Always on: understanding the intrinsic motivations for playing games on smartphones and the effect of user characteristics

This study examines the intrinsic motivations that drive the enjoyment of smartphone games and the influence of the characteristics of age, gender and playfulness on such motivations. Using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a basis, 340 smartphone gamers were surveyed and the results were analyzed using a multiple linear regression approach. This study provides a clearer idea of the nature of play as it develops in the era of the smartphone game as well as adding another layer to our understanding of intrinsic motivation, insofar as smartphone games can be accessed as necessary for need satisfaction, to experience flow, to gain a sense of escapism and ultimately to allow a player to experience a sense of enjoyment. The ubiquity of smartphones means players now have access to an enjoyable experience that can provide satisfactions that other experiences in their daily life may not allow.