[cableshaft]

> What factor(s) then make the game-play enjoyable while the heavy-lifting dev-work feels sometimes more tedious?

Speaking as a gamer, it's escapism. If my brain is so busy trying to solve the mental challenge on the screen (or in front of me as a board game), all other thought get pushed out and I'm not thinking about them. If I didn't have a sufficient mental challenge in front of me, then my subconscious would spend time working on those things.

Also, it's low stakes, so I don't have to be stressed out while I'm engaged in it. I'm not being judged on how well I do, or even that I solved the problem at all, I know I can put down the game whenever and no one cares. This is why I don't think gamifying work is too useful in the long run, because deep down we know we're expected to solve those problems and get results.

So yeah, gaming is essentially my alcohol, and part of the reason why I don't feel the need to drink or take drugs all that often (besides caffeine and aspirin).

[hackercomplex]

> I'm not being judged on how well I do, or even that I solved the problem at all, I know I can put down the game whenever and no one cares. This is why I don't think gamifying work is too useful in the long run, because deep down we know we're expected to solve those problems and get results.

Well in World of Warcraft a lot of these players care deeply about their earned reputation, and the gameplay represents a huge chunk of their social life. I suspect that while these players are collaborating to clear a dungeon they are (emotionally) taking the gold and loot drops pretty seriously almost as if it were a real life salary on the line, but yet they're having fun.