About

“But the whole burden of my teaching is that you ought to be idle.” — The Grasshopper

I’m a game design researcher and educator examining how the psychological needs of players can be satisfied in the absence of challenge. Drawing from Self-Determination Theory and Cognitive Evaluation Theory, my work explores how idle games sustain motivation and engagement through rapid progression, positive feedback, and freedom from failure.

📧 justkingScholar@gmail.com

Games

Academic Writing

Publications & dissertation

Idle Yet Engaged: How Idle Games Satisfy Our Needs for Competence and Autonomy
Ph.D. Dissertation
Idle Games: A Cozy Genre Turned Exploitative
Replay. The Polish Journal of Game Studies (University of Łódź)
Motivation Through Coziness
In Media Res

3D

Reels & assignments

Pixel Art

GIFs & shorts

Angry bird pixel animation
Mountain scene pixel animation
Explosion pixel animation
Rain pixel animation
Plant pixel animation
Train pixel animation
Unicorn pixel animation
Trans-Pork pixel animation
TV pixel animation

Other Art

Illustrations & Inktober

Sheep illustration
Holiday illustration
Who's That Pokémon?
Inktober 2021
Inktober 2022
Inktober 2023