System and methods for dynamically adjusting game components based on a user's profile

1. A computer-executable method for adjusting a set of game mechanics associated with a video game environment, the method comprising:

loading, by a computing device, a game-mechanics-adjusting application from storage into memory;

obtaining a psychosocial profile associated with a user, wherein the psychosocial profile includes at least one personality trait that influences the user's participation in a video game environment of a video game system;

selecting, by the computing device, a game mechanic that controls an aspect of the video game environment, and is positively correlated to a personality trait of the psychosocial profile, wherein a respective game mechanic positively correlates to a personality trait of users that experience an increased enjoyment in participating in the video game environment when the video game system adjusts the game mechanic to influence the users;

adjusting the game mechanic to motivate the user to perform a task within the video game environment;

determining whether the adjusted game mechanic has motivated the user to perform the task; and

responsive to determining that the adjusted game mechanic has not motivated the user, adjusting one or more other game mechanics that controls other aspects of the video game environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

observing the user's behavior while the user is using the video game environment; and

re-adjusting the game mechanics based on the observed user behavior.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

updating the psychosocial profile associated with the user based on the observed user behavior.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the psychosocial profile includes at least one of:

Big Five personality traits; and

a number of socio-demographic variables.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the socio-demographic variables include one or more of:

age;

gender;

ethnicity; and

body mass index (BMI).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the game mechanics involves at least one of:

activating a first game mechanic; and

deactivating a second game mechanic.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the game mechanics includes at least one of:

activating game mechanics that leverages one or more of points, goals, levels, progress bars, and leader boards to motivate the user to achieve a task;

activating one of game mechanics that leverages competition and gifting to motivate the user to socialize; and

activating one of game mechanics that leverages one or more of an avatar, a narrative, music, visual realism, and pacing to motivate the user through immersion.

8. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for adjusting a set of game mechanics associated with a video game environment, the method comprising:

loading, by a computing device, a game-mechanics-adjusting application from storage into memory;

obtaining a psychosocial profile associated with a user, wherein the psychosocial profile includes at least one personality trait that influences the user's participation in a video game environment of the video game system;

selecting, by the computing device, a game mechanic that controls an aspect of the video game environment, and is positively correlated to a personality trait of the psychosocial profile, wherein a respective game mechanic positively correlates to a personality trait of users that experience an increased enjoyment in participating in the video game environment when the video game system adjusts the game mechanic to influence the users;

adjusting the game mechanic to motivate the user to perform a task within the video game environment;

determining whether the adjusted game mechanic has motivated the user to perform the task; and

responsive to determining that the adjusted game mechanic has not motivated the user, adjusting one or more other game mechanics that controls other aspects of the video game environment.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:

observing the user's behavior while the user is using the video game environment; and

re-adjusting the game mechanics based on the observed user behavior.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:

updating the psychosocial profile associated with the user based on the observed user behavior.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the psychosocial profile includes at least one of:

Big Five personality traits; and

a number of socio-demographic variables.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the socio-demographic variables include one or more of:

age;

gender;

ethnicity; and

body mass index (BMI).

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the game mechanics involves at least one of:

activating a first game mechanic; and

deactivating a second game mechanic.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the game mechanics includes at least one of:

activating game mechanics that leverages one or more of points, goals, levels, progress bars, and leader boards to motivate the user to achieve a task;

activating one of game mechanics that leverages competition and gifting to motivate the user to socialize; and

activating one of game mechanics that leverages one or more of an avatar, a narrative, music, visual realism, and pacing to motivate the user through immersion.

15. A game system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform a method for adjusting a set of game mechanics associated with a video game environment, the method comprising:

loading, by a computing device, a game-mechanics-adjusting application from storage into memory;

obtaining a psychosocial profile associated with a user, wherein the psychosocial profile includes at least one personality trait that influences the user's participation in a video game environment of a video game system;

selecting, by the computing device, a game mechanic that controls an aspect of the video game environment, and is positively correlated to a personality trait of the psychosocial profile, wherein a respective game mechanic positively correlates to a personality trait of users that experience an increased enjoyment in participating in the video game environment when the video game system adjusts the game mechanic to influence the users;

adjusting the game mechanic to motivate the user to perform a task within the video game environment;

determining whether the adjusted game mechanic has motivated the user to perform the task; and

responsive to determining that the adjusted game mechanic has not motivated the user, adjusting one or more other game mechanics that controls other aspects of the video game environment.

16. The game system of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

observing the user's behavior while the user is using the video game environment; and

re-adjusting the game mechanics based on the observed user behavior.

17. The game system of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises: updating the psychosocial profile associated with the user based on the observed user behavior.

18. The game system of claim 15 , wherein the psychosocial profile includes at least one of:

Big Five personality traits; and

a number of socio-demographic variables.

19. The game system of claim 18 , wherein the socio-demographic variables include one or more of:

age;

gender;

ethnicity; and

body mass index (BMI).

20. The game system of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the game mechanics involves at least one of:

activating a first game mechanic; and

deactivating a second game mechanic.

21. The game system of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the game mechanics includes at least one of:

activating game mechanics that leverages points, goals, levels, progress bars, and leader boards to motivate the user to achieve a task;

activating one of game mechanics that leverages competition and gifting to motivate the user to socialize; and

activating one of game mechanics that leverages one or more of an avatar, a narrative, music, visual realism, and pacing to motivate the user through immersion.