Track and feel: The effects of user-generated content on engagement and learning in video games

Abstract

In video games user-generated content (UGC) typically refers to the elements added to the game world by the players as opposed to the game developers. While an increasing number of game environments permit UGC, little is known about whether creating content for the game increases players' sense of engagement and ability to learn from the game. In this study, two groups of players played a racing game for the same amount of time; one of the groups raced in a sequence of tracks while the other group used the game's editor to create original tracks. We explored in this study how time spent creating original content affects the player's physiological arousal, engagement level, and memory of the game environment. While results in this preliminary study were modest, they indicate a few interesting findings such as effects on player competitiveness, and they suggest several directions for future investigation.