Project Details

SWaGUR: Saskatchewan-Waterloo Games User Research

People

Lead

Lennart Nacke
Director of the HCI Games Group

Members

Giovanni Ribeiro
Master's Student, Games User Research

Marim Ganaba
Master's Student and UX Researcher

Melissa Stocco
Undergraduate Researcher

Gustavo Fortes Tondello
Ph.D. Researcher, Personalization of Gameful Interactive Systems

Rina Wehbe
Ph.D. Student, Errors, Perception of AI, Health Games

Colin Whaley
Undergraduate Researcher, Biomedical Sciences, Older Adults and Technology

Karina Arrambide
Ph.D. Student, Games User Research

Katja Rogers
Postdoctoral Researcher, Game Audio and VR Experiences

Pejman Mirza-Babaei
Affiliated Faculty

Mitchell Loewen
Undergraduate Researcher, Psychology

Alberto Mora
Visiting Ph.D. Student, Gamification Elements

Dennis Kappen
Ph.D. Graduate, Game Design and User Interaction for Older Adults

Julia Brich
Visiting Ph.D. Student, Game Development for Human Emotions

Kai Bornemann
Visiting Master's Student, Unity Development

Lukas Schabler
Visiting Master's Student, Unity Development

Ruth Castillo
Visiting Ph.D. Student, Educational Games

Sultan Alharthi
Visiting Ph.D Student, Planning Interfaces

Andrew Cen
Master's Student, Game Design Research

Basim Sahaf
Undergraduate Researcher, Unity Development

Joseph Tu
Master's Student, Game Design Research, Emotion in Games

Kenny Fung
Master's Student, Unity and Angular Development

Mahir Hoque
Undergraduate Researcher, UX Design

Michelle Alkema (Poon)
UX Researcher, Language Learning Games

Derrick Maruko Wang
Master's Student, Game Design Research, Player Emotions

Publications

Biologically-Inspired Gameplay: Movement Algorithms for Artificially Intelligent (AI) Non-Player Characters (NPC)

@inproceedings{Wehbe:2019:10.20380/GI2019.28,
 author = {Wehbe, Rina and Riberio, Giovanni and Fung, Kin and Nacke, Lennart and Lank, Edward},
 title = {Biologically-Inspired Gameplay: Movement Algorithms for Artificially Intelligent (AI) Non-Player Characters (NPC)},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of Graphics Interface 2019},
 series = {GI 2019},
 year = {2019},
 issn = {0713-5424},
 isbn = {978-0-9947868-4-5},
 location = {Kingston, Ontario},
 numpages = {9},
 doi = {10.20380/GI2019.28},
 publisher = {Canadian Information Processing Society},
 keywords = {Games User Research (GUR), Biological Algorithms, Non-player Characters (NPCs), Artifical Intelligence (AI), Movement in Games},
}

In computer games, designers frequently leverage biologicallyinspired movement algorithms such as flocking, particle swarm optimization, and firefly algorithms to give players the perception of intelligent behaviour of groups of enemy non-player characters (NPCs). While extensive effort has been expended designing these algorithms, a comparison between biologically inspired algorithms and naive directional algorithms (travel towards the opponent) has yet to be completed. In this paper, we compare the biological algorithms listed above against a naive control algorithm to assess the effect that these algorithms have on various measures of player experience. The results reveal that the Swarming algorithm, followed closely by Flocking, provide the best gaming experience. However, players noted that the firefly algorithm was most salient. An understanding of the strengths of different behavioural algorithms for NPCs will contribute to the design of algorithms that depict more intelligent crowd behaviour in gaming and computer simulations.

Player Characteristics and Video Game Preferences

@inproceedings{Tondello2019c,
abstract = {The Games User Research literature has advanced considerably on understanding why people play games and what different types of games or mechanics they prefer. However, what has been less studied is how models of player preferences explain their game choices. In this study, we address this question by combining and analyzing two datasets (N = 188 and N = 332) containing data about the games that participants enjoy, their player trait scores, and their preferred game elements and playing styles. The results provide evidence that these scores can significantly explain participants' preferences for different games. Additionally, we provide information about the characteristics of players who enjoy each game.},
address = {Barcelona, Spain},
author = {Tondello, Gustavo F. and Nacke, Lennart E.},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2019 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play - CHI PLAY '19},
doi = {10.1145/3311350.3347185},
isbn = {9781450366885},
keywords = {game elements,games user research,personalization,player preferences,player traits,video games},
publisher = {ACM},
title = {{Player Characteristics and Video Game Preferences}},
year = {2019}
}

The Games User Research literature has advanced considerably on understanding why people play games and what different types of games or mechanics they prefer. However, what has been less studied is how models of player preferences explain their game choices. In this study, we address this question by combining and analyzing two datasets (N = 188 and N = 332) containing data about the games that participants enjoy, their player trait scores, and their preferred game elements and playing styles. The results provide evidence that these scores can significantly explain participants’ preferences for different games. Additionally, we provide information about the characteristics of players who enjoy each game.

“I don't fit into a single type”: A Trait Model and Scale of Game Playing Preferences

@inproceedings{Tondello2019b,
author = {Tondello, Gustavo F. and Arrambide, Karina and Ribeiro, Giovanni and Cen, Andrew and Nacke, Lennart E.},
booktitle = {Proceedings of INTERACT 2019, LNCS 11747},
publisher = {Springer},
title = {{“I don't fit into a single type”: A Trait Model and Scale of Game Playing Preferences}},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-29384-0_23}
}

Player typology models classify different player motivations and behaviours. These models are necessary to design personalized games or to target specific audiences. However, many models lack validation and standard measurement instruments. Additionally, they rely on type theories, which split players into separate categories. Yet, personality research has lately favoured trait theories, which recognize that people's preferences are composed of a sum of different characteristics. Given these shortcomings of existing models, we developed a player traits model built on a detailed review and synthesis of the extant literature, which introduces five player traits: aesthetic orientation, narrative orientation, goal orientation, social orientation, and challenge orientation. Furthermore, we created and validated a 25-item measurement scale for the five player traits. This scale outputs a player profile, which describes participants' preferences for different game elements and game playing styles. Finally, we demonstrate that this is the first validated player preferences model and how it serves as an actionable tool for personalized game design.

A Theory of Gamification Principles Through Goal-Setting Theory

@inproceedings{Tondello2018a,
abstract = {Goal-setting theory has been used for decades to explain how to motivate people to perform better in work-related tasks, but more recently gamification has also gained attention as an alternative method to increase engagement and performance in many contexts. However, despite goals and feedback being common elements of gameful implementations, there is a lack of literature explaining how gamification works through the lens of goal-setting theory or suggesting how goal-setting concepts and recommendations can be employed to improve gameful systems. Therefore, we present a literature review and a conceptual framework that establishes a relationship between goal-setting and gamification concepts. Next, we describe how this framework can help explain gamification principles and suggest potential improvements to current gameful design methods. Finally, we propose directions for future empirical research aimed to apply this conceptual framework in practice.},
author = {Tondello, Gustavo F. and Premsukh, Hardy and Nacke, Lennart E.},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 51st Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS)},
publisher = {IEEE},
title = {{A Theory of Gamification Principles Through Goal-Setting Theory}},
year = {2018}
}

Goal-setting theory has been used for decades to explain how to motivate people to perform better in work-related tasks, but more recently gamification has also gained attention as an alternative method to increase engagement and performance in many contexts. However, despite goals and feedback being common elements of gameful implementations, there is a lack of literature explaining how gamification works through the lens of goal-setting theory or suggesting how goal-setting concepts and recommendations can be employed to improve gameful systems. Therefore, we present a literature review and a conceptual framework that establishes a relationship between goal-setting and gamification concepts. Next, we describe how this framework can help explain gamification principles and suggest potential improvements to current gameful design methods. Finally, we propose directions for future empirical research aimed to apply this conceptual framework in practice.

Curiously Motivated: Profiling Curiosity with Self-Reports and Behaviour Metrics in the Game “Destiny”

@inproceedings{Schaekermann2017,
abstract = {Identifying player motivations such as curiosity could help game designers analyze player profiles and substantially improve game design. However, research on player profiling focuses on generalized personality traits, not specific aspects of motivation. This study examines how player behaviour indicates constructs of curiosity-related motivation. It contributes a more discriminating operationalization of game-related curiosity. We derive a curiosity measure from established self-report survey methodologies relating to social capital, behavioural activation, obsessive/harmonious passion, and BrainHex player types. We present the results of a cross-sectional study with data from 1,745 players of Destiny—a popular shared-world first-person shooter (FPS) game. Behaviour metrics were paired with four curiosity factors: ‘social' curiosity, ‘sensory/cognitive' curiosity, ‘novelty-seeking' curiosity, and ‘explorative' curiosity. Our findings provide key insights into the relationships between players curiosity and their in-game behaviour. We infer curiosity-related motivational profiles from behaviour metrics, and discuss how this may impact game design and player-computer interaction.},
author = {Schaekermann, Mike and Ribeiro, Giovanni and Wallner, Guenter and Kriglstein, Simone and Johnson, Daniel and Drachen, Anders and Sifa, Rafet and Nacke, Lennart E},
booktitle = {The ACM SIGCHI Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play (CHI PLAY 2017)},
doi = {10.1145/3116595.3116603},
isbn = {9781450348980},
mendeley-groups = {HCI Games Group Publications},
publisher = {ACM},
title = {{Curiously Motivated: Profiling Curiosity with Self-Reports and Behaviour Metrics in the Game "Destiny"}},
year = {2017}
}

Identifying player motivations such as curiosity could help game designers analyze player profiles and substantially improve game design. However, research on player profiling focuses on generalized personality traits, not specific aspects of motivation. This study examines how player behaviour indicates constructs of curiosity-related motivation. It contributes a more discriminating operationalization of game-related curiosity. We derive a curiosity measure from established self-report survey methodologies relating to social capital, behavioural activation, obsessive/harmonious passion, and BrainHex player types. We present the results of a cross-sectional study with data from 1,745 players of Destiny—a popular shared-world first-person shooter (FPS) game. Behaviour metrics were paired with four curiosity factors: ‘social’ curiosity, ‘sensory/cognitive’ curiosity, ‘novelty-seeking’ curiosity, and ‘explorative’ curiosity. Our findings provide key insights into the relationships between players curiosity and their in-game behaviour. We infer curiosity-related motivational profiles from behaviour metrics, and discuss how this may impact game design and player-computer interaction.

From Joysticks to Pokémon Go: Games and Play Research in SIGCHI

@inproceedings{Nacke2017c,
address = {Denver, CO, USA},
author = {Nacke, Lennart E and Toups, Zachary O and Johnson, Daniel},
booktitle = {Proceeding of the 2017 ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI 2017},
doi = {10.1145/3027063.3049284},
isbn = {9781450346566},
pages = {1330--1333},
publisher = {ACM},
title = {{From Joysticks to Pok{\'{e}}mon Go : Games and Play Research in SIGCHI}},
year = {2017}
}

At CHI 2016, a record number of games-related papers were accepted into the conference proceedings and the SIG meeting for games attracted almost 100 people. The games and play subcommittee remained strong at CHI 2017 and showed a variety of submissions. In addition, we see games practitioners within the SIGCHI community running workshops and taking part in the CHI conference. This SIG will continue to be an important forum for everyone doing games research at CHI. We want to engage the community in a discussion about the directions that games research at CHI should take and gather feedback about current HCI research trends for games. To expand this community, we plan to discuss current HCI and games trends, academic dissemination, community outreach, and collaborations with practitioners.