Mobile Game User Research: The World as Your Lab?

IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, 2013

DiGRA '19 - Proceedings of the 2019 DiGRA International Conference, 2019

In this paper we present a qualitative research methodology for conducting scholarly remote player studies, derived from a comparison of player-testing protocols. Within the game design research field, approaches to studying designs are frequently adapted from standardized player-testing techniques. These often focus on measuring player experience so a design may be evaluated. While such methods provide a useful basis for conducting iterative design studies, these present limitations for researchers seeking to interrogate design approaches outside of conventional assessment models or gameplay paradigms. We discuss these issues through a methodological lens, in the study of WORLD4, a game designed for experiences of ambiguity. Through a two-stage player experience case study we reveal methodological considerations, insights, and highlight disciplinary questions. In doing so we present a contextually aware, time and resource conscious method for conducting remote player studies, useful for game design researchers working outside of labs or investigating alternate design spaces.

Entertainment Computing

Unlike most other mobile applications, games are driven by their user experience rather than their functionality. No one wishes to play games that are either frustrating or difficult for the wrong reasons. Usability is an integral part of software development and is about maximizing the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction of the user. The delicacy of the user experience and heavy competition it can be argued render usability more important in games than it is in other software. Immersion and engagement are fundamental and core parts of the enjoyment of computer games, and both are dependent on usability. The focus of this article is around a framework for evaluating the usability of First Time User Experiences (FTUEs). Investigating two specific, off-theshelf games, we demonstrate that the FTUE can affect an element of usability, namely 'information quality', when controlling for the guidance and information presented. Despite this, overall usability is unaffected by the presence of the FTUE.

Simulation & Gaming, 2012

Digital games have evolved into diverse forms, and they touch many different areas of life in contemporary society. When approached together with the associated playful and serious behaviors, they profit from several research methodologies. This collection of articles introduces a range of research methodologies and aims to promote interdisciplinary dialogue in the study of games.

… computer interaction with mobile …, 2008

Games for Health Journal, 2016

Background: Player feedback is an important part of serious games, although there is no consensus regarding its delivery or optimal content. ''Mommio'' is a serious game designed to help mothers motivate their preschoolers to eat vegetables. The purpose of this study was to assess optimal format and content of player feedback for use in ''Mommio.'' Materials and Methods: The current study posed 36 potential ''Mommio'' gameplay feedback statements to 20 mothers using a Web survey and interview. Mothers were asked about the meaning and helpfulness of each feedback statement. Results: Several themes emerged upon thematic analysis, including identifying an effective alternative in the case of corrective feedback, avoiding vague wording, using succinct and correct grammar, avoiding provocation of guilt, and clearly identifying why players' game choice was correct or incorrect. Conclusions: Guidelines are proposed for future feedback statements.

2009

There are many new forms of entertainment in game industry. Often some of the forms are neglected in academic focus and research. Usually this is the case with marginal game forms. This paper will introduce two different, mobile device based game forms from the 21 century that are very successful among the users but are left out from the centre of game research. Qualitative studies of geocaching and SMS-to-TV human-hosted interactive TV games were conducted by analyzing the field of geocaching (by interviewing players and analysing geocachers’ web-pages and forums on the Internet) and iTV-entertainment (by recording sample of interactive TV-formats). These game phenomena were analyzed and discussed to answer the following questions: What kind of game culture these games represent? What new viewpoints they offer to the field of game studies? What are the reasons behind their success? What different dimensions can be found? Finally, why is it important to study marginal games and what...

Entertainment Computing

We introduce rapid game jams, a style of game jam that takes only 1-2 hours and is focused on design experimentation rather than on programming and technical implementation. To support that kind of rapid game-design experimentation, we have designed a class of games that we call fluidic games. These are mobile games in which the game mechanics and other aspects of the games are editable on the fly, directly on the device, allowing for frequent play/design context shifts. We have conducted four rapid game jams with 105 participants from a local Girlguiding organisation, in order to gain real-world experience with this concept. We analyse results from a survey instrument completed by 69 participants in two of these rapid game jams. In order to guide future work in addressing questions left open by this study, we did a qualitative analysis of the designed games to gain additional insights into participants' design practice.

tampub.uta.fi

Game Studies, 2005

There is a need for systematic, research-based and tested game design methodologies that take the needs and preferences of different players into better consideration than the current industry practices. In order to investigate the future of pervasive game playing on mobile devices the University of Tampere Hypermedia Laboratory's research project Wireless Gaming Solutions for the Future (MOGAME) has developed a prototype of a persistent multiplayer game. Rather than starting from the research team's own game preferences or by analyzing or imitating existing games, the team decided to commence the game design process by researching different "real players" and their preferences. The player study used gameplay scenarios that were presented to the informants in a comic strip format. After analysis, the key findings were summarized into design requirements that were then adopted as goals for the game design. A player -centred game design approach like this can be laborious and has its challenges, but it also provided useful information and inspiration for design. Thus, we argue that players should be more involved in game design and development than is currently typical. This paper describes and evaluates the experiences gathered while using a scenario-based player study to inform pervasive mobile game design.