Psychology Applied to Game Design & Serious Games:
From the Player's Mind to the Architecture of Mechanics
Scientific advisory for authors, game development studios, publishers, and institutions seeking to deeply understand how games shape perception, motivation, and emotion — preventing frustration, clarifying lusory goals, and optimizing player experience.
What a Game Psychologist brings to Game Designers & Publishers
1. Player Motivation Profiling (PMPVG Scale)
Through validated psychometric models (such as the PMPVG scale published in Simulation & Gaming), we map distinct motivational profiles: from needs for competence and autonomy to narrative immersion, social connectedness, and progression. This ensures your game is precisely calibrated for its intended audience.
2. Cognitive Ergonomics & Cognitive Load Theory
An overly complex rulebook triggers early churn; a game with zero friction sparks boredom. We evaluate the intrinsic and extraneous cognitive load of rulebooks, user interfaces, and physical components, guaranteeing that mental effort remains focused on meaningful, strategic decision-making.
3. Behavioral Playtesting & Psychological Measurement
Traditional playtests often rely on subjective opinions ("I liked it / I didn't like it"). Psychological playtesting examines actual behaviors: reaction latencies, decision hesitation, debriefing dynamics, and emotional shifts to diagnose exactly where mechanics introduce unintended frictions.
4. Serious Games Validation for Health & Non-Profit Sectors
Developing a game for healthcare, social inclusion, or prevention (such as the DIVING project at Policlinico Gemelli or Free to Choose)? We support development teams with rigorous experimental pre/post intervention protocols to empirically validate real-world impact.
Redefining the Psychology of Games: A Unifying Framework
In his landmark scientific paper published in the Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology (APA), Alan Mattiassi establishes an integrated epistemological model that connects experimental psychology, cognitive ergonomics, and game design, providing an indispensable theoretical compass for both academic research and game production.
Have a prototype or game project in development?
Let's evaluate your game mechanics together and define a targeted advisory or psychological playtesting roadmap.