Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:13 am
Haypi Obsession
Here I sit, my iPod in my hand, my phone on speaker next to me, and laughter erupting from my chest to match the mirth coming from the tiny speaker of my phone. Who would have guessed that I’d be having this much fun with a stranger who lived thousands of miles away? But here we are, in barely contained glee, chatting about the virtual battles we are coordinating on the free app we had both downloaded from apple.
How is it that this game creates so much fun? With an ever-present curiosity about human behavior and motivation, I can’t help but analyze the contingencies that keep me returning to Haypi. I find that I, like many others, am unable to resist that Haypi icon, for several reasons: the joy of ongoing discovery about game elements, the thrill of winning, and above all, the social aspects of the game.
In Haypi, nobody can ever claim to have won the game. Rather, small victories are had throughout ongoing game play. Whether the victory is found in commanding a winning battle against a massive cav army, cropping an enemy several levels higher than you, or stealing cities from a top ranked player, the high created is incredible: heart pounding, skin tingling, and a rush of energy that makes one feel on top of the world.
The victories become even more meaningful as new discoveries about game elements are learned and employed. Commanding tactics are shared with friends, practiced in mini-battles, and used against enemies. War strategies are used to cripple the growth of an entire alliance until goals are met and contracts of peace have been made.
Through all of this, both friends and enemies are made. What starts as a small oasis battle can progress into war, in which one may learn to either respect, or despise, one’s opponent. The friendships developed become meaningful, sometimes more intense than face to face relationships in our every day lives. As we share our joys and sorrows with each other, we come to care for each other, ready to defend one another both on the battlefield and off.
In fact, when due to real life obligations, I forced myself to quit for several months, it was friends who convinced me to return. Again battling side by side, sharing in the laughter as we win and lose battles, knowing that we have made unforgettable friends while playing this game of virtual war on a tiny screen. Have I spent too much time on this game? Definitely! But I don’t regret even a second of it.
How is it that this game creates so much fun? With an ever-present curiosity about human behavior and motivation, I can’t help but analyze the contingencies that keep me returning to Haypi. I find that I, like many others, am unable to resist that Haypi icon, for several reasons: the joy of ongoing discovery about game elements, the thrill of winning, and above all, the social aspects of the game.
In Haypi, nobody can ever claim to have won the game. Rather, small victories are had throughout ongoing game play. Whether the victory is found in commanding a winning battle against a massive cav army, cropping an enemy several levels higher than you, or stealing cities from a top ranked player, the high created is incredible: heart pounding, skin tingling, and a rush of energy that makes one feel on top of the world.
The victories become even more meaningful as new discoveries about game elements are learned and employed. Commanding tactics are shared with friends, practiced in mini-battles, and used against enemies. War strategies are used to cripple the growth of an entire alliance until goals are met and contracts of peace have been made.
Through all of this, both friends and enemies are made. What starts as a small oasis battle can progress into war, in which one may learn to either respect, or despise, one’s opponent. The friendships developed become meaningful, sometimes more intense than face to face relationships in our every day lives. As we share our joys and sorrows with each other, we come to care for each other, ready to defend one another both on the battlefield and off.
In fact, when due to real life obligations, I forced myself to quit for several months, it was friends who convinced me to return. Again battling side by side, sharing in the laughter as we win and lose battles, knowing that we have made unforgettable friends while playing this game of virtual war on a tiny screen. Have I spent too much time on this game? Definitely! But I don’t regret even a second of it.
