What Keeps Me Gaming: A Narrative Exploration on Online Gaming Motivators among Filipino Millennials

The swift evolution of modern technologies brought rapid advancements that led to the development of diverse forms of media that define the contemporary world. Among these, online games emerge as an influential trend that is leading the way in today's entertainment and interaction. This qualitative research aimed to determine the online gaming motivations of Filipino millennials, along with its connection to their gaming preferences and gaming continuance. The participants of the study were twelve (12) Filipino millennials who play online games, are currently employed, and residing in the National Capital Region. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data which was then analyzed through narrative thematic analysis. This resulted in nine major themes that encapsulate the gaming motivations of Filipino millennial gamers. The results show that the participants' primary motivations are the influence of their social environment, availability of gaming devices, appeal of gaming features, and use of gaming to cope. Moreover, their gaming preferences were also explored through reward systems, storyline, and game style. It was found that their initial gaming motivations were also the same drives for their continued gaming engagement. Essentially, Filipino millennial gamers consider gaming as a significant part of their lives. The implications of the study recommend propositions in education, career development, and counseling.