Video gaming experience, culture and game engagement

Video game engagement is defined as the overall connection, experiences, and bonding process established by a player's gaming process. It has been observed in the literature that most research predominantly focuses on game addiction, thus overlooking factors related to in-game, out-of-game, and experiential factors that engage players to games. This study aims to identify factors that may influence game engagement based on player experiences and examine them within the framework of media psychology. The research analysed qualitative data obtained through the survey method using content analysis. The data were then analysed using the chi-square and cross frames. The study's population included all individuals playing video games in Turkey, and cluster sampling was used to select groups of video game players believed to be representative of the population. Surveys prepared by the researcher, with input from experts, were distributed online to the selected groups. Data from 423 players were analyzed out of the 506 participants who reported playing video games. The research found that players most commonly experience excitement, happiness, and competitiveness in games; most satisfy happiness, excitement, and a sense of achievement. Additionally, it was found that out-of-game (streamers, platforms, media content, events), in-game (costume and items, visual and auditory components, game story and design) and psychological factors (experiences, emotions) were related to engagement. This comprehensive approach to player experience and bonding, along with communication factors, is expected to enrich the existing literature. Keywords: Video game, game engagement, media psychology, player experience