Get in the Zone: Video Game Design

Read this sentence from paragraph 1.

The dragon rises above me, breathing flames into the night air.

What is another correct way to write this sentence?

• A dragon rose above me and breathes flames, into the night air.

• Breathing flames into the night air, the dragon rises above me.

• At night the fire-breathing dragon, risen above me into air.

• The dragon has risen above me, and was breathing flames into the night air.

Which two phrases from paragraph 4 help the reader understand the meaning of effortless?

• easy to complete

• a flow state

• performance is automatic

• wholly focused

• this state of mind

The author most likely wrote this selection to-

• explain how to excel at playing video games

• explain the process of video game development

• explain challenges people face when playing video games

• explain why video games are so popular

The author includes the section title "Challenge" to show-

• why video games require skill in order to be finished

• why people try to quickly complete the challenges in a video game

• why people purchase so many different types of video games

• why video games increase in difficulty as players become more skilled

What tone does the author create by comparing our brains to backpacks in paragraph 6?

• Conversational

• Humorous

• Hopeful

• Skeptical

Which word or phrase from the text in paragraph 9 helps the reader understand the meaning of the word focus?

• flashlight beam

• irrelevant info

• disoriented

• unmotivated

The phrase "goals without rewards are like pancakes without maple syrup" in paragraph 11 is an example of a-

• metaphor illustrating the role of rewards in gaming

• simile emphasizing the importance of rewards

• personification of pancakes to highlight the rewards earned

• hyperbole exaggerating the need for rewards in life

The author includes the detail about micro-rewards in paragraph 13 to explain-

• how gamers like to focus on the ultimate goal at all times

• how focus helps to create flow for games

• how rewards from small tasks lead to accomplishing big goals

• how the brain produces the chemical dopamine

Which idea does the information in the section titled "Psychological Edge" support?

• Video games without defined endings are more fun to play.

• Video games are better when played with friends.

• Customize the difficulty of a video game to enjoy it more.

• Always try to play video games on the most challenging setting.