A Heated Competition: the Appeal of PvP Combat

Player-vs-Player (PvP) is one of the most enticing and entertaining aspects that online games have to offer. It is exciting, thrilling, and highly satisfying when done right. That said, PvP is attractive to some while others despise it. In this article, we dive specifically into combat, and we explore the reasons as well as the type of players who find themselves repeatedly looking for fights in their favorite video games.??

Joining the Brawl?

In the world of video games, PvP can be presented in multiple different ways. MMORPG’s PvP can be considered unfair since the player who has better gear can tip the scales in their favor. That said, the unique advantage that MMOs have over others is the huge toolkit that players have at their disposal as each class comes equipped with at the very least 10 spells, and players can find ways to utilize all these abilities together to develop a unique playstyle and claim victory. On the other hand, the more standard fantasy PvP comes in the form of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) such as League of Legends and DOTA 2. In these realms, the fight is fair, the resources are the same, and the outcome of the battle will depend on skill, experience, and strategy. Similarly, First-Person Shooters (FPS) and to an extent, with an added layer of luck, Battle Royales are also popular genres for those who enjoy perpetual combat.??

Why so Aggressive??

A fair bit of research has been conducted to understand what makes PvP, or killing other people in a virtual game, so appealing to such a broad audience. Well, besides the fact that it is fun, there are some interesting psychological factors that come into play. Of course, human beings are fascinating creatures and minds can operate in completely different ways, but the results reported are based on general patterns that have been observed and tested.?

Let us kick off with the debate of the century, games cause violent behavior. Most researchers seem to agree that the link between increased aggression and video games is negligible at best, and non-existent at worst. However, it has been found that players with slightly innate aggressive personalities are more likely to engage in PvP combat as it can be a great outlet for their negative emotions. Also, these findings have been reinforced by different parties, and they’ve added that the levels of aggression exhibited are highly dependent on the person’s self-control. So, the long and short of this debate is: Nope, video games and PvP do not cause violent real-world behavior.??

Next, PvP can greatly boost a person’s self-esteem. To elaborate, being able to achieve victory and be a decent PvPer is no easy task. Players who find themselves slowly climbing the ranks and observe a noticeable difference in their win/loss ratio or their ability to take on opponents alone get a substantial self-confidence boost. Further, PvPers receive a shot of dopamine when engaging in a brawl, if they come out victorious, that “high” is quite rewarding and makes them want to go back for more. If they end up being defeated, this strengthens their resolve to become better and play more to overcome their weaknesses. That said, this can be a double-edged sword since players with innate addictive personalities can find themselves stuck in the game’s world for long periods that could border on unhealthy.??

Of course, PvP also has its dark side. It has been reported that PvPers are more likely to engage in harassment and “trash-talk” than others who refrain from battle. This is linked to different reasons, but the PvP scene is obviously quite competitive, and such tactics could be employed to either demoralize, intimidate, or irritate a player so that their performance gets hindered. Indeed, the term “tilt” has been adopted by the gaming community to describe one’s gameplay being negatively affected by rage or frustration.??

Conclusion?

All in all, PvP is quite fascinating. Very little in the gaming world brings more satisfaction than acquiring a new beefy weapon and instantly rushing onto the battlefield to bash your opponent’s teeth in using it. Player psychology in relation to PvP is quite interesting as it touches many parts of their brains. It actively provides adrenaline and dopamine boosts, increases confidence, and helps blow off some steam in a safe manner. All these reasons encourage players to partake in PvP, and those who enjoy it can easily find themselves spending hours demolishing their foes or getting annihilated in the process.??