Shooter Game Research Articles

A cross-lagged panel network model on internet gaming disorder and depressive symptoms concerning preferences for game genres.

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a prevalent behavioral addiction that co-occurs with depression. Little is known about how IGD and depression intercorrelate longitudinally at a symptom level. This study aimed to explore the directional relationships between IGD and depressive symptoms and identify the key symptoms in their comorbidity using cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) modeling. A sample of 601 young gamers (mean age = 23.76) in Hong Kong completed the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale - Short Form and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 semi-annually at two-time points. Autoregressive and cross-lagged effects between depressive and IGD symptoms were analyzed via CLPN while controlling gamers' preferences across five game genres in R. The comorbidity was mainly driven from depressive symptoms to IGD symptoms, with a few weaker associations from IGD to depressive symptoms. 'Anhedonia' (out-/bridge-expected influence = 2.88; 0.03) and 'Motor problems' (out-/bridge-expected influence = 1.24; 0.03) from depression were the central and bridge symptoms to trigger the development of IGD symptoms, whereas 'continue gaming despite harm' (in-expected influence = 1.29) was the most consequent symptom. 'Anhedonia' (r = 0.17) and 'suicidal risk' (r = 0.15) to 'continuation despite harm' were the strongest paths connecting depression and IGD. Gamers who preferred First-Person Shooter games and Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing games were more vulnerable to depressive and IGD symptoms. Our findings provide empirical support for the comorbidity between IGD and depression and clarify their directional relationships at a symptom level. We identify antecedent bridge symptoms as targets for preventing escalation of co-occurring issues.

In-Match and Out-Match Game Console Network Ping Comparison Analysis on a First-Person Arena Shooter (Case Study: East Jakarta, Indonesia)

As offline and online game technologies evolve, gaming technology and devices constantly change. Games can be played on PCs or various console machines, including portable and non-portable devices. XDefiant is a free-to-play, first-person arena shooter in which players compete in fast-paced online matches. This research aimed to compare the ping values between in-match and out-match when playing an online first-person shooter game on a console machine. The study utilized a quantitative method using primary data and a descriptive approach, with data collected from June to July 2024. The game capture latency stage involved taking 30 screenshots in 10 in-match scenarios and 30 screenshots during out-match scenarios. Network pings were analyzed during both in-match and out-match. The mean ping during the in-match was significantly higher than during the out-match, with an average difference of approximately 12.77 ms. The standard deviation for the in-match was also higher than that for the out-match. An interesting finding was that the maximum ping during out-match was higher than during in-match, though the difference was only 1 ms. The ping trend increased during the in-match, while it decreased for better performance during the out-match. Despite the varying trends in both in-match and out-match, players reported excellent game performance during the research period.

Neuromodulation via tRNS accelerates learning and enhances in-game performance at a Virtual-Reality First Person Shooter game

Neuromodulation via tRNS accelerates learning and enhances in-game performance at a Virtual-Reality First Person Shooter game

Mitigating Cybersickness in Virtual Reality: Impact of Eye–Hand Coordination Tasks, Immersion, and Gaming Skills

Cybersickness remains a significant challenge for virtual reality (VR) applications, particularly in highly immersive environments. This study examined the effects of immersion, task performance, and individual differences on cybersickness symptoms across multiple stages of VR exposure. Forty-seven participants aged 18–45 completed a within-subjects design that involved the Cybersickness in Virtual Reality Questionnaire (CSQ-VR) and the Deary–Liewald Reaction Time (DLRT) task. Cybersickness symptoms were assessed across four stages: before and after VR immersion, and before and after a 12 min rollercoaster ride designed to induce cybersickness. The results showed significant increases in symptoms following the rollercoaster ride, with partial recovery during the post-ride tasks. Eye–hand coordination tasks, performed after the ride and VR immersion, mitigated nausea, as well as vestibular, and oculomotor symptoms, suggesting that task engagement plays a key role in alleviating cybersickness. The key predictors of symptom severity included a susceptibility to motion sickness and gaming experience, particularly proficiency in first-person shooter (FPS) games, which was associated with a reduced cybersickness intensity. While task engagement reduced symptoms in the later stages, particularly nausea and vestibular discomfort, overall cybersickness levels remained elevated post-immersion. These findings underscore the importance of task timing, individual differences, and immersive experience design in developing strategies to mitigate cybersickness and enhance user experiences in VR environments.

Gaming lounges in India afford socially productive gambling: The moral economy and foundations of play in Udaipur, Rajasthan

AbstractWe use ethnographic observations, interviews, and surveys to illuminate video game‐related gambling in India, where players use as currency decorative in‐game weapon covers referred to as skins. We focus on gaming and gambling related to virtual items acquired in the popular shooter game Counter‐Strike: Global Offensive, and our study unfolds among young adults who play in face‐to‐face centers called gaming lounges or zones. We consider how networks of video game players, themselves influenced by familial and societal demands, form moral economies that regulate why video game items are exchanged and how they are evaluated. Further, we use moral foundations theory to clarify ethical plurality in these settings, with tensions between moral demands shaping how and whether skins exchanges are judged to be socially productive or harmful. We show how gaming lounge owners’ personal values, some religiously informed, render emerging adults who play in these settings less at risk of excessive gambling, which is not tolerated either within close‐knit gaming groups or broader society. Overall, our analysis points to the utility of bringing into dialogue moral economy and moral foundations perspectives to uncover the cultural meanings of linked gaming and gambling in this context.

Applications of Psychological Principles in Game Design: Unveiling the Dynamics and Psychology of Valorant

"Valorant" is a multiplayer shooter game developed by Riot Games that has gained significant popularity in the competitive gaming community. Players are provided with an immersive gameplay experience with a blend of first-person shooter mechanics, distinctive character skills, and strategic teamwork dynamics. This article explores several elements of Valorant, including agents, game types, weapons mechanics, map layouts, and team strategy through case study and some literature review. Whats more, it analyzes the roles and dynamics within teams, investigating their impact on achieving success in gameplay. Moreover, the article explores the elements of risk and safety in Valorant, providing insight into how cognitive and emotional processes influence player decision-making. This examination provides readers with valuable insights into the intricacies of Valorant and its substantial impact on the competitive gaming arena.

YOLO-based object detection performance evaluation for automatic target aimbot in first-person shooter games

First-person shooter (FPS) focuses on first-person perspective action gameplay, with gunfights usually giving the player a choice of weapons, significantly impacting how the player approaches or strategies. General military-themed FPS games have realistic models with actual weapons’ shapes and characteristics. This type of game requires high aiming accuracy while using a mouse on a PC. However, not all players have a fast response time in knowing the surrounding situation. New players may need aid when targeting enemies in the FPS world. One popular yet underhanded method is injecting a program code using a dynamic-link library (DLL) to manipulate memory and asset data from the game. Instead of DLL, we promote a novel approach using the player’s real-time game screen, detecting the person without injecting program code into the game. The you only look once (YOLO) algorithm is used as an object detector model since it can process images in real time for up to 45 frames per second. The proposed object detection has an outstanding performance with 65% accuracy, 98% precision, and 61% recall of 51 tests for each game. YOLO’s fastest detection speed produces an average of 35 FPS on the YOLO tiny variant using a mixed precision (half) graphics processing unit (GPU).

Extending a MAPE-K loop-based framework for Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment in single-player games

Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DDA) has emerged as a notable solution to address the demand for adaptive gameplay in digital games. However, the DDA domain presents various research challenges that require careful consideration. In response, this study introduces an approach that merges insights from self-adaptive systems with the specific requirements of adaptive gameplay. Our contribution involves extending the DDA-MAPEKit framework, which was previously presented. Constructed on the modular MAPE-K loop foundation, this solution facilitates the assimilation of multiple DDA strategies. The primary objective is to provide tailored treatment for distinct game mechanics (or groups of mechanics) by constructing individual MAPE-K loops for each of them. Notable enhancements include the development of a descriptive player model involving continuous player profile assessment, performance calculation, and modifications to the rules’ system to better align with the player’s conditions. A proof of concept is executed by applying DDA-MAPEKit in a Space Shooter game to assess the viability of the proposed model. Simulations are conducted both with and without the DDA mechanisms. Encouraging results are obtained through a comparative analysis of the gathered data. Evidence points out that incorporating the DDA mechanism, implemented with DDA-MAPEKit, may effectively lead to adapting variables depicting the complexity of game mechanics following the player’s performance. This fact underscores the potential effectiveness of our approach in addressing the challenges within the realm of DDA.

Comprehensive analysis including in-game spending and violent game playing in patients with internet gaming disorder.

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is receiving increasing attention. In particular, violent gameplay or in-game spending affects the psychiatric conditions and economic difficulties of patients. We conducted regression analysis and path analysis to investigate the associations between a comprehensive list of factors in patients with IGD, including the degree of internet or gaming dependence, developmental problems, family background, severity of depression, sleeping habits, in-game spending, and first-person shooter (FPS) and third-person shooter (TPS) game playing. The participants were 47 Japanese individuals (39 males and 8 females) aged ≤20 years diagnosed with IGD with complete data from the internet addiction test, autism spectrum quotient, Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. All participants were asked whether their parents have divorce history, whether they have siblings, whether they play FPS or TPS games, and whether they engage in in-game spending. Firstly, we compared these factors between males and females; secondly, we conducted regression analysis and path analysis in male patients. As for simple comparison between sex, female patients showed greater severity of IGD and depressive score. In regression analysis of male patients, significant associations were found between FPS or TPS game playing and in-game spending. We also created path diagrams. The results of the comprehensive analyses suggest the possibility that bidirectional synergistic effects could be achieved by gradually reducing both violent game playing and in-game spending. The concept of internet dependence has a wide range of meanings, and for each subtype, it is important to consider the background that led to the dependence to make individualized environmental adjustments and provide psychotherapy.

Дискурсивная специфика компьютерных игр

The present paper refers to the current problem of semiotic signs’ specifics in the context of gaming discourse based on texts from action first-person shooter game Ultrakill developed by Finnish creators. The problem is relevant due to the influence that computer games have on people’s mind – in particular on the minds of the younger generation. Moreover, the study will help to understand the linguistic mechanisms of the impact of video games on players. The study used methods of semantic analysis, semiotic analysis, observation and description techniques. As a result, the research revealed that developers use intertextual units to create patterns that are familiar to the player, but which at the same time have new characteristics. While 66% of all intertext is universally known, obscure allusions play an important role in creating associations for the recipient as well, which proves the importance of intertext in video game discourse. Well-known allusions play a role in creating semantic images in the game, while the lesser known intertext has easy to understand semes that could provoke the player to action in game. The research identified the following types of intertext: allusions to songs, music albums, other games, myths, the Bible and literature. The synthesis of intertext and author’s text in level names gives the player an idea of the upcoming challenges without informing of the level context, and in some cases even intriguing the player. The combination of borrowings and original semiotic units in the names of characters creates images that are familiar to the player, but at the same time, it creates properties that are specific to this particular game. Dialogues are mainly inherent in this genre, but the conversations also have deviations from this genre, which is also done in order to affect the player – the author gives the recipient a familiar behavior pattern in order to replace it afterewards, causing cognitive dissonance to the player. Conclusions are drawn about the discourse mechanisms in video games, how they affect the player and for what purpose the developer uses one or another linguistic technique.

Analysing the Mental Imagery Training to Improve the Ability of Petanque Sport Shooting Game: Literature Review

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of biomechanical mental imagery training analysis in improving the ability of Petanque Sports Shooting Game. Materials and methods. This review study was performed following the PRISMA standards for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The studies were required to have been published within the previous four years, from January 2020 to July 2023. (1) petanque shooting; (2) mental imagery analysis were the keywords used in the search process. To conduct the study, the database Scopus and SINTA (Science and Technology Index) were used. Results. The findings of the literature review yielded a final sample comprising 7 relevant articles. Specifically, 3 articles focused on imagery training for enhancing petanque shooting results, while 4 articles examined the effects of petanque shot improvement on the shooting game abilities of this sport. Conclusions. This study revealed that mental imagery exercise analysis significantly improved the performance of petanque athletes in the match phase, enhancing their performance, motivation, and concentration, making it a valuable method for achieving positive effects on physical and mental performance in petanque athletes.

Evaluating reinforcement learning algorithms in first-person shooter games using VizDoom

Evaluating reinforcement learning algorithms in first-person shooter games using VizDoom

Militarism in medievalism: the Prince of Thieves video game and the Gulf War

ABSTRACT Medievalist video games are often embedded with complex modern militarism. Though the military-industrial-media-entertainment-network is a well-discussed issue in relation to video games, much of this work focuses on first-person shooters and representations of modern military combat. This same militarisation operates through more covert mechanics in medievalist video games – games set deliberately in a distanced, often fantastical, world – but the same logistical, schematic thinking and messaging is still hidden amongst the longbows and castles. This article analyses this phenomena using the 1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Nintendo video game as a case study text within which two distinct military temporalities operate simultaneously: the 1991 Gulf War and the medieval crusades. It examines the legacies of crusading medievalism but with particular concern for militarism and hypermediacy, exploring the way the American military context of the early 1990s resonates through this game text, particularly through its conceptions of violence and the body of the soldier. The rhetorical power of normalising militarised logistical thinking is significantly increased when it also coalesces with medievalism, and even seemingly simplistic games like Prince of Thieves form a crucial part of the legacy that today manifests in hyper-realistic shooter games that perpetuate racialized violence.

Morality in Gaming: Observer Perceptions of Player versus Character Actions

The debate on the impact of violent video games and its influence on players continues despite mixed findings. Using the lens of third person perception research, we explored moral judgments of laypersons, those often at the crux of these public debates. Study 1 investigated whether the player or character is perceived by an outside observer as responsible for moral decisions made within the narrative of a violent video game. Study 2 investigated how those perceptions may impact the observers’ perceptions of the player’s future negative behaviors and personality traits. Study 1 and 2 used a 2 (condition: rescuing vs. harvesting) x 2 (role: player vs. character) mixed ANOVA with role as a repeated measure. We created a brief recording of gameplay leading to a moral decision in Bioshock, an interactive, first-person shooter game, shown to participants. Participants were asked to rate perceived morality of player and character actions. Study 1 showed that participants (N = 51) held the observed player more morally responsible for in-game behaviors than the character within the game. Replicating and advancing Study 1, Study 2 (N = 227) showed support for you are what you eat heuristic, in that observers were more likely to view the negative behaviors of the in-game characters as indicators of negative personality traits of the player. These insights are crucial in the broader societal discourse on the potential link between violent video games and real-world aggression

Performance and Navigation Behavior of using Teleportation in VR First-Person Shooter Games

Teleportation has been adopted as the preferred mode of navigation in many virtual reality (VR) experiences due to its ability to allow users to easily move beyond the limitations of the tracking space while minimizing the risk of inducing VR sickness. Teleportation instantly translates the user’s viewpoint to a user-selected destination and therefore eliminates any optical flow generation that could cause visual-vestibular conflict. Though teleportation is a discrete navigation method unique to the domain of VR, most VR experiences are modeled after 3D experiences found on desktop/console platforms that use continuous locomotion. How the use of teleportation affects the performance and navigation behavior of its users, especially in competitive first-person shooter environments is unknown, yet it could have a significant effect on gameplay design. We conducted a user study (n=21) that compares teleportation versus continuous locomotion using a VR first-person shooter game with other players being simulated using AI agents. We found significant differences in performance, navigation behavior, and how both locomotion methods are perceived by its users. Specifically, using teleportation, players traveled farther, but during combat were found to be more stationary and as a result got hit more frequently. These differences were profound and carry the potential to impact multiplayer games. We discuss possible strategies to balance gameplay.

Co-activation patterns during viewing of different video game genres

Past research has revealed cognitive improvements resulting from engagement with both traditional action video games and newer action-like video games, such as action real-time strategy games (ARSG). However, the cortical dynamics elicited by different video gaming genres remain unclear. This study explored the temporal dynamics of cortical networks in response to different gaming genres. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were obtained during eye-closed resting and passive viewing of gameplay videos of three genres: life simulation games (LSG), first-person shooter games (FPS), and ARSG. Data analysis used a seed-free Co-Activation Pattern (CAP) based on Regions of Interest (ROIs). When comparing the viewing of action-like video games (FPS and ARSG) to LSG viewing, significant dynamic distinctions were observed in both primary and higher-order networks. Within action-like video games, compared to FPS viewing, ARSG viewing elicited a more pronounced increase in the Fraction of Time and Counts of attentional control-related CAPs, along with an increased Transition Probability from sensorimotor-related CAPs to attentional control-related CAPs. Compared to ARSG viewing, FPS viewing elicited a significant increase in the Fraction of Time of sensorimotor-related CAPs, when gaming experience was considered as a covariate. Thus, different video gaming genres, including distinct action-like video gaming genres, elicited unique dynamic patterns in whole-brain CAPs, potentially influencing the development of various cognitive processes.

Experimenter bias: exploring the interaction between participant’s and investigator’s gender/sex in VR

This study explores the effect of the experimenter’s gender/sex and its interaction with the participant’s gender/sex as potential contributors to the replicability crisis, particularly in the man-gendered domain of VR. 75 young men and women from Western France were randomly evaluated by either a man or a woman during a 13-min immersion in a first-person shooter game. Self-administered questionnaires were used to measure variables commonly assessed during VR experiments (sense of presence, cybersickness, video game experience, flow). MANOVAs, ANOVAs and post-hoc comparisons were used. Results indicate that men and women differ in their reports of cybersickness and video game experience when rated by men, whereas they report similar measures when rated by women. These findings are interpreted as consequences of the psychosocial stress triggered by the interaction between the two genders/sexes, as well as the gender conformity effect induced, particularly in women, by the presence of a man in a masculine domain. Corroborating this interpretation, the subjective measure of flow, which is not linked to video games and/or computers, does not seem to be affected by this experimental effect. Methodological precautions are highlighted, notably the brief systematic description of the experimenter, and future exploratory and confirmatory studies are outlined.Graphical abstract

Reinforcement Learning as an Approach to Train Multiplayer First-Person Shooter Game Agents

Artificial Intelligence bots are extensively used in multiplayer First-Person Shooter (FPS) games. By using Machine Learning techniques, we can improve their performance and bring them to human skill levels. In this work, we focused on comparing and combining two Reinforcement Learning training architectures, Curriculum Learning and Behaviour Cloning, applied to an FPS developed in the Unity Engine. We have created four teams of three agents each: one team for Curriculum Learning, one for Behaviour Cloning, and another two for two different methods of combining Curriculum Learning and Behaviour Cloning. After completing the training, each agent was matched to battle against another agent of a different team until each pairing had five wins or ten time-outs. In the end, results showed that the agents trained with Curriculum Learning achieved better performance than the ones trained with Behaviour Cloning by a matter of 23.67% more average victories in one case. In terms of the combination attempts, not only did the agents trained with both devised methods had problems during training, but they also achieved insufficient results in the battle, with an average of 0 wins.

The influence of acute sprint exercise on cognition, gaming performance, and cortical hemodynamics in esports players and age-matched controls

The relationship between esports and cognitive performance has recently gained increasing interest in the scientific community. However, our knowledge of the effects of acute sprint exercise (SE) on game performance and cognitive performance of esports players (as compared to age-matched controls) is scant. To address this gap, this study using a between-subjects design with pretest-posttest comparisons recruited amateur esports players aged between 18 and 35 years, and healthy age-matched controls who did not play esports games. The participants performed the Go/No-go test, Tracking Test, and the First Person Shooter (FPS) game Valorant immediately before and 5 and 30 min after SE. In addition to the behavioral performance, changes in the cortical hemodynamics of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were recorded before and after the acute physical exercise while playing Valorant using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The results show that amateur esports players have superior performance in both game performance (p < .001) and specific measures of cognitive performance (i.e., Tracking Test, p < .05), regardless of the sessions. After the acute physical exercise, the gaming performance in both groups improved, and amateur esports players showed a higher accuracy in the Go/No-go task 30 min after SE. Regarding PFC cortical hemodynamics, no significant difference was noticed in the oxygenation values of both groups between pre and post tests, and between-group differences (p > .05). In conclusion, our study provides evidence that (i) amateur esports players have superior cognitive performance in specific domains and (ii) an acute bout of physical exercise can increase the gaming performance of both amateur esports players and healthy age-matched controls.

The Fittest Wins: A Multistage Framework Achieving New SOTA in ViZDoom Competition

This paper offers an integrated solution for First-Person Shooter (FPS) games to train agents with adaptive strategies. Solving such complex decision tasks requires generalization ability and adaptive strategies. We develop a framework using a novel Adaptive Strategic Control (ASC) algorithm combined with advanced techniques like the hindsight experience replay (HER), multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL), and league training. The approach adopts a multi-stage learning scheme, consisting of learning a goal-conditioned navigation policy, then transferring to learn sophisticated shooting skills by playing against a league of players, and finally learning adaptive strategies. Our agent achieves the SOTA result in past ViZDoom AI Competitions, surpassing previous top-ranked agents (never seen during training) by a large margin. We provide comprehensive analysis and experiments to elaborate the effect of each component in affecting the agent performance and demonstrate that the proposed and adopted techniques are essential to achieve superior performance in ViZDoom Competition and potentially valuable for general end-to-end FPS games.