"It was sad but still good": Gratifications of emotionally moving game experiences

Players have increasingly become interested in emotional game experiences beyond simple "fun". Although previous research has identified several gratifications of fun experiences, still little is known about whether and what gratifications players derive from emotionally moving game experiences. Interviews with 12 Japanese and Western players revealed several gratifications, such as liking to experience strong emotions, whereas other players did not enjoy being emotionally moved, but appreciated that the emotional experience stimulated reflective thought or allowed them to engage more with the game. Based on these findings, we discuss opportunities for future research. Copyright is held by the author/owner(s).