Bruce Almighty (2003)
TENET (2020)
Teen Titans (2003)
Her (2013)
The Shining (1980)
Midsommar (2019)
Your Lie in April (2016)
Your Name (2016)

Other Clips and Considerations:
   • LOST  


▶Music Sources:

Wrongnumber - will you be back?
Mewmore - Winter in Lacunosa
Stiig - Going Home
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders OST - Danger Draws Near
heartmath² - Through the Current
Mewmore - Lake Verity (Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Remix)
Wrongnumber - Maybe I Was Wrong
Iam6teen - remember me when i leave
Hollow Knight OST - Reflection (Gramophone version)
Aso - Seasons


▶Research Articles Cited

Phone Call Latency
https://www.statista.com/statistics/8...

Biophelia - Nature helps us
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

Cognitive and affective responses to natural scenes:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

Restorative Effects of Virtual Nature Settings
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10...

Walking in Circles: The Psychology Of Getting Lost
https://www.ua-magazine.com/walking-i...

Why Certain People have a terrible sense of direction:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/bl...

Why People Get Lost: The Psychology and Neuroscience of Spatial Cognition:
https://oxford.universitypressscholar...

The Loneliness of the “Social Distancer” Triggers Brain Cravings Akin to Hunger
https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...

Review of Psychology of Curiosity
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti....

The Wick in the Candle of Learning: Epistemic Curiosity Activates Reward Circuitry and Enhances Memory: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/...

Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

Prospect and Refuge:
https://cgscholar.com/bookstore/works....

Massachusetts General Hospital Atrium:
   • Cubicles don't work. How architectura...  
http://www.nbbj.com/practices/healthc...

*All images, graphics, and fonts created or found with postermywall.com, Pexels.com, Videvo.net, and Lightworks v14 editing software. All gameplay footage captured with Elgato 60FPS recording device*

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