Game Performance Research Articles

Improving Performance in Olympic Games: A Survey and Guidelines for Indian Sports Management

Improving Performance in Olympic Games: A Survey and Guidelines for Indian Sports Management

Possession or position games: What is the key in soccer?

The aims of this study were to compare the running performance of possession and position games and to describe the external load of the same position game played on pitches of different dimensions. Using a GPS system (WIMU Pro, RealTrack Systems, Almería, Spain), the running demands of 25 professional soccer players were monitored during 18 possession (without a standardized role position) and 18 positional (with a specific role position) games of 9 vs. 9 + 2 floaters. Each format was developed in small (< 60 m2 per payer), medium (60-90 m2 per player) and large (> 90 m2 per player) sizes. Position games obtained significantly lower distance covered, peak speed and player load values than possession games (all p < 0.05). However, position games obtained significantly higher values of maximal acceleration, maximal deceleration, accelerations higher than 3 m · s-2 and decelerations lower than -3 m · s-2 than possession games (all p < 0.05). Likewise, large position games obtained significantly higher values of distance covered, distance covered > 21 km · h-1, peak speed and player load than small and medium sizes. Large size also showed significantly higher values of maximal acceleration and deceleration than small size, significantly fewer accelerations and decelerations, and fewer accelerations lower than 3 m · s-2 and decelerations higher than -3 m · s-2 compared to medium and small size (all p < 0.05). Practitioners should keep in mind the use of these games and their size to modify the external load of the players during their training.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES IN THE TRAINING AND COMPETITIVE PROCESS OF ELITE ATHLETES IN SPORTS GAMES

Introduction. The integration of modern technologies is crucial for enhancing elite athlete training, offering cutting-edge tools for performance optimization. The widespread use of technology in elite sports, including video assistant referees and wearable sensors, providing real-time biomechanical oversight, challenges related to ethics, data protection, and regulatory frameworks require resolution for widespread implementation. This study aims to conduct a thorough assessment of the integration of modern technologies, specifically examining their efficacy in optimizing the training performance and competitive outcomes of elite athletes in sports games. Material and Methods. Bibliometric techniques and expert evaluations were used to determine the modern trends in innovative technologies to improve the effectiveness of elite athletes` preparation. A thorough biomechanical analysis utilizing diverse methods was performed on 41 elite athletes in sports games. Results. The examination of sports science literature and expert assessments unveils predominant trends in the utilization of innovative technologies in elite sports, with a particular emphasis on the widespread adoption of wearable technology, biomechanics and motion analysis, and recovery and regeneration techniques. The outcomes from OpenCap biomechanical analysis show a high correlation (r=0.99, α = 0.05) between the symmetry of knee joint angles during barbell squats by elite athletes, confirming the efficacy of real-time monitoring exercise techniques. The Romberg coefficient of 194.5% ± 2.47 indicates a notable degree of stability among elite athletes. Conclusions. This study enhances the comprehension of innovative technologies, exemplified by OpenCap biomechanical analysis, and their effectiveness in optimizing the training performance and competitive outcomes of elite athletes in sports games. The findings provide valuable insights for coaches, sports scientists, and researchers aiming to optimize training methods and elevate athlete performance in sports games.

The Effect of Comparative Direction and Comparative Gap on Self-Deception.

Self-deception refers to an individual holding inflated beliefs about their abilities, plays a crucial role in human behavior and decision-making. Individuals may inflate their abilities when subject to comparisons with others. This study examined the impact of social comparison on self-deception through the implementation of two behavioral experiments. In Experiment 1, we recruited a sample of 152 undergraduate students. Participants were falsely informed that they performed better (downward comparison) and worse (upward comparison) than average on a game. Subsequently, their level of self-deception was assessed by asking them to predict their performance in a future game, with more inflated predictions indicating greater self-deception. In Experiment 2, we gathered 126 undergraduate students to broaden the current study. This experiment examined the combined effects of comparison direction and comparison gap on self-deceptive behavior. The findings showed that self-deception was more common in circumstances of upward comparison than in downward comparison or no comparison (Experiment 1). Furthermore, Individuals were more inclined to participate in self-deception when encountering a notable performance gap relative to others, particularly in scenarios involving upward social comparison (Experiment 2). The findings suggested that when confronted with threatening social comparative information, people tended to use self-deception to protect themselves. Members of the large gap group experienced strong feelings of unfairness and negative emotions, which led to self-protective behaviors and a greater likelihood of self-deception.

The relationship of some indicators of aerobic and anaerobic capacity to the accuracy of serving skill performance in racket games

The relationship of some indicators of aerobic and anaerobic capacity to the accuracy of serving skill performance in racket games

Breaking the Isolation: Exploring the Impact of Passthrough in Shared Spaces on Player Performance and Experience in VR Exergames.

VR exergames offer an engaging solution to combat sedentary behavior and promote physical activity. However, challenges emerge when playing these games in shared spaces, particularly due to the presence of bystanders. VR's passthrough functionality enables players to maintain awareness of their surrounding environment while immersed in VR gaming, rendering it a promising solution to improve users' awareness of the environment. This study investigates the passthrough's impact on player performance and experiences in shared spaces, involving an experiment with 24 participants that examines Space (Office vs. Corridor) and Passthrough Function (With vs. Without). Results reveal that Passthrough enhances game performance and environmental awareness while reducing immersion. Players prefer an open area to an enclosed room, whether with or without Passthrough, finding it more socially acceptable. Additionally, Passthrough appears to encourage participation among players with higher self-consciousness, potentially alleviating their concerns about being observed by bystanders. Our findings provide valuable insights for designing VR experiences in shared spaces, underscoring the potential of VR's passthrough to enhance user experiences and promote VR adoption in these environments.

Effects of Visualization Format and Time of Day on Immediate Recall of Tactical Behaviors

This study examined the effect of time of day on immediate recall of motor skills (i.e., tactical behaviors in basketball) from different external visualizations. First-year students from a public university in sports science (novice practitioners, 18.96 ± 0.57 years) were quasi-randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: video modeling by experts, a sequential-with-tracing presentation of pictures, or a sequential-without-tracing presentation of pictures. Morning and late afternoon sessions were conducted involving study phases and immediate-recall tests (i.e., comprehension and game performance tests). Oral temperature and mood states were also measured at both times of day. The results revealed that participants exhibited better recall performances in the morning, irrespective of the visualization format used. At both time of day, tactical behaviors were better recalled from video modeling rather than the two sequential presentations of pictures. In addition, providing the learner with a permanent visual trace of the previous states improves the immediate recall of tactical skills from a sequential presentation of pictures, at both time of day. Furthermore, morning sessions resulted in lower oral temperature, lower negative mood, and higher positive mood, compared with afternoon sessions. Implications for using external visualizations aimed at the acquisition of motor skills, particularly tactical behaviors, are discussed.

小组游戏治疗提升心智障碍儿童社会互动能力研究

This research is an exploration and attempt to apply play therapy to the daily curriculum of special education schools by using the professional methods of social work groups from the perspective of social learning theory. In the research process, the research methods of participatory observation, semi-structured interview and questionnaire survey were used to compare before and after intervention, and it was found that the combination of play therapy and group work method could be integrated into the special education teaching curriculum and had a significant effect on improving the social interaction ability of children with intellectual disabilities. The improvement of social interaction ability of children with mental disabilities is specifically reflected in the project: improving the ability to abide by game discipline, improving game cognition, strengthening game performance and overall ability improvement, but for individuals with relatively severe mental disabilities, further casework methods are needed to achieve obvious results. The research can provide reference for social work to intervene in the mentally disabled groups in special education schools.

Exploring Predictors of Team Performance in Curling Championships: An Investigation of Factors Predicting Success

Curling is one of the most popular sports of the Olympic Winter Games. As strategy is very important for curling, it is called “chess on the ice”. Given the exponential surge in sports-related data, the analysis of game performance has assumed paramount importance, as it provides a valuable avenue for improving overall athletic performance. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of some parameters on championship performance of elite level curling teams. The data used in this study were taken from the World Curling Federation Historical Results database. World Mens/Womens Curling Championships (2021 – 2022 – 2023) and European Mens/Womens Curling Championships results (2019 – 2021 – 2022) included in the study. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the extent to which the independent variables, namely Draw Shot Challenge distance, shot performance, stolen points for, stolen points against, hammer efficiency, force efficiency, and difference of generated and given points, explained team success. Statistical Package for Social Sciences 24.0 software used for statistical analyses. The results revealed an R-value of 0.902 and an adjusted R-squared value of 0.804. In the study investigating the factors influencing team success in World and European Curling Championships, it was concluded that the difference of points generated and given points, Draw Shot Challenge distance, and hammer use efficiency predicts championship success.

MELATIH KEMAMPUAN BERPIKIR KRITIS DENGAN METODE TEACHING GAMES fOR UNDERSTANDING (TGfU) MATA PELAJARAN PENJASORKES SISWA SEKOLAH MENENGAH PERTAMA (SMP) DI KOTA PONTIANAK

The aim of this research is to train critical thinking skills using the teaching games for understanding (TGfU) method for physical education subjects for students in junior high school physical education subjects in Pontianak City. The research and product development model that is the basis for this research is the Dick &amp; Carey instructional design model. The population in this research are students in junior high school physical education subjects in Pontianak City. The researcher's sampling technique that will be used is total sampling. The data collection technique used is the observation technique. The technique used to analyze the data in this research is descriptive qualitative. Based on the results of the recapitulation of the first trial data, the key score in the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) Test/Football Game Performance guidelines obtained at this initial stage was an average of 86 actions for each indicator, which means that effective performances often appear. This category means that students' critical thinking abilities are quite good as seen from students' decisions in playing basketball. In order to optimize students' critical thinking abilities, interactions between educators and students are needed to reflect the behavior (effects) of teaching and learning in certain conditions. In the trial phase 2, the average action of each indicator changed, based on the key score table, which means that effective performance always appears. This category means that students' critical thinking abilities are optimal as seen from the students' support in playing basketball. Based on products developed through expert tests and field tests, the Guide to training critical thinking in Physical Education subjects for Junior High School (SMP) Students in Pontianak City is suitable for use in Physical Education learning.

Video game performance analysis on selected operating systems

The video game industry is currently one of the most dominant in IT. Unfortunately, developers rarely focus on maintaining older games, which often leads to the inability to launch them on newer systems. The aim of the paper is the video game performance analysis on selected operating systems. The analysis was performed on the first three installments of The Sims series, published in the first decade of the 21st century, on a computer with Windows XP as the operating system and another with Windows 10 as the operating system. For the performance analysis three hardware monitoring programs were used: Open Hardware Monitor, MSI Afterburner and Windows Performance Monitor. In addition, all tested games were compared visually in order to determine whether their appearance and available graphic options are the same on both systems. Results analysis have shown, that despite lower system load in all games on the computer with Windows 10 there are some graphical anomalies not present on the older operating system.

An Online Dementia Screening and Lifestyle Education System

Mental well-being is a major factor contributing to the quality of life. Because of the ageing population, the old-age cognitive deficit is an epidemic-like phenomenon. Cognitive mental impairment is chronic, progressive, long-lasting and incurable, but the deterioration could be slowed, and the quality of life could be maintained for a longer time. Therefore, the assessment of mental well-being and the early detection of deterioration are very important. Current clinically validated tests have limited screening capabilities as they have been developed for professional use in controlled environments, they are expensive and require the presence of medical staff. We aimed to develop a monitoring measurement methodology that is suitable for regular screening at the patient's home and can detect significant deterioration in some important cognitive areas. Our idea was to monitor and analyse the patient’s performance through the analysis of computer game performance.&#x0D; We developed a system and investigated the estimation of mental well-being based on voluntary game playing in the last decade. The focus is on the elderly group showing the early sign of having a higher risk for a pathological decrease in cognition (called Mild Cognitive Impairment). Since 2014 more than 3000 people were registered in the system and nearly 1.5 million game logs were collected. Experience has been collected since the first end-users registered, especially feed-backs were analysed. Several important ideas were gained, and during the past years, we improved this system in the framework of the iCare4NextG project. The three most important ones are: a) strengthening the feedback to the participants by giving some explanation of the suggestions, b) simplifying the user interface and c) reducing the difficulty level of some games. Therefore, a lifestyle education advisory system is to be added, to help interpret the results and to give advice about the improvement of mental, physical, and social lifestyles.&#x0D; Based on the analysis of the experience and the collected feedback information an online screening application was developed. The screening application consists of 3 games and 2 questionnaires. The participant is asked to perform at least 3 sessions in each game, and fill out the questionnaires at least once. The screening is aimed at the inhabitants of a local municipality. The localized nature and the involvement of the municipality are very important: based on the performance of the participant, he/she can be referred to the proper local healthcare institute (e.g. local social centre, general practitioner etc.). The system is easily portable to different local environments. This way we turned a primarily reactive healthcare experience into a proactive one in cooperation with local municipal and healthcare institutions.&#x0D; Currently, a 6-month screening is running in a district of Budapest focusing on 65+ years inhabitants. More than 120 participants registered during October and November 2022, and 534 game logs and 379 questionnaires were collected.&#x0D; Project no. 2019-2.1.1-EUREKA-2020-00014 (iCare4NextG – H ) has been implemented with the support provided by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, financed under the EUREKA-2020 funding scheme.

Heart Rate Variability during Online Video Game Playing in Habitual Gamers: Effects of Internet Addiction Scale, Ranking Score and Gaming Performance.

Previous studies have demonstrated that individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) display abnormal autonomic activities at rest and during gameplay. Here, we examined whether and how in-game autonomic activity is modulated by human characteristics and behavioral performance of the player. We measured heart rate variability (HRV) in 42 male university student habitual gamers (HGs) when they played a round of League of Legends game online. Short-term HRV indices measured in early, middle and late phases of the game were compared between the players at high risk of developing IGD and those at low risk, as assessed by the revised Chen Internet addiction scale (CIAS-R). Multiple linear regression (MLR) was used to identify significant predictors of HRV measured over the whole gameplay period (WG), among CIAS-R, ranking score, hours of weekly playing and selected in-game performance parameters. The high-risk players showed a significantly higher low-frequency power/high-frequency power ratio (LF/HF) relative to the low-risk players, regardless of game phase. MLR analysis revealed that LF/HF measured in WG was predicted by, and only by, CIAS-R. The HRV indicators of sympathetic activity were found to be predicted only by the number of slain in WG (NSlain), and the indicators of parasympathetic activity were predicted by both CIAS-R and NSlain. Collectively, the results demonstrated that risk of developing IGD is associated with dysregulated autonomic balance during gameplay, and in-game autonomic activities are modulated by complex interactions among personal attributes and in-game behavioral performance of the player, as well as situational factors embedded in game mechanics.

Modelling women’s team line-ups based on effectiveness and quality

ABSTRACT Understanding how different player rotations may impact team performance allows basketball coaches to select effective line-ups for specific tactical scenarios. The study aimed to i) assess how different line-ups or player combinations impact a team’s game performance; ii) explore the variations in line-up utilization among different national women’s basketball teams; and iii) examine how the offensive efficiency of each line-up evolves during the game. Data from 3,387 ball possessions in 23 international women’s basketball games were collected across four major competitions over six years. Offensive and defensive ratings, along with other features, were calculated. Then, a Markov chain model distinguished overperforming and underperforming line-ups of Chinese women’s basketball team, determining long-term probabilities for each rating level. The results indicated that i) the most dominant offensive line-up of the Chinese women’s basketball team, is PG-G-SF-PF-C, while G-G-F-PF-PF had the highest defensive rating; and ii) US and Australian women’s basketball teams favour using line-ups with three guards, while the Chinese women’s basketball team heavily relies on centre players. These results offer valuable insights for coaches regarding the performance of different line-ups in FIBA Female Basketball Competitions, optimizing line-up performance and aiding talent selection and recruitment at the international level.

The impact of goal assignment in a game‐based learning environment

AbstractBackgroundGoal setting has been established in the literature as a critical component of self‐regulated learning and for effective problem‐solving. Yet, surprisingly little attention has been focused on goal‐directed behaviour in digital game‐based learning environments (GBLEs) despite their expanding use in educational contexts.ObjectivesThe current study examined the impact of goal assignment in a GBLE aligned with curricular objectives and played in a classroom context.MethodsEighth‐grade students (N = 59) in the experiment were randomly assigned to either a mastery goal condition or a performance goal condition before playing Crystal Island—Outbreak. Goal orientation was measured before gameplay, monitoring judgements assessed during gameplay, and enjoyment was measured after game play.Results and ConclusionsTwo important results emerged that contribute to the existing literature on goals and GBLEs. First, assignment to the mastery goal condition resulted in significantly higher enjoyment ratings and monitoring judgements but not game performance while considering the influence of pre‐existing goal‐orientation. Second, self‐reported mastery goal orientation and videogame play frequency predicted enjoyment in the game.ImplicationsThe results suggest that enjoyment can be facilitated by orienting students to adopt mastery goals and that developers should consider integrating mastery‐based instructions in their GBLEs. Moreover, instructional goals can influence students regardless of incoming goal orientations.

Female basketball game performance is influenced by menstrual cycle phase, age, perceived demands and game-related contextual factors

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the influence of physical and perceived game demands, menstrual cycle phase, perceived recovery, individual and game-related contextual factors on competitive performance in professional, female basketball players.11 professional female players (age: 20.6 ± 2.7 years) were monitored for game-related statistics (Performance Index Rating, PIR; rebounds, REB; effective field goal %, eFG%; turnovers, TO), objective (PlayerLoad per minute, PL·min−1) and subjective (RPE) game loads, pre-game perceived recovery (Total Quality Recovery, TQRpre), menstrual phase (follicular; luteal) and game-related contextual factors (game location; game outcome; score differential; opponent level) during 12 official games. Separate linear mixed models were used to evaluate the influence of RPE, PL·min−1, TQRpre, menstrual phase, contextual factors, and individual characteristics (age; playing position) on game-related statistics.Higher PIR and eFG% were found for older players and those who reported higher RPE (all p < 0.05). Higher age also led to less TO (p = 0.042). eFG% was higher when players reported higher TQRpre ;(p = 0.010). Better shooting (eFG%) and rebounding (REB) performances were found during the follicular menstrual phase (p < 0.05). More REB were collected in won games (p = 0.002).This study suggests that the co-influences of perceptual, menstrual-related, individual and game-related contextual factors should be considered to optimise female basketball players’ performance.

Effect of the VR-guided grasping task on the brain functional network.

Virtual reality (VR) technology has been demonstrated to be effective in rehabilitation training with the assistance of VR games, but its impact on brain functional networks remains unclear. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy imaging to examine the brain hemodynamic signals from 18 healthy participants during rest and grasping tasks with and without VR game intervention. We calculated and compared the graph theory-based topological properties of the brain networks using phase locking values (PLV). The results revealed significant differences in the brain network properties when VR games were introduced compared to the resting state. Specifically, for the VR-guided grasping task, the modularity of the brain network was significantly higher than the resting state, and the average clustering coefficient of the motor cortex was significantly lower compared to that of the resting state and the simple grasping task. Correlation analyses showed that a higher clustering coefficient, local efficiency, and modularity were associated with better game performance during VR game participation. This study demonstrates that a VR game task intervention can better modulate the brain functional network compared to simple grasping movements and may be more beneficial for the recovery of grasping abilities in post-stroke patients with hand paralysis.

Performance, Structure and Functions of Riddle Game in Həba Community

The Həba (Kilba) people live in northern Adamawa State of Nigeria. Həba is the people, while nya Həba is the language. The people have many rich verbal arts which include folktales, songs, proverbs and riddles. This study aims to examine the performance, structure and functions of riddle game as one of the genres of oral literature. The data for the study was obtained through recording of riddles performed in natural settings. Also, the people older than the researchers were interviewed in order to gather information the functions of riddle game in Hǝba community. Descriptive survey was employed for the study in order to interpret, describe, explain and discuss the data in its natural state. Qualitative method was therefore adopted for the analysis of the riddles in the corpus of the study. The result showed that the Həba folk riddles have some peculiar organizational and syntactic structures. The organizational structures include invitation to play riddle game, challenging, unraveling, penalising, and turn-taking. The analysis of the syntactic structure of the riddles revealed that the riddle acts are highly standard expressions that permit little or no variations. The art of riddling constitute part of the ancient educational and recreational systems of the Həba people. As a community art, riddle telling enhances cognitive development, promotes social cohesion and unity among the children. This paper therefore aims to examine peculiarity of the performance, the structure, and the functions of riddle as verbal art in Hәba community.

A comparative analysis for eye movement characteristics between professional and non-professional players in FIFA eSports game

Eye-tracking technology has been widely applied to various kinds of traditional sports research, such as football, basketball and table tennis. eSports is an emerging digital sport, which is currently enjoying rapid development. The previous study primarily focuses on the practical applications of eye movement in eSports, such as game design, visual attention, and performance analysis. However, there is a scientific gap for the specific differences between expert and novice players, the potential of eye-tracking as a biological marker for eSports performance, and the transfer of insights from real sports to eSports through eye-tracking studies. This study aims to uncover disparities in eye movement characteristics between professional players (N = 14, 24.1 ± 2.5 years) and non-professional players (N = 14, 25.2 ± 2.3 years) by employing the expert-novice paradigm. We extracted several key eye movement features, including average fixation counts, average fixation duration, first fixation duration, eye movement trajectory, and visits to areas of interest. The results indicate that professional players exhibit higher fixation counts, shorter first fixation duration, reduced average fixation duration, and employ a more effective visual search strategy. Professional players’ fixation trajectories are characterized by clarity and focus, with a greater number of fixation points concentrated on key areas of interest. In contrast, non-professional players demonstrate relatively random fixation trajectories, lacking distinct focal points. This study not only advances our understanding of eye-tracking in eSports but also provides technical guidance and practical significance for further research in this burgeoning field.

The Effects of Whole-Hand Interactions with One Fingertip Vibrotactile Feedback on Cooperative VR Game Experience and Performance

Abstract New technologies have recently advanced user experiences in virtual reality (VR), whereas full sensation of diverse modalities has been not achieved yet. If any, haptic feedback has been delivered via bulky gloves. We have developed a novel thimble device that can deliver vibrotactile feedback via one fingertip. With this device, in the present study we investigated the effects of interaction methods and vibrotactile feedback on users' social presence, presence, engagement, workload, and performance in a cooperative VR game. Twenty-six participants wearing a VR headset played a cooperative VR game with the experimenter under four conditions: (1) controllers with no vibrotactile feedback, (2) controllers with vibrotactile feedback, (3) hand tracking with no vibrotactile feedback, and (4) hand tracking with vibrotactile feedback. Results showed that hand tracking improved participants' presence, engagement, and perceived workload compared to the traditional VR controllers. Also, vibrotactile feedback enhanced presence. However, the VR controllers outperformed the hand tracking interactions in completion time. The usability of hand interactions with vibrotactile feedback shows a promising result. We discuss the trade-offs between user experience and performance of the interaction methods and the potential of vibrotactile feedback in the VR environment.