Field Of Video Games Research Articles

THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND SPECIAL SERVICES IN COMBATING CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE FIELD OF COMPUTER GAMES, AND TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR PREVENTION

Cybercrimes have appeared in crime statistics only in the last two to three decades, but this is the most actively developing area of criminal activity. As an actively developing area of criminal behavior, new directions are actively appearing in it, one of which is crimes in the field of computer games. This area of criminal activity has appeared relatively recently, which causes significant difficulties in practice, since the reason for initiating a criminal case is not always clear, difficulties arise with the preliminary investigation and the very proof of the fact of the commission of a crime. The article analyzes the content of the activities of law enforcement agencies and special services in their specific application to the prevention and investigation of crimes related to computer games. The concept of "hacking" is considered, its division into types and the content of such information activities is investigated. Technical means for the prevention of crimes in the field of computer games are also proposed and justified, since it is technical solutions for the prevention of crimes in the field of computer games that play the most important role in the implementation of activities to ensure the safety of the virtual gaming space, and the subsequent protection of players from various types of criminal activity, expressed in the commission of various socially dangerous crimes by users.

THE IMPACT OF MICROTRANSACTIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER GAME BUSINESS MODELS

The paper deals with the impact of microtransactions on the development of new business models in the field of computer games, caused by various monetized offerings within computer games, as well as other platforms such as gaming consoles and smartphones. The paper also examines the reasons for the emergence of business models based on microtransactions in the video game industry and the influence of the industry’s transition towards a consumer-oriented model. The central hypothesis of the paper is that microtransactions have a strong impact on the development of business models in the entire video game industry, and that over time, the value of products monetized in this way increases, despite consumers’ efforts to prevent this development direction of the industry. The paper conducted research on a population of consumers of video game content, mainly students of the Faculty of Organization and Informatics at the University of Zagreb, as well as respondents from other EU countries. The conclusion is that the number of microtransactions and the number of business models based on microtransactions will continue to grow in the future, but there are ways to combat those forms of microtransactions that have negative effects on consumers, especially minors, and, in some situations, even illegal.

РАЗРАБОТКА КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТНОЙ МОДЕЛИ ТРЕБОВАНИЙ К РЕЗУЛЬТАТАМ ОБУЧЕНИЯ СПЕЦИАЛИСТОВ СФЕРЫ КОМПЬЮТЕРНОЙ ГРАФИКИ И ИГРОВЫХ СПЕЦЭФФЕКТОВ

Today, the industry of computer graphics and game special effects and its application in the development of computer games, virtual/augmented reality (Ar / Vr) occupies a leading position in all areas of life. The training of specialists for the computer graphics and animation industry is very important. However, today, in higher educational institutions there are no disciplines that consider the knowledge and skills of working with computer graphics and special effects for game development and Ar / Vr. The computer games industry is mainly self-taught, who study independently in certain areas of graphics from separate courses. There is no complete course in computer graphics for the computer games industry, Ar/Vr. We have decided to develop an electronic course on the discipline “Fundamentals of creating computer graphics and game special effects for the industry of computer games and virtual/augmented reality”. We have presented in detail the description of the development of a computer model of requirements for the results of training of specialists in the field of computer graphics and game special effects in the gaming industry. After analyzing the theory, a list of professions of people who are employed in the industry was described and their functionality was highlighted. Based on previously identified professions, using international standards, the requirements for the competencies of IT specialists in the field of computer games, computer graphics and animation have been formed. From the identified competencies, a competency-based model of requirements for learning outcomes in the subject areas of the computer graphics and animation industry in the computer games industry was synthesized.

Avant-Garde, Emergency, and Digital Games Discourse

What may be considered as the greatest emergency in the contemporary world is the lack of a sense of emergency; the prevailing feeling that everything is fine, that, despite ongoing crises, we live in the only acceptable system, and it is impossible to imagine any alternative to it. Mainstream digital games, by offering repetitive, standardised, and predictable forms of gameplay, by focusing on technological advancement, and by exploiting workers in large corporations, became a part of that emergency. According to Santiago Zabala, what is needed to recover the sense of emergency and to break through contemporary complacency, is an “aesthetic force,” a disruptive artistic shock. What is proposed in this article is the possibility of considering the avant-garde as an aesthetical force in the field of videogames; a force that shocks the player and demands something more than a simple contemplation. As presented by game scholars, avant- -garde videogames (through formal experimentation and political intervention) open the medium, and propose games that object to standardised, mindless repetition. Avant-garde games proclaim new ways of playing, accept diversity that opposes the stereotypical image of a player as a white, heterosexual male, and propose new kinds of engagement with the outside world. They tend to “remove the automatism of the perception” by disrupting players’ engagement and through disclosure of the system. To achieve that, avant-garde videogames break through the category of flow, problematize notions of videogame hermeneutic and interrupt the feeling of immersion.

MODELING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERACTIVE GAME

The purpose of the article is development of the issue of increasing the interest in the issue of the interactive entertainment industry, in particular in such areas as the development of electronic games, as well as coverage of the issue of independent product development and content of the compound. During the research, such a program product was developed, with usage of author’s content, to avoid the similarities with the other products. Today, the information technology sphere remains one of the leading sectors of the economy. The field of computer games, in turn, is one of the most popular areas of information technology development. Over the past 50 years, this segment has only strengthened its position in the global entertainment market and continues to grow. Profits from the sale of games are growing, as is the demand for them, because nowadays more people play electronic games than ever before. Due to the inconvenience of the financial plan on the part of publishers involved in the distribution of computer games, the phenomenon of indie games has emerged - projects that are independent from a financial and creative point of view. This article is devoted to the issue of modeling and development of computer indie games. The above-mentioned computer game being developed is a representative of the "visual novel" genre. The main purpose of any game is to meet the needs of end users - players - in the organization of their own leisure, as well as making a profit from the game. The software product under development is an electronic (computer) game called "PRIESTESS", developed using the tools of the engine "Ren'Py" and high-level programming language "Python", the graphical shell of the project is created using the graphical editor "Photoshop CS5". All the necessary models, schemes, diagrams and algorithms were made before the development, and built by means of the Internet resource "draw.io".

Images of game and gamer in the space of literature and computer games

The subject of this research is the images of game and gamers. In the space of literary work, they are arrayed in metaphorical and often demonic raiment, receiving moral-ethical interpretation in one or another way. The problem of game and gamer in criticism was regarded by Y. Mann (“On the Concept of Game as a Literary Image”), V. V. Vinogradov (“Style of the Queen of Spades”), E. Dobin (“Ace and Queen”, A. Pushkin’s “The Queen of Spades”), R. Caillois (“Games and People”), British writer and researcher of online games R, Bartle, American scientist Nick Yee, and many others. However, juxtaposition of literature sources on the topic to the research in the field of computer games is conducted for the first time. The scientific novelty consists in the comprehensive examination of the psychological game of the gamer based on the material of Russian literature (A. S. Pushkin “The Queen of Spades”, V. V. Nabokov The Luzhin Defense”) , as well as the modern computer games practice, in which psychological type of the gamer found its realization and development in accordance with genre diversity. Even the Russian classical literature depict game as an autonomous space that encompasses the gamer, and often has devastating effect on their personality. The author also observes an important characterological trait of the gamer: the conceptual, “literal” perception of the world, which is based on the reception of visual images of the world against verbal. Therefore, the Russian literature alongside the research practice of modern videogames from different angles approach examination of the images of “game and gamer”, cognize the factors and consequences of the problems that emerge in this object field, as well as seek for their solution. The data acquired in the course of the conducted comparative analysis is mutually enriching.

The Effect of the Colours on the Perception of Time among Players of Computer Games: A Narrative Review

Introduction: Colors are among the effective factors in human life, which are related to human feelings and emotions more closely than other visual elements. The perception of time may vary in different physical environments according to the colors. The aim of this study is to review the studies on the effects of colors on the perception of time in computer games. Materials and Methods: Data were collected through library research in Civilca, Noormags, Scientific Information Database (SID), and Scopus databases; Google Scholar and Science Direct search engines were also used. The search keywords included: color, color psychology, time, and time perception. English and Persian articles since 2000 (1380 Persian Calendar) were included. Results: Among 65 articles found regarding colors and psychology of colors as well as the perception of time and color impact on the perception of time, 28 articles, which were related most, were selected. Based on the search, it seems that the plan had not been investigated in the context of the computer games. According to the studies in the field of architecture on some colors (blue and red), these colors may also be used in computer games. With the combination of these colors, perfect time perception may be provided for game players Conclusion: The time perception and the impact of color on it was often investigated in architectural studies and interior or urban decoration while no study was found specifically in the field of computer games. Although those studies may be considered as the basis for implementing color compositions in computer game graphics, scientific studies basically in the field of computer games are essential for detailed analysis.

POČÍTAČOVÉ HRY, JEJICH DĚLENÍ, SOUČASNÉ TENDENCE VÝVOJE A ZÁKLADNÍ VÝZKUMNÁ ŠETŘENÍ Z OBLASTI POČÍTAČOVÝCH HER

Pocitacove hry je dnes možne provozovat teměř na každe platformě, můžeme se s nimi setkat na pocitaci, mobilnim telefonu, hernich konzolich a jiných digitalnich zařizenich. Přispěvek se snaži poskytnout zakladni informace v oblasti pocitacových her. V uvodni casti se věnuje zakladnim elementům pocitacových her a důvodům jejich přitažlivosti. Dale se zabýva dělenim pocitacových her a popisuje soucasne tendence vývoje v oblasti pocitacových her (technologie, ovladaci rozhrani aj.). V posledni casti clanku jsou uvedena zakladni výzkumna setřeni z oblasti pocitacových her.

Development of an Instrument for Studying Flow in Computer Game Play

Flow theory (Csikszentmihalyi, 1993; Csikszentmihalyi & Csikszentmihalyi, 1990; Csikszentmihalyi & LeFevre, 1989) has been widely adopted in research on computer games (e.g., Fu, Su, & Yu, 2009; Sherry, 2004; Sweetser & Wyeth, 2005). According to this theory, flow leads to enjoyment, a central construct in computer games. However, no such instrument, adopting a rigorous process to measure all flow elements in the field of computer games, has been developed and validated to date. An effective measurement of flow experiences during computer game play is essential to study how a flow state can be induced. It will assist game designers in understanding the strength and flaw of the game from a player's perspective. This article reports on the development of an instrument measuring all flow elements in computer game play, based on the flow theory, and following a rigorous method introduced by Moore and Benbasat (1991). The results show that the validity and reliability of the instrument are satisfactory. This instrument will help information systems researchers further investigate how to apply flow theory in computer games to improve enjoyment and thus game design.

Action Selection for Game Play Agents Using Genetic Algorithms in Platform Game Computational Intelligence Competitions

The application of computational intelligence (CI) and artificial intelligence (AI) to games has been attempted as a typical implementation of intelligent processing on computers. Intelligence in this sense is understood as the ability to search for the best solution efficiently among multiple options, specifically in AI playing board games such as chess. As the processing ability of computers increases, CI/AI systems are outperforming humans in finding potential solutions from a tremendous number of options within a short timeframe. These days, computer games are widely prevalent. CI/AI applications in computer games are focused on animating non-player characters (NPCs), whereas CI/AI applications in the scientific fields are focused on modeling intelligent human activities. The field of computer games faces many issues, such as dealing with dynamic environments that change quickly and processing images at higher resolutions and complexity. The use of computer games as a benchmark for CI/AI technologies has been attempted, and competitions involving various kinds of games have been held to encourage innovation in the field. In this paper, we describe a learning agent that participated in a platform game CI competition held in conjunction with Fuzzy System Symposium (FSS 2012). The approach adopted in this paper is a basic method based on conventional methods. The authors hope that this presentation of our development processes would encourage many researchers to participate in competitions and that it would contribute to progress in the field.

Development of an Instrument to Measure Enjoyment of Computer Game Play

This article reports on the development of an instrument designed to measure the enjoyment of computer game play. Despite the enormous technological progress in the field of computer games, enjoyment of computer game play is still not a well-defined construct. Based on Nabi and Krcmar's (2004) tripartite model of media enjoyment, a survey questionnaire was developed to measure computer game players' affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions. Expert consultation, exploratory, and confirmatory card sorting sessions were used to refine the instrument. A survey of computer game players was subsequently conducted to test the instrument. Reliabilities and construct validities were analyzed. Findings and their implications were discussed.

Real Time Animation of Trees Based on BBSC in Computer Games

That researchers in the field of computer games usually find it is difficult to simulate the motion of actual 3D model trees lies in the fact that the tree model itself has very complicated structure, and many sophisticated factors need to be considered during the simulation. Though there are some works on simulating 3D tree and its motion, few of them are used in computer games due to the high demand for real-time in computer games. In this paper, an approach of animating trees in computer games based on a novel tree model representation—Ball B-Spline Curves (BBSCs) are proposed. By taking advantage of the good features of the BBSC-based model, physical simulation of the motion of leafless trees with wind blowing becomes easier and more efficient. The method can generate realistic 3D tree animation in real-time, which meets the high requirement for real time in computer games.

MODELING AND AUGMENTING GAME ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH CHALLENGE AND CURIOSITY

This paper presents quantitative measurements/metrics of qualitative entertainment features within computer game environments and proposes artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for optimizing entertainment in such interactive systems. A human-verified metric of interest (i.e. player entertainment in real-time) for predator/prey games and a neuro-evolution on-line learning (i.e. during play) approach have already been reported in the literature to serve this purpose. In this paper, an alternative quantitative approach to entertainment modeling based on psychological studies in the field of computer games is introduced and a comparative study of the two approaches is presented. Feedforward neural networks (NNs) and fuzzy-NNs are used to model player satisfaction (interest) in real-time and investigate quantitatively how the qualitative factors of challenge and curiosity contribute to human entertainment. We demonstrate that appropriate non-extreme levels of challenge and curiosity generate high values of entertainment and we project the extensibility of the approach to other genres of digital entertainment (e.g. mixed-reality interactive playgrounds).