{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2075830307","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1371216.1371223","title":"Toward an understanding of flow in video games","display_name":"Toward an understanding of flow in video games","publication_year":2008,"publication_date":"2008-07-01","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W2075830307","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1371216.1371223","mag":"2075830307"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.1145/1371216.1371223","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1371216.1371223","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S131145815","display_name":"Computers in entertainment","issn_l":"1544-3574","issn":["1544-3574","1544-3981"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310319798","host_organization_name":"Association for Computing Machinery","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310319798"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Association for Computing Machinery"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Computers in Entertainment","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":false,"oa_status":"closed","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5035324537","display_name":"Benjamin Ultan Cowley","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8828-2994"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I138801177","display_name":"University of Ulster","ror":"https://ror.org/01yp9g959","country_code":"GB","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Ben Cowley","raw_affiliation_strings":["University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K","University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K.#TAB#"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K.#TAB#","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5053724421","display_name":"Darryl Charles","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8546-6066"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I138801177","display_name":"University of Ulster","ror":"https://ror.org/01yp9g959","country_code":"GB","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Darryl Charles","raw_affiliation_strings":["University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K","University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K.#TAB#"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K.#TAB#","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5077309331","display_name":"Michaela Black","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5140-2566"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I138801177","display_name":"University of Ulster","ror":"https://ror.org/01yp9g959","country_code":"GB","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Michaela Black","raw_affiliation_strings":["University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K","University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K.#TAB#"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K.#TAB#","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5060029959","display_name":"Ray J. Hickey","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I138801177","display_name":"University of Ulster","ror":"https://ror.org/01yp9g959","country_code":"GB","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Ray Hickey","raw_affiliation_strings":["University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K","University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K.#TAB#"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, U.K.#TAB#","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":4,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5035324537"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I138801177"],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":14.275,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":477,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.99376829,"is_in_top_1_percent":true,"is_in_top_10_percent":true},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":99,"max":100},"biblio":{"volume":"6","issue":"2","first_page":"1","last_page":"27"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10731","display_name":"Educational Games and Gamification","score":0.9979000091552734,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3204","display_name":"Developmental and Educational Psychology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/32","display_name":"Psychology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10731","display_name":"Educational Games and Gamification","score":0.9979000091552734,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3204","display_name":"Developmental and Educational Psychology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/32","display_name":"Psychology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13353","display_name":"Flow Experience in Various Fields","score":0.9952999949455261,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3204","display_name":"Developmental and Educational Psychology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/32","display_name":"Psychology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10648","display_name":"Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts","score":0.991599977016449,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1709","display_name":"Human-Computer Interaction"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/game-mechanics","display_name":"Game mechanics","score":0.7764310836791992},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/construct","display_name":"Construct (python library)","score":0.6627229452133179},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/game-design","display_name":"Game design","score":0.6473400592803955},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/computer-science","display_name":"Computer science","score":0.6170912981033325},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/analogy","display_name":"Analogy","score":0.4785897731781006},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/video-game-design","display_name":"Video game design","score":0.45954886078834534},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/human\u2013computer-interaction","display_name":"Human\u2013computer interaction","score":0.45786646008491516},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/video-game","display_name":"Video game","score":0.4567083716392517},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/framing","display_name":"Framing (construction)","score":0.4434276521205902},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/game-developer","display_name":"Game Developer","score":0.4209064245223999},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/multimedia","display_name":"Multimedia","score":0.2236097753047943},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/epistemology","display_name":"Epistemology","score":0.19566580653190613}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C170828538","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1751513","display_name":"Game mechanics","level":2,"score":0.7764310836791992},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780801425","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5164392","display_name":"Construct (python library)","level":2,"score":0.6627229452133179},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C503285160","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q858057","display_name":"Game design","level":2,"score":0.6473400592803955},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.6170912981033325},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C521332185","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q185816","display_name":"Analogy","level":2,"score":0.4785897731781006},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C47187476","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12336660","display_name":"Video game design","level":3,"score":0.45954886078834534},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C107457646","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207434","display_name":"Human\u2013computer interaction","level":1,"score":0.45786646008491516},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C3018412434","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7889","display_name":"Video game","level":2,"score":0.4567083716392517},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C169087156","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2131593","display_name":"Framing (construction)","level":2,"score":0.4434276521205902},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41826821","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q844005","display_name":"Game Developer","level":3,"score":0.4209064245223999},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C49774154","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131765","display_name":"Multimedia","level":1,"score":0.2236097753047943},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111472728","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9471","display_name":"Epistemology","level":1,"score":0.19566580653190613},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C66938386","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q633538","display_name":"Structural engineering","level":1,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C138885662","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5891","display_name":"Philosophy","level":0,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C199360897","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9143","display_name":"Programming language","level":1,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C127413603","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11023","display_name":"Engineering","level":0,"score":0.0}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":2,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.1145/1371216.1371223","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1371216.1371223","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S131145815","display_name":"Computers in entertainment","issn_l":"1544-3574","issn":["1544-3574","1544-3981"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310319798","host_organization_name":"Association for Computing Machinery","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310319798"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Association for Computing Machinery"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Computers in Entertainment","raw_type":"journal-article"},{"id":"pmh:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.388.5623","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.388.5623","pdf_url":null,"source":null,"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"http://www.idemployee.id.tue.nl/g.w.m.rauterberg/amme/cowley-et-al-2008.pdf","raw_type":"text"}],"best_oa_location":null,"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":false,"grobid_xml":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":88,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W36767877","https://openalex.org/W56793145","https://openalex.org/W59051678","https://openalex.org/W105196544","https://openalex.org/W142874413","https://openalex.org/W162678593","https://openalex.org/W263853819","https://openalex.org/W620987794","https://openalex.org/W655697729","https://openalex.org/W1486775235","https://openalex.org/W1495522344","https://openalex.org/W1511827303","https://openalex.org/W1519044317","https://openalex.org/W1520434546","https://openalex.org/W1521891762","https://openalex.org/W1536313590","https://openalex.org/W1539609515","https://openalex.org/W1540626093","https://openalex.org/W1542085384","https://openalex.org/W1544145404","https://openalex.org/W1544344420","https://openalex.org/W1564187422","https://openalex.org/W1572412837","https://openalex.org/W1583852935","https://openalex.org/W1600035446","https://openalex.org/W1677268724","https://openalex.org/W1874946964","https://openalex.org/W1948968476","https://openalex.org/W1974975426","https://openalex.org/W1984314602","https://openalex.org/W1993621301","https://openalex.org/W1995875735","https://openalex.org/W2004987601","https://openalex.org/W2012878053","https://openalex.org/W2015553689","https://openalex.org/W2022725712","https://openalex.org/W2043367906","https://openalex.org/W2058234041","https://openalex.org/W2071584883","https://openalex.org/W2082050557","https://openalex.org/W2083837431","https://openalex.org/W2094136133","https://openalex.org/W2108682032","https://openalex.org/W2115205578","https://openalex.org/W2115321629","https://openalex.org/W2122227415","https://openalex.org/W2124479173","https://openalex.org/W2125339386","https://openalex.org/W2137264226","https://openalex.org/W2140205964","https://openalex.org/W2144846366","https://openalex.org/W2154384880","https://openalex.org/W2156460572","https://openalex.org/W2160357658","https://openalex.org/W2175951718","https://openalex.org/W2205346698","https://openalex.org/W2221209709","https://openalex.org/W2396112938","https://openalex.org/W2511901496","https://openalex.org/W2579555219","https://openalex.org/W2771828117","https://openalex.org/W2798823267","https://openalex.org/W2802359771","https://openalex.org/W2810283326","https://openalex.org/W2990761754","https://openalex.org/W2991104879","https://openalex.org/W3027820740","https://openalex.org/W3105068823","https://openalex.org/W4232190338","https://openalex.org/W4249229873","https://openalex.org/W4250676557","https://openalex.org/W4285719527","https://openalex.org/W4293872590","https://openalex.org/W4301902212","https://openalex.org/W4390930873","https://openalex.org/W6601079454","https://openalex.org/W6606813603","https://openalex.org/W6631142869","https://openalex.org/W6631323527","https://openalex.org/W6632231200","https://openalex.org/W6632375974","https://openalex.org/W6632497442","https://openalex.org/W6637347962","https://openalex.org/W6683181384","https://openalex.org/W6683635736","https://openalex.org/W6771066642","https://openalex.org/W7010241805","https://openalex.org/W7082760330"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W4231050501","https://openalex.org/W4207081595","https://openalex.org/W4311459595","https://openalex.org/W1583852935","https://openalex.org/W2488706709","https://openalex.org/W4294947912","https://openalex.org/W2996376398","https://openalex.org/W2130088927","https://openalex.org/W4295008850","https://openalex.org/W3014566183"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"In":[0,74],"the":[1,8,57,86,98],"domain":[2],"of":[3,64,85,90,144,155],"computer":[4],"games,":[5],"research":[6,25,67],"into":[7,97,134],"interaction":[9,158],"between":[10,56,106],"player":[11,107],"and":[12,26,41,60,88,108,113,131,162],"game":[13,161],"has":[14,68],"centred":[15],"on":[16,22],"'enjoyment',":[17],"often":[18],"drawing":[19],"in":[20,38],"particular":[21],"optimal":[23],"experience":[24,37],"Csikszentmihalyi's":[27],"'Flow":[28],"theory'.":[29],"Flow":[30],"is":[31,46,115],"a":[32,79,141,156,160],"well-established":[33],"construct":[34,59],"for":[35,83,100,166],"examining":[36],"any":[39],"setting":[40],"its":[42],"application":[43],"to":[44,54,117,170,173,176],"game-play":[45,175],"intuitive.":[47],"Nevertheless,":[48],"it's":[49],"not":[50],"immediately":[51],"obvious":[52],"how":[53],"translate":[55],"flow":[58,101,145],"an":[61,135],"operative":[62],"description":[63],"game-play.":[65,147],"Previous":[66],"attempted":[69],"this":[70,75,133,150],"translation":[71],"through":[72],"analogy.":[73],"article":[76],"we":[77],"propose":[78],"practical,":[80],"integrated":[81],"approach":[82,151],"analysis":[84],"mechanics":[87],"aesthetics":[89],"game-play,":[91],"which":[92,139],"helps":[93],"develop":[94],"deeper":[95],"insights":[96,165],"capacity":[99],"within":[102,126],"games.":[103],"The":[104],"relationship":[105,125],"game,":[109],"characterized":[110],"by":[111,122],"learning":[112],"enjoyment,":[114],"central":[116],"our":[118,153],"analysis.":[119],"We":[120,148],"begin":[121],"framing":[123],"that":[124],"Cowley's":[127],"user-system-experience":[128],"(USE)":[129],"model,":[130],"expand":[132],"information":[136],"systems":[137],"framework,":[138],"enables":[140],"practical":[142],"mapping":[143],"onto":[146],"believe":[149],"enhances":[152],"understanding":[154],"player's":[157],"with":[159],"provides":[163],"useful":[164],"games'":[167],"researchers":[168],"seeking":[169],"devise":[171],"mechanisms":[172],"adapt":[174],"individual":[177],"players.":[178]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":4},{"year":2025,"cited_by_count":20},{"year":2024,"cited_by_count":35},{"year":2023,"cited_by_count":22},{"year":2022,"cited_by_count":30},{"year":2021,"cited_by_count":40},{"year":2020,"cited_by_count":26},{"year":2019,"cited_by_count":32},{"year":2018,"cited_by_count":31},{"year":2017,"cited_by_count":31},{"year":2016,"cited_by_count":28},{"year":2015,"cited_by_count":32},{"year":2014,"cited_by_count":34},{"year":2013,"cited_by_count":33},{"year":2012,"cited_by_count":35}],"updated_date":"2026-05-21T06:26:12.895304","created_date":"2025-10-10T00:00:00"}