Skip to main content
. 2013 Sep 9;4:608. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00608

Table 2.

List of items in the gaming attitudes, motivations, and experiences scales (GAMES).

STORY
1. Video game stories aren't important to me. [R]
2. Stories in video games just get in the way. [R]
3. In video games, it's hard for me to identify with my character. [R]
4. It's hard for me to play a game if I can't relate to my character.
5. The feeling of immersion is important to me. (Immersion is feeling like you are really there.)
6. I really do my best to put myself into the main character's shoes.
7. I'm interested in learning the lore or history of video game worlds.
8. I love to learn about the backstories of the characters in video games.
9. I feel emotionally attached to the characters in my favorite games.
10. Some of my favorite stories are in video games.
11. I mostly play video games for their stories.
12. I'm excited to find out what happens next in the story.
VIOLENCE CATHARSIS
13. I play violent games to act out my anger without really hurting anyone.
14. I play violent games when I'm angry or upset to avoid arguing with people I know.
15. Violent games allow me to release negative energy.
16. Being violent in a game helps me “get it out of my system.”
17. Playing violent video games helps me be less violent in real life.
18. I express my anger in violent video games so I don't act angry in real life.
19. Video game violence makes me feel better when I'm frustrated.
VIOLENT REWARD
20. Killing things in the game makes me feel powerful.
21. Sometimes I'll hack up or shoot enemy corpses, just for fun.
22. I like violence in my video games - the more violent the better.
23. Video game violence is exciting and rewarding.
24. Shooting someone in the head in a game is deeply satisfying.
25. It feels good to shoot or slice parts off of enemies. (e.g., shooting a head off, or cutting an arm off.)
SOCIAL INTERACTION
26. When I play video games, I don't feel connected to the other players. [R]
27. I make more friends by playing video games.
28. My friends and I use video games as a reason to get together.
29. Often, a group of friends and I will spend time playing video games.
30. I enjoy playing video games with a group of my buddies.
31. I like playing with a group, online or in the same room.
ESCAPISM
32. Games calm me down when I'm feeling nervous.
33. I like to do something that I could not normally do in real life through a video game.
34. I play video games because they let me do things I can't do in real life.
35. I play video games to keep my mind off my problems.
36. I play video games because it allows me to escape real life.
37. Video games allow me to escape from the problems associated with everyday life.
LOSS-AVERSION
38. Even when I lose, I still have fun. [R]
39. If I could, I would only play games against weaker players, so I could win more often.
40. It makes me mad if there are consequences when I mess up in a game, like losing points or getting a bad ending.
41. I get upset when I lose to other players.
42. Losing a game always makes me mad - what a waste of time!
43. Winning is fun; losing isn't.
44. Losing is frustrating and detracts from my experience.
CUSTOMIZATION
45. I like making things in video game, like houses or outfits.
46. I'll put considerable time into designing my character's appearance (e.g., clothes, face).
47. I like to personalize and customize my character.
48. I really like to customize my character's outfit.
GRINDING/COMPLETION
49. I rarely complete collections of in-game items. [R]
50. I don't mind grinding for an hour or two to get an item I want. (Grinding is doing the same thing over and over).
51. I'm excited to unlock achievements or earn trophies in games.
52. I will often level up my characters until they reach the level cap (i.e. they can't level up any further).
53. I'll play a game until I get a 100% on it, completing everything in the game.
54. I like taking the time to pick up every single collectible item in the game.
AUTONOMY/EXPLORATION
55. I like games that offer different ways to get to the next level or area.
56. I like having a choice of several different places or levels to try.
57. I like games that offer you a lot of options and choices.
58. I like games that do not put a lot of constraints on the player.
59. I prefer games that allow me to play however I want.

Items marked with [R] are reverse-scored. Items 28, 29, 33, 34, and 41 are adapted from Sherry et al. (2006).