Three days after the release of Black Myth: Wukong, the first batch of "cyber lovelorn" patients appeared...

On August 20, China's first 3A game "Black Myth: Wukong" was officially launched (Note: refers to a high-cost, high-volume, high-quality stand-alone game), and quickly topped the hot search and topped the sales charts of multiple platforms such as Steam and WeGame. It set off a "Wukong" fever at home and abroad, and also allowed this action role-playing game based on Chinese mythology to go global, "hard control" global players, and trigger a cultural frenzy.

Image source: Game Science official website

Retracing the Journey to the West: Why is the virtual world so addictive?

From a psychological perspective, the state of mind of players immersed in games can be largely attributed to the concept of flow proposed by psychologist Mihaly Czentmihalyi. The flow state is an extreme psychological experience. When an individual is fully focused on an activity, self-awareness is weakened, the sense of time is distorted, and it is accompanied by a high sense of excitement and inner fulfillment. This state is particularly evident in the gaming experience.

First of all, the game sets clear, achievable but not easy goals for players, which motivate players to keep moving forward. At the same time, the difficulty of the game is properly designed, which will neither make players feel bored because it is too simple nor frustrated because it is too difficult. This "golden challenge zone" is the key to the flow.

The exquisite art design, fascinating plot, and even the character's every move in Black Myth: Wukong create a highly immersive virtual world for players. This sense of immersion makes players feel as if they are in the game, focusing more on the game experience, making it easier for them to enter the flow state .

Most importantly, the story background of Black Myth: Wukong is combined with Journey to the West, one of the four great ancient Chinese classics. For many Chinese, Journey to the West is a childhood memory. Holding the Ruyi Jingu Bang and becoming a "superhero" like Sun Wukong is the childhood dream of several generations. Players can find resonance with the original work during the game, and the character's moves can also be found in the original work. This undoubtedly enhances the players' psychological identification with the game and their national pride. Some overseas players even started to cram Journey to the West in order to understand the game...

After overcoming 81 difficulties, how come some people still suffer from a broken heart?

After several days of "hard work", on August 22, a group of anchors and players said they had completed the game. After the carnival, some netizens also said: After completing the game, I felt inexplicably empty in my heart... Where does this huge sense of gap come from?

Image source: Xiaohongshu

Fighting monsters and clearing levels in the game is accompanied by strong emotional experiences, such as excitement, agitation, and pride. These emotional experiences increase the body's hormone levels, bringing a sense of pleasure and excitement. When the passionate and exciting scene is suddenly empty, the players do not seem to feel the expected great satisfaction, and indescribable emotions surge in their hearts. The term " Post -Game Depression" has appeared in the player circle to describe an empty, confused, and even depressed emotional state after clearing the game. Some people even repeatedly fall into a cycle of mental exhaustion...

In real life, when our favorite TV series, novels or games end (complete the level), some people often develop a "broken heart" complex and wish it would not end. After it ends, their emotions become intertwined. Take the just-concluded Paris Olympics as an example. When the "feast" is over and the crowds leave, many people will fall into an inexplicable feeling of uneasiness, which is called " withdrawal reaction " in psychology.

The term "withdrawal" was originally used to describe the physical and psychological discomfort after the sudden interruption of addictive behavior, but it can also be used to describe the psychological state of people who suddenly return to their daily lives after experiencing a highly stimulating or emotionally involved event. Players will establish a virtual social relationship with the characters in the game, which is similar to social relationships in real life. When the game ends, the sudden interruption of this relationship may cause players to feel a sense of loss .

People at large events let down their guard and share emotions with countless strangers, which quickly inspires a sense of collective identity and makes people feel that they are part of a large group. This strong sense of belonging and connection is suddenly interrupted when the event ends, which is likely to cause the individual's sense of belonging to be shaken, and feel lonely and lost.

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How to heal? Accept the emotional roller coaster

First, we can set a time limit for playing games every day and gradually reduce this time limit. For those who are still immersed in the game, they should also prevent excessive addiction from affecting their daily work and life, and find some healthy alternative activities to fill their free time, such as sports, reading, socializing, etc. These activities can not only relieve the discomfort caused by withdrawal reactions, but also help cultivate new interests and hobbies.

Maintaining a positive attitude is essential to overcoming withdrawal reactions. You can divert your attention and relieve negative emotions by communicating with friends and family, participating in outdoor activities, etc. Record some special activities and experiences, focusing on your feelings and thoughts at the time. Perhaps one day in the future, you will find fragments of past memories by chance, as if you have returned to an unforgettable moment. Although the past has long since dissipated, the mood and emotion at that time will be remembered forever.

Ultimately, happiness, depression, and dullness are all part of our daily lives. By understanding our emotions, we can transition to daily life more calmly while retaining the warmth and strength that comes from our passion. By internalizing these valuable experiences, we can better adjust our mindset, balance the ups and downs in life, maintain mental health and emotional stability, and bravely accept our own life.

author:

Tang Yicheng, China Science Popularization Expert, Secretary General of the Science Popularization Committee of the Chinese Psychological Society

Wang Xiang Chief Writer, Beijing China Science Popularization Center for Mental Health Promotion

Reviewer: Fan Chunlei, Associate Researcher, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Produced by: Science Popularization China