E237 | Dr. Celia Hodent: What the Psychology of Video Games & UX Can Teach Us About Building Buy-In

Video games - Good? Bad? It Depends?

No matter your current opinion of video games, I’m going to ask you to open your mind and consider that there is something of value to be learned from the research-backed way they are created. 

In the same way that coaches creatively craft an experience to build buy-in with their athletes, UX (user experience) is an art and a mindset. 

It is a mindset that requires you to shift your perspective to that of your users (athletes), because what each individual experiences happens in their own mind.

Easier said than done.  As Dr. Celia Hodent explains, “It's not because you're aware of your own biases that you can control them - and that's just not possible because by definition, they are implicit.”

So how do we do it? 

In addition to explaining the secrets behind shifting our perspectives to that of our audience, she also unveils

• What one question you should be asking when creating a product or service (29:50)
• How to debunk the notion that video games are “bad” (34:30)
• How to distinguish between ethical and unethical marketing and design ( 48:00)
• Strategies to help your business not fall victim to its vices (1:01:00)  

Dr. Celia Hodent holds a PhD in psychology and has over ten years experience in the development of user experience (UX) strategy in the entertainment industry, and more specifically with video game studios through her work at Ubisoft, LucasArts, and as Director of UX at Epic Games (Fortnite).  She currently leads an independent UX consultancy, working with a wide range of international media and enterprise companies.

Celia is the author of:

 The Gamer’s Brain: How Neuroscience and UX can Impact Video Game Design (2017) 

The Psychology of Video Games (2020) 

What UX Really Is: Introducing a Mindset to Great Experiences (2021) 

Co-editor:

Game Usability: Advice from the Experts for Advancing UX Strategy and Practice in Videogames (2022) 

Connect with Celia: 

Twitter: @CeliaHodent

Blog: celiahodent.com

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