Gaming scientist reveals how to survive Arc Raiders
Ever find yourself in an extraction shooter like Arc Raiders, trusting a teammate only to have them shoot you? That split-second moment of betrayal—the knot of self-doubt that follows—is a universal experience. It makes us wonder: was that choice inevitable? Did I miss something? Or should I have simply gone for the kill?
For many gamers, navigating these high-stakes scenarios is an exercise in managing risk and diplomacy. But what if the world of gaming isn’t just a place for adrenaline, but a fascinating, high-speed laboratory for understanding human behavior?
This collision of digital worlds and political theory is the focus of James ‘Pigeon’ Fielder, a political scientist who specializes in gaming. Fielder brings an entirely new lens to the game, viewing virtual environments not just as entertainment, but as spaces where complex political phenomena can unfold in real-time.
Fielder posits that games are powerful tools for observing human interaction on a massive scale. He compares the process to conducting “fruit fly experiments,” using game worlds like EVE Online to watch political dynamics evolve over weeks or months—processes that might take decades in the real world.
The effectiveness of games stems from their ability to generate deeply felt, authentic emotions. Whether you rage-quit a game or engage in complex roleplaying, the feelings generated are very real. Games allow players to inhabit different mental states, which is crucial for developing empathy.
Fielder illustrates this with the power of roleplaying. When a player inhabits a persona—like a prisoner playing a lawful good hero, or a thief engaging in violence—they gain insight into that mindset. By experiencing the world through another character, players can develop new perspectives and instil empathy, something invaluable in navigating real-world conflicts.
Beyond empathy, games teach us about the mechanics of cooperation. In fast-paced extraction shooters, the rules of the game dictate player behavior. For cooperation to thrive, the rules must explicitly support it. This is why games that emphasize trust, like Arc Raiders, foster better teamwork than those where the instinct is simply to kill everyone.
Fielder notes that trust is often established faster when there is an exchange of value. Offering something valuable, even a simple gesture of non-aggression, can make an audience more receptive. This principle applies equally to game design: players thrive when they feel powerful and when the decisions they make, even when facing difficult odds, feel fair. This is why players are more likely to accept outcomes when the dice seem to work against them.
Ultimately, Fielder’s work suggests that gaming has the potential to be the most inclusive space for conflict resolution. By sitting down to play and work toward a shared objective, players learn how to overcome differences. The challenge now is to ensure that the digital arena reflects the inclusive, empathetic principles we strive for in our real-world communities.
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