No Pain, No Gain: The (Social) Science of Challenge!

Ever wonder why some games have you keep coming back for more, even though you are finding yourself struggling to the point of frustration at a specific area? Do you get an adrenaline kick when you are fighting the last boss of your favorite game and it seems like the epic battle can go either way at a moment's notice? Behind every game therein lies a thin layer that keeps all games engaging ... Challenge.

This week, the GCR crew will face-off and do battle to uncover the psychology behind challenge and difficulty in games. The discussion will also include self-imposed challenges (such as, but not limited to, those filmed for individuals' YouTube or Twitch channels) as well as the wide variety of professional competitions that permeate the world of gaming today.

Lastly, the group will duke it out over what it means to introduce difficulty into games that are not of the video variety. So, make sure you've saved your game, because this is one fight you'll not want to lose. Tune in, and don't miss out!