Expert Game Research Articles

Modeling Individual Differences in Game Behavior Using HMM

Player modeling is an important concept that has gained much attention in game research due to its utility in developing adaptive techniques to target better designs for engagement and retention. Previous work has explored modeling individual differences using machine learning algorithms performed on aggregated game actions. However, players’ individual differences may be better manifested through sequential patterns of the in-game player’s actions. While few works have explored sequential analysis of player data, none have explored the use of Hidden Markov Models (HMM) to model individual differences, which is the topic of this paper. In particular, we developed a modeling approach using data collected from players playing a Role-Playing Game (RPG). Our proposed approach is two fold: 1. We present a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) of player in-game behaviors to model individual differences, and 2. using the output of the HMM, we generate behavioral features used to classify real world players’ characteristics, including game expertise and the big five personality traits. Our results show predictive power for some of personality traits, such as game expertise and conscientiousness, but the most influential factor was game expertise.

Modeling Individual Differences through Frequent Pattern Mining on Role-Playing Game Actions

There has been much work on player modeling using game behavioral data collected. Many of the previous research projects that targeted this goal used aggregate game statistics as features to develop behavior models using both statistical and machine learning techniques. While existing methods have already led to interesting findings, we suspect that aggregated features discard valuable information such as temporal or sequential patterns, which may be important in deciphering information about decisionmaking, problem solving, or individual differences. Such sequential information is critical to analyze player behaviors especially in role-playing games (RPG) where players can face ample choices, experience different contexts, behave freely with individual propensities but possibly end up with similar aggregated statistics (e.g., levels, time spent). In this paper we intend to develop and apply a modeling technique that takes into consideration sequential patters to decipher individual differences in playing a Role Playing Game (RPG) game. Using an RPG with multiple affordances, we designed an experiment collecting granular in-game behaviors of 64 players. Using closed sequential pattern mining and logistic regression, we developed a model that uses gameplay action sequences to predict the real world characteristics, including gender, game play expertise and five personality traits (as defined by psychology). The results show that game expertise is a dominant factor that impacts in-game behaviors. The contribution of this paper is the algorithms we developed combined with a validation procedure to determine the reliability and validity of the results and the results themselves.

Digital Addiction: Systematic Review of Computer Game Addiction Impact on Adolescent Physical Health

The advancement of technology has enabled powerful microprocessors to render high-quality graphics for computer gaming. Despite being intended for leisure purposes, several components of the games alongside the gamer’s environmental factors have resulted in digital addiction (DA) towards computer games such as massively multiplayer online games (MMOG). Excessive gaming among adolescents has various negative impacts on an individual. However, only a few researchers have addressed the impact of DA on physical health. Thus, the primary objective of this research is to study the impact of DA on physical health among Malaysian adolescents. This study focuses on Malaysian adolescents of ages 12–18 years old who are addicted to computer games, specifically the MMOG. The methodology used for the study involves focus group discussions (FGD) and extensive literature study. The FGD sessions have involved both medical experts and game experts. The outcome of FGD discussion is recorded and justified with the existing relevant literature from high-impact journals, theses, conferences, books, and reports. This paper provides evidence of five physical health impacts of DA associated with adolescents. The factors of DA, the addiction components existing in MMOG computer games, and the DA health risk assessment are presented in the results section. Based on the study, it is concluded that DA among Malaysian adolescents can cause various impacts on physical health such as obesity, back pain, and neck pain, orthopaedic/joint muscle, eyesight problem, hearing problem, as well as physical inactivity.

The Development of Overhead Pass Learning Models in Volleyball

This study aims to develop a learning model of passing volleyball for class VIII junior high school students. This study uses research and development research methods with the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development or Production, Implementation or Delivery and Evaluations). The subjects in this study were students of SMP N 1 Palembang Class VIII class 2018/2019. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques. This research was conducted up to the development stage, namely large-scale trials. The validation of this model of passing was carried out by experts in phycical education, volleyball game experts, and linguists. The results of the model validation (Design stage) of this top learning model obtained a percentage of 87.5% of PJOK experts, 90% of volleyball game experts, and 87.5% of linguists from the results of expert validation show that the learning model is the top volleyball game Valid or worth using. The development stage consists of one-on-one evaluations, small group trials, and large group trials. The results of the large group trial were obtained using the instrument of the upper pass motion assessment process, the percentage was 12.5% or 3 students were very good, 87.5% of students got good grades or as many as 21 students. Based on large group trials, the product in the form of a learning model for volleyball can be used in the volleyball learning process.

Attention in Skilled Behavior: an Argument for Pluralism

Peak human performance—whether of Olympic athletes, Nobel prize winners, or you cooking the best dish you’ve ever made—depends on skill. Skill is at the heart of what it means to excel. Yet, the fixity of skilled behavior can sometimes make it seem a lower-level activity, more akin to the movements of an invertebrate or a machine. Peak performance in elite athletes is often described, for example, as “automatic” by those athletes: “The most frequent response from participants (eight athletes and one coach) when describing the execution of a peak performance was the automatic execution of performance” (Anderson et al. 2014). While the automaticity of skilled behavior is widely acknowledged, some worry that too much automaticity in skill would challenge its ability to exhibit human excellence. And so two camps have developed: those who focus on the automaticity of skilled behavior, the “habitualists,” and those who focus on the higher-level cognition behind peak performance, the “intellectualists.” We take a different tack. We argue that skilled behavior weaves together automaticity and higher-level cognition, which we call “pluralism.” That is, we argue that automaticity and higher-level cognition are both normal features of skilled behavior that benefit skilled behavior. This view is hinted at in other quotes about automaticity in skill—while expert gamers describe themselves as “playing with” automaticity (Taylor and Elam 2018), expert musicians are said to balance automaticity with creativity through performance cues: “Performance cues allow the musician to attend to some aspects of the performance while allowing others to be executed automatically” (Chaffin and Logan 2006). We describe in this paper three ways that higher-level cognition and automaticity are woven together. The first two, level pluralism and synchronic pluralism, are described in other papers, albeit under different cover. We take our contribution to be both distinguishing the three forms and contributing the third, diachronic pluralism. In fact, we find that diachronic pluralism presents the strongest case against habitualism and intellectualism, especially when considered through the example of strategic automaticity. In each case of pluralism, we use research on the presence or absence of attention (e.g., in mind wandering) to explore the presence or absence of higher-level cognition in skilled behavior.

Expert-novice classification of mobile game player using smartphone inertial sensors

The gaming industry has seen a tremendous growth in the last decade due to an exponential increase in the number of smartphone users. Embedded smartphone sensors provide solutions for automatic game controls during game-play. In this paper, we present an experimental study for the expertise classification of a game (mobile-based) player using smartphone inertial sensors, while they are simultaneously used for game controls. The game expertise level of participants is either labeled as expert or novice using game scores. Towards this end, data from 38 participants are curated during Traffic Racer game-play (in three different trials) using the embedded gyroscope and accelerometer sensors of the smartphone. These signals are pre-processed using Savitzky-Golay smoothing filter to remove noise. Twenty time domain features are extracted from the pre-processed data and are subjected to the wrapper-based feature selection method to select an optimum subset of features. Three classifiers, including k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), random forest, and the Naive Bayes, are evaluated towards the classification of player’s expertise level, i.e., expert and novice. The best average accuracy of 92.1% is achieved with k-NN classifier using the fusion of gyroscope and accelerometer data, which outperforms the existing state-of-the-art methods.

Game Development on Dap Based Physical Education Study (Developmentally Appropriate Practice) for Basic School Children

This study aims to develop games in physical education subjects in schools based on DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice). Then in this research will produce a product in the form of a game module with the concept of DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice) for basic locomotor motion. This type of research is development research based on the Borg and Gall Model. The trial subjects consisted of material experts, game experts, and Physical Education teachers at Imanuel Medan and Methodist 1 Medan elementary schools. The first stage of this model is the needs research stage, followed by the design stage and the third stage is development and implementation. In this stage all stages involve an evaluation and revision process. Material expert judgment is 89%, for game experts by 90.8% and the results of the sports teacher assessment at stage I was 73.8% and at stage II was 86%. Results The results of product appraisal have increased with a difference of significance of 12.2%. This shows that the product developed on locomotor motion through game development based on DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice) is appropriate for use in the implementation of learning.

Video Game Interfaces and Diegesis: The Impact on Experts and Novices’ Performance and Experience in Virtual Reality

ABSTRACT When playing action video games, an optimal experience implies the presence of a head-up display that informs players on their status in regard of their goal like health points or their localization in the environment. However, how can this type of information can be integrated in new gaming contexts like virtual reality? Should this information be integrated into the game universe (diegetic design) or stay out of it (non-diegetic design)? For this purpose, the performance, presence, and enjoyment of 41 players have been measured during a virtual reality first-person shooter game session with a diegetic and a non-diegetic interface. The results showed that diegetic integration has a positive effect on the player’s performance but not on the subjective experience (presence and enjoyment). The study also shed light on the moderator role of expertise in action games on this effect because the diegetic interface only benefited novice players.

Онлайн-игры как пространство совершения преступлений

Stating the large amount of financial resources circulating in the field of online game economy (trading in game objects, accounts, game help, etc.), the author points out that these factors cannot but cause the commission of crimes in this area. Using numerous examples, the author shows the high real value of some virtual game items and substantiates the reality of committing crimes related to the illegal seizure of these items. During the study, sociological survey and statistical methods were used. In the course of the study, about 200 players of online games of various genres were interviewed. Considering the separate functionality of some games, the author also points out the possibility of using games for the preparation, commission, and concealment of crimes. In addition, the article identifies factors that prevent law enforcement agencies from taking and investigating these crimes seriously. The author emphasizes the almost complete absence of forensic recommendations in this area. The aim of this article was to develop separate recommendations for the identification, qualification, and investigation of crimes related to online games. The author defines the types of crimes that can be committed in the area under consideration and points out certain features of their qualification. At its core, the range of crimes committed in online games, in relation to game objects or with the help of online games, is quite wide, which indicates the need to prepare a comprehensive forensic investigation methodology. Based on certain provisions of game mechanics, game economy, and game communication, the author considers certain ways of committing crimes using online games. The author also determines the features of identifying and verifying a digital alibi, using online games, to which the suspect can refer. The author defines the main investigative situations of the initial stage of the investigation and analyzes their specifics. Taking into account the specifics of the object of knowledge in the investigation of such crimes, the author suggests a new investigative action, “inspection of an electronic object”, and specifies its separate subtypes: local device examination, network examination, distributed object (files stored in cloud services and blockchains) examination, mobile device examination. The article deals with some issues of the tactics and fixation of this investigative action. In the course of the investigation, it is recommended to involve programmers of a wide profile, specifically expert game designers, who will be able to advise the investigator in the field of game mechanics, sociology, and economy. In the absence of such experts in this locality, it is possible to attract specialists from a local provider who grants access to the Internet and provides the operation of networks. The author, considering various ways of obtaining game objects, also offers various ways of monetizing them, determining their value expression in real money.

Model Latihan Tembakan Full Volley Shoot dan Heading dalam Sepakbola Berbasis Speed

In development research carried out by researchers, there are objectives developed, namely developing full volleyball and heading training model products. The Borg and Gall development procedure is a procedure used by researchers in research, namely research, planning, book product development, small group trials, first revision, large group trial, second product revision. In collecting data using a questionnaire of learning experts, football game experts and players for small group trials and large group trials where this research was carried out at SSB (Football School) Unibraw 82 Malang. Research that produces a variety of exercise books must go through validation from experts who are competent in their fields, experiment books both in small numbers and in large numbers. All stages are passed by researchers to produce new products. Development of training model book products to kick the hull ball and head the ball in speed-based football and coordination based on learning experts, soccer game experts and small group trials and large group trials are good with good criteria so that these training models can be used as learning media or coaching by students or coaches.

The neuropsychological profile of professional action video game players.

In the past 20 years, there has been growing research interest in the association between video games and cognition. Although many studies have found that video game players are better than non-players in multiple cognitive domains, other studies failed to replicate these results. Until now, the vast majority of studies defined video game players based on the number of hours an individual spent playing video games, with relatively few studies focusing on video game expertise using performance criteria. In the current study, we sought to examine whether individuals who play video games at a professional level in the esports industry differ from amateur video game players in their cognitive and learning abilities. We assessed 14 video game players who play in a competitive league (Professional) and 16 casual video game players (Amateur) on set of standard neuropsychological tests evaluating processing speed, attention, memory, executive functions, and manual dexterity. We also examined participants’ ability to improve performance on a dynamic visual attention task that required tracking multiple objects in three-dimensions (3D-MOT) over five sessions. Professional players showed the largest performance advantage relative to Amateur players in a test of visual spatial memory (Spatial Span), with more modest benefits in a test of selective and sustained attention (d2 Test of Attention), and test of auditory working memory (Digit Span). Professional players also showed better speed thresholds in the 3D-MOT task overall, but the rate of improvement with training did not differ in the two groups. Future longitudinal studies of elite video game experts are required to determine whether the observed performance benefits of professional gamers may be due to their greater engagement in video game play, or due to pre-existing differences that promote achievement of high performance in action video games.

The relationship between the skill-challenge balance, game expertise, flow and the urge to keep playing complex mobile games.

Interest surrounding the relationship between flow and problematic gameplay has surged. An important antecedent of flow in the context of video-gaming is the skill-challenge balance, but researchers have only manipulated this balance by changing speed of play. The current research seeks to examine the skill-challenge balance and flow in a mobile game in which challenge is increased via the complexity of puzzles. We predicted games like Candy-Crush would more strongly support a model of flow in which the greatest flow would be experienced by more skilled players and that high flow games would induce the most urge to continue play. We had 60 Candy-Crush players play games near their level standing (maximal skill-challenge balance), or games that were too easy or too hard. Perceived skill, challenge, flow, and urge to continue gameplay were measured after each game. Players felt the highest degree of skill-challenge balance when playing games around their level standing. Easy games produced the least flow, while both regular and hard games produced comparable flow despite hard games being far more challenging and frustrating. The findings support models of flow positing those with highest perceived skill will experience greater flow. Finally, flow and arousal combine to increase urge to keep playing. Our findings suggest those with high perceived skill will experience deep, immersive flow which motivates players to keep playing.

The relationship between the skill-challenge balance, game expertise, flow and the urge to keep playing complex mobile games

Background and aimsInterest surrounding the relationship between flow and problematic gameplay has surged. An important antecedent of flow in the context of video-gaming is the skill-challenge balance, but researchers have only manipulated this balance by changing speed of play. The current research seeks to examine the skill-challenge balance and flow in a mobile game in which challenge is increased via the complexity of puzzles. We predicted games like Candy-Crush would more strongly support a model of flow in which the greatest flow would be experienced by more skilled players and that high flow games would induce the most urge to continue play.MethodsWe had 60 Candy-Crush players play games near their level standing (maximal skill-challenge balance), or games that were too easy or too hard. Perceived skill, challenge, flow, and urge to continue gameplay were measured after each game.ResultsPlayers felt the highest degree of skill-challenge balance when playing games around their level standing. Easy games produced the least flow, while both regular and hard games produced comparable flow despite hard games being far more challenging and frustrating. The findings support models of flow positing those with highest perceived skill will experience greater flow. Finally, flow and arousal combine to increase urge to keep playing.Discussion and conclusionsOur findings suggest those with high perceived skill will experience deep, immersive flow which motivates players to keep playing.

Curriculum Management and Graduate Outcomes in the Animation Game Study Program

The Animation Study Program is part of the Art and Design degree from the Faculty of Letters State University of Malan. It is designed to offer guidance to professional beginners in the animation world and applied media, allowing graduates to apply for roles such as a 2D/3D Animator,Character Designer, beginner Developer in Animation Industry, Game Designer/Multimedia, beginner Developer of Game Industry, Game Asset Designer. The graduates from Animation program study gain particular expertise in 3D animation games and using Indonesian local culture. The course also emphasizes education-based animation games in global context and insteal entrepreneurship for the graduates. The goal of this study is to analyze the curriculum and graduate achievement in the animation game study program. This research used a qualitative study case with a descriptive approach. Documentation and interviews were used to collect data. The analysis of data used a descriptive approach. Results of the study show that the curriculum used in Animation Game program is designed based on the graduates in diploma D1, D2, D3, and D4. They are in D1 (Asset Game Operator), D2 (Young Asset Game Designer), D3 (Young Game Designer), and D4 (Senior Game Designer). Meanwhile, the animation field is divided into D1 (Asset Animation Operator), D2 (2D/3D Young Animator), D3 (2D/3D Senior Animator), and D4 (2D/3D Lead Animator).
 Keywords: Curriculum, Graduates Outcome, Animation Game

Pengembangan Model Permainan Olahraga Freeball pada Pembelajaran Penjas Adaptif Anak Tunagrahita di SLB Se-Kabupaten Kendal

This study aims to develop the Model of Freeball Sports Games in Adaptive Physical Education in SLB in Kendal Regency and to determine the feasibility of Freeball sports game products based on the assessment of adaptive physical experts, modification game experts, and retarded students in SLB. According to Edo Dwi Cahyono in Sugiyono (2011: 297). Research and development methods are methods used to produce certain products, and test the effectiveness of these products. Validation was carried out by adaptive physical material experts, modification game material experts. The developed product was tested for eligibility for mentally retarded students in SLB in Kendal Regency. The results of the study showed that the feasibility level of the Freeball sports game model on adaptive learning for mentally retarded children was assessed: 1) Expert material I at the final stage obtained a value of 87.7% which was included in the "Eligible" category, 2) The final stage II expert material obtained a value of 84.6% which is included in the "Eligible" category, 3) Respondents on a large scale of 20 students, 18 declared worthy of a percentage of 80% while 2 students declared quite decent with the percentage of 20% included in the "Eligible" category of students' responses to this Freeball game model when tested on average showed a positive response by getting a percentage of ≥70% for each indicator. Thus the Freeball sports game model in adaptive physical education learning for mentally retarded children in SLB in Kendal Regency is feasible to be used as an adaptive education learning tool in SLB schools.

Co-Creating a Virtual Alcohol Prevention Simulation with Young People.

Collaborative knowledge generation and involvement of users is known to improve health promotion intervention development, but research about the roles and perspectives of users in the co-creation process is sparse. This research aimed to study how young people perceived their involvement in a co-creation process focussed on the development of a gamified virtual reality (VR) simulation—VR FestLab. The Living Lab methodology was applied to structure and guide the co-creation process. Living Lab participants were comprised of students, health promotion practitioners, researchers, and film and gaming experts who collaboratively designed and created the content and structure of the VR FestLab. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine students who participated in the Living Lab and represented young end users. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Students described that they had influence on their tasks. They felt included and expressed that the collaboration with and feedback from peers and other stakeholders increased their self-efficacy and empowered them to take ownership and generate new ideas. Participants voiced that they lacked information about the final production of VR FestLab. Co-creation guided by the Living Lab methodology produced added value in terms of empowerment and increased self-efficacy for the students involved. Future Living Labs should plan for communication with participants about further development and implementation processes following ideation and prototyping phase.

A computerized tool to assess reading skills of students with motor impairment

Conventional tests for assessing the early reading skills of preschool children on school entry are not accessible to students with motor limitations of upper limbs. This paper presents a game-like computerized test featuring an appealing scenario that is accessible to these students. It was developed on a platform that creates 2D vector graphics and contains three phases of interactive content accessible through an adapted peripheral. A conventional card-based test was also used to validate the effectiveness of the computerized test. Both tests were performed by thirty-three preschool children without mobility impairment all aged between four years and six months and six years and two months (x¯ = 5,33; σ = 0,44). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the nonparametric data from the computerized test with the card-based test in the first and second phase, yielding results of p = 0.11 and p = 0.21, respectively. The Student's t-test was conducted to compare the parametric data of the third phase of the computerized test with the data from the third phase of the card-based test yielded results of p = 0.07.Three gaming experts considered the computerized test to be fun and engaging, and three teachers concluded that the computerized test meets educational goals. Additionally, seven volunteers with moderate mobility impairment (group T), aged between eight and seventeen years old (x¯=11.8; σ = 3.5), accompanied by two physical therapists, took the computerized test using the adapted peripheral device and performed the required tasks without difficulty and without showing signs of fatigue. Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that the computerized test may enable educators to include students with mobility difficulties in literacy assessments and to design teaching strategies that are appropriate given their levels of knowledge.

Practical Methodology for the Design of Educational Serious Games

Educational serious games are primarily intended to teach about or train on a subject. However, a serious game must also be catchy for the player to want to play it multiple times and thus learn while playing. The design of educational serious games includes game experts and pedagogical experts that must be able to efficiently communicate to produce a product that is both educationally efficient and fun to play. Although there are some design frameworks to help with this communication, they are usually more conceptual and do not distinguish the fun factor from the learning contents well, making communication difficult. In this paper, a new practical methodology is presented to support the design process of this kind of digital games. This methodology is more all-encompassing because it identifies all the main steps that are needed to define the learning mechanisms in an educational serious game, from topic choice to user experience. It also separates the game’s learning contents from other mechanics used to keep the game fun to play. Finally, some practical examples are shown, illustrating the use of this methodology.

AlphaSeq: Sequence Discovery With Deep Reinforcement Learning.

Sequences play an important role in many applications and systems. Discovering sequences with desired properties has long been an interesting intellectual pursuit. This article puts forth a new paradigm, AlphaSeq, to discover desired sequences algorithmically using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) techniques. AlphaSeq treats the sequence discovery problem as an episodic symbol-filling game, in which a player fills symbols in the vacant positions of a sequence set sequentially during an episode of the game. Each episode ends with a completely filled sequence set, upon which a reward is given based on the desirability of the sequence set. AlphaSeq models the game as a Markov decision process (MDP) and adapts the DRL framework of AlphaGo to solve the MDP. Sequences discovered improve progressively as AlphaSeq, starting as a novice, and learns to become an expert game player through many episodes of game playing. Compared with traditional sequence construction by mathematical tools, AlphaSeq is particularly suitable for problems with complex objectives intractable to mathematical analysis. We demonstrate the searching capabilities of AlphaSeq in two applications: 1) AlphaSeq successfully rediscovers a set of ideal complementary codes that can zero-force all potential interferences in multi-carrier code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems and 2) AlphaSeq discovers new sequences that triple the signal-to-interference ratio-benchmarked against the well-known Legendre sequence-of a mismatched filter (MMF) estimator in pulse compression radar systems.

Mixed Methods for Human–Computer Interactions Research: An Iterative Study Using Reddit and Social Media

Researchers have called for additional empirical studies associated with video games. However, every game is novel in terms of mechanics, content, context, and agency; known variables may be operationalized differently based on the game involved. It is incumbent upon researchers to leverage or create the best tools when extracting data from games. This article models instrument development of a scale intended to catalog users’ actions in a novel context (i.e., the game League of Legends) using a mixed methods approach. Specifically, this work outlines data collection and validation strategies using an online social news aggregation, rating, and discussion resource (i.e., Reddit), involving multiple cycles to elicit expert input and queries to generate consensus from expert gamers, followed by analysis of responses and an exploratory factor analysis for scale construction. Reddit provided three unique functions relative to the process: (a) access to experts who informed the development of scale items, (b) a social space and mechanism to validate scale items, and (c) the opportunity to capture data necessary to establish the psychometric properties of the instrument. Findings associated with scale development (i.e., item generation, theoretical and psychometric analyses) are presented. Overall, implications for instrument development in continually evolving contexts are discussed.