Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer

MA Gómez Maureira; DP Janssen; S Gualeni; M. Westerlaken; L Calvi

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6

Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer

MA Gómez Maureira, DP Janssen, S Gualeni, M. Westerlaken, L Calvi

Academy for Games & Media

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

In this paper we compare the effects of using three game user research methodologies to assist in shaping levels for a 2-D platformer game, and illustrate how the use of such methodologies can help level designers to make more informed decisions in an otherwise qualitative oriented design process. Game user interviews, game metrics and psychophysiology (biometrics) were combined in pairs to gauge usefulness in small-scale commercial game development scenarios such as the casual game industry. Based on the recommendations made by the methods, three sample levels of a Super Mario clone were improved and the opinions of a second sample of users indicated the success of these changes. We conclude that user interviews provide the clearest indications for improvement among the considered methodologies while metrics and biometrics add different types of information that cannot be obtained otherwise.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Advances in Computer Entertainment
Editors	D Reidsma, H Katayose, A Nijholt
Publisher	Springer
Pages	77-92
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Electronic)	9783319031613
ISBN (Print)	9783319031606
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6
Publication status	Published - 2013
Event	ACE 2013: 10th Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment, 14-11-2013; 2013 - Duration: 12 Nov 2013 → 15 Nov 2013

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	8253

Conference

Conference	ACE 2013: 10th Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment, 14-11-2013; 2013
Period	12/11/13 → 15/11/13

Keywords

Biometrics
Casual games
Combined methodologies
Game industry
Games
Games user research
Level design
Physiological measures
Platformer
Quality assurance
User testing

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6

BIOMETRIC DESIGN FOR CASUAL GAMES
Calvi, L., van Gisbergen, M., Janssen, D., Gualeni, S., Khan, J. & Davies, O.
RAAK SIA
1/01/10 → 31/12/13
Project: Other

Cite this

Gómez Maureira, MA., Janssen, DP., Gualeni, S., Westerlaken, M., & Calvi, L. (2013). Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer. In D. Reidsma, H. Katayose, & A. Nijholt (Eds.), Advances in Computer Entertainment (pp. 77-92). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 8253). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6

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title = "Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer",

abstract = "In this paper we compare the effects of using three game user research methodologies to assist in shaping levels for a 2-D platformer game, and illustrate how the use of such methodologies can help level designers to make more informed decisions in an otherwise qualitative oriented design process. Game user interviews, game metrics and psychophysiology (biometrics) were combined in pairs to gauge usefulness in small-scale commercial game development scenarios such as the casual game industry. Based on the recommendations made by the methods, three sample levels of a Super Mario clone were improved and the opinions of a second sample of users indicated the success of these changes. We conclude that user interviews provide the clearest indications for improvement among the considered methodologies while metrics and biometrics add different types of information that cannot be obtained otherwise.",

keywords = "Biometrics, Casual games, Combined methodologies, Game industry, Games, Games user research, Level design, Physiological measures, Platformer, Quality assurance, User testing",

author = "{G{\'o}mez Maureira}, MA and DP Janssen and S Gualeni and M. Westerlaken and L Calvi",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783319031606",

series = "Lecture Notes in Computer Science",

publisher = "Springer",

pages = "77--92",

editor = "D Reidsma and H Katayose and A Nijholt",

booktitle = "Advances in Computer Entertainment",

note = "ACE 2013: 10th Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment, 14-11-2013; 2013 ; Conference date: 12-11-2013 Through 15-11-2013",

}

Gómez Maureira, MA, Janssen, DP, Gualeni, S, Westerlaken, M & Calvi, L 2013, Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer. in D Reidsma, H Katayose & A Nijholt (eds), Advances in Computer Entertainment. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 8253, Springer, pp. 77-92, ACE 2013: 10th Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment, 14-11-2013; 2013, 12/11/13. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6

Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer. / Gómez Maureira, MA; Janssen, DP; Gualeni, S et al.
Advances in Computer Entertainment. ed. / D Reidsma; H Katayose; A Nijholt. Springer, 2013. p. 77-92 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 8253).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

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AB - In this paper we compare the effects of using three game user research methodologies to assist in shaping levels for a 2-D platformer game, and illustrate how the use of such methodologies can help level designers to make more informed decisions in an otherwise qualitative oriented design process. Game user interviews, game metrics and psychophysiology (biometrics) were combined in pairs to gauge usefulness in small-scale commercial game development scenarios such as the casual game industry. Based on the recommendations made by the methods, three sample levels of a Super Mario clone were improved and the opinions of a second sample of users indicated the success of these changes. We conclude that user interviews provide the clearest indications for improvement among the considered methodologies while metrics and biometrics add different types of information that cannot be obtained otherwise.

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Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

BIOMETRIC DESIGN FOR CASUAL GAMES

Cite this