Video Games Research Articles

Can playing video games enhance reading skills through more efficient serial visual search mechanisms? Insights from an eye tracking study

ABSTRACT Reading disorders are associated with atypical top-down visual attention (VA) processes like reduced VA span and slower serial visual search (SVS). In contrast, expert action video game (AVG) players, known for their efficient top-down VA, exhibit improved reading abilities. It is unclear whether these benefits stem solely from AVGs or apply to other gaming experiences. To explore this, AVG players (AVGPs), players of genres excluding AVGs (VGPs), and non-players were evaluated on their VA span, and behavioural and oculomotor performance in SVS. VGPs, but not AVGPs, demonstrated enhanced performance and oculomotor behaviour in SVS compared to non-players, while both player groups showed a trend towards better VA span skills. Notably, reading-related skills were enhanced in the two player groups, but particularly more so in VGPs. These findings support the existence of potential benefits of playing video games different from classical AVGs for the development of top-down VA and reading-related abilities.

Low Latency Feedback: Contrasting Training Outcomes of Immediate versus Delayed Feedback in Speedrunning Super Mario Bros.

With the rise of popularity and societal importance of video games, trends of grinding play for excessive amounts of time to improve proficiency becomes more and more common. This bears not only physical and mental health risks, but has already shown to be detrimental for skill acquisition, defeating its purpose in the first place. For the sake of health promotion, well-being, and the advancement of self-regulated learning, we specifically investigate the impact of detailed feedback on player performance. As research about comparable activities in related domains suggest inconclusive implications for when feedback in video game learning should be presented, we particularly explore the impact of delivering immediate versus delayed feedback, during or after play. Using (n = 30) participants and the well-investigated Super Mario Bros., we communicate insights in favor for deploying feedback immediately when polishing one's video game related skills such as in speedrunning.

Echoes of Player Experience: A Literature Review on Audio Assessment and Player Experience in Games

Player Experience (PX) in video games is a multifaceted construct encompassing affective, perceived, and subjective dimensions. While extensively explored in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and games user research studies, the practical evaluation of PX, especially concerning audio elements, remains challenging. This paper presents a Literature Review (LR) (n=26), which addresses the gap in the literature related to audio in PX evaluation, unveiling trends and issues. We used Creswell's methodology for LR, exploring three major research questions that investigate the approaches, instruments, and methodologies used to evaluate audio in digital games, the constructs of player experience related to audio assessment, and the challenges faced by researchers in this context. Our findings underscores challenges in the generalization of study outcomes, audio personalization and variation and audio-games evaluation. This work strives to bridge the gap between research and practice, fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between audio and PX in games.

Mod Installation as Reclaiming Representational Diversity: The Role of Aesthetic Agency in Stardew Valley

Media (e.g., film) are often designed around cisgender, heternormative logics and are not representative of the multiplicity of identities and identity expressions that exist in the world. Thus, media impedes the identity expression and performance of the communities who use them, as we do not see many parts of our identities represented or find that our identities are misrepresented. Video games, which are a genre of media, are especially problematic in how they perpetuate heteronormative normative logics. Unlike most media, however, video games give people agency over the aesthetics of game worlds--the characters and narratives--through the installation of mods. We conducted a content analysis coupled with a triangulation of mods through personal experience focused on the widely popular farming simulation game Stardew Valley. Drawing on a conceptual lens bringing together theories of identity and aesthetic agency, we highlight how the aesthetic agency afforded by mod installation provides opportunities for reclaiming representational diversity in game worlds along the following dimensions: sex and intimacy, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, and body diversity. We discuss the implications of mod installation, exploring its potential relationship with identity work and identity play. We then propose design guidelines for achieving aesthetic alignment.

"I Found it Cathartic": Exploring Empathy and Mental Health Awareness in Psychological Horror Video Games

Horror video games have often been criticized for their negative and unrealistic depiction of mental health, primarily through their portrayal of characters with mental illnesses. Such representations can perpetuate stigma and misconceptions about mental health issues. However, there has recently been a growing interest in accurate portrayals of these characters and how playing these video games could also elicit empathy and mental health awareness. In our study, we explored how a psychological horror game such as Silent Hill 2 could foster empathy and mental health awareness through individual interviews with 11 participants. Our findings revealed that participants gained a deeper understanding of mental health issues and empathy towards characters struggling with mental illnesses by interacting and controlling them. Participants had a greater attachment to the characters' inner struggles and their gameplay was experienced as cathartic. Moreover, our findings highlighted the potential of psychological horror to serve as a platform for character-driven narratives, showcasing how engagement with such games elicited empathy among participants. We contribute to an exploratory understanding that can assist game designers and writers in crafting narratives within the Psychological Horror genre that foster empathy and mental health awareness.

Juicy Audio: Audio Designers' Conceptualization of the Term in Video Games

While juiciness in games has previously been explored in the context of visual embellishments, less is known about whether and how the concept is leveraged in the context of audio and sound design. In our work, we address this issue through in-depth interviews with twelve audio designers working in the games industry. Through thematic analysis and content analysis, we show that principles of juicy design also apply to audio and sound design, and that it is applied intentionally to improve player feedback and experience. On this basis, our work contributes a conceptual foundation for juicy audio in its key factors of emphasis/augmentation, cohesion/coherence, and synesthesia. We identify associated attributes and provide implications for the design of games that seek to leverage juicy audio as a means of improving player experience.

Folk Models of Loot Boxes in Video Games

Regulations require video games to provide transparency regarding loot box odds to keep players informed, leading many games to disclose probabilities in various ways; yet, the extent of players' comprehension of loot box mechanics remains unclear. We performed a content analysis on 80 online posts to understand players' perceptions of loot box odds in two popular video games (Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail). We then conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 players to explore the causes of these folk models across more games. Utilizing a bottom-up open coding approach, we created a taxonomy of folk models players have about loot boxes. We found that participants generally possessed inaccurate mental models of how loot boxes work, and they wanted game companies to enhance loot box transparency in three areas of probability disclosures: granularity, longitude, and scope.

Balancing Playability and Historical Accuracy in Game Design - Developing the Struve Geodetic Arc Mobile Game

Numerous digital games and media with historical themes aim to educate or engage audiences with heritage. When developing a historical video game, some of the most critical design decisions are centered around finding the balance between an accurate presentation of historical facts and engaging gameplay. This paper examines the game developer's role in selecting and presenting historical content through a case study of a mobile game development process. The design choices and developers' positions related to using historical facts are examined through thematic analysis of interview data and game design documents. Recurring themes in the data reveal a constant interplay between game features and historical content, supported by historical knowledge and technology. In small teams, individual developers often make crucial design decisions while performing multiple roles. As key findings, we report that the resourcing and timing of historical research significantly impacts developers' decisions, and note varying degrees of interest in historical accuracy within the development team.

Of robots and ancient mysteries: Representations of Jōmon figurines as cultural heritage and popular culture

Final Jōmon ceramic figurines known as shakōki dogū have been incorporated into popular culture for decades in Japan, but few studies have examined how these sources represent shakōki dogū or how they contribute to public meaning making about the past. Using perspectives from archaeological representation studies, this paper explores trends in when, where, and how shakōki dogū appear in Japanese media, such as anime, manga, and games. In didactic sources, shakōki dogū are predominantly characterized as female figurines connected to Jōmon ritual and Japanese cultural origins. While the dogū observed here were often depicted as ancient and magical, they were more likely to be masculine, antagonistic, and generic symbols of a distant past, rather than references to the Jōmon or Japanese heritage. This departure from a divine feminine interpretation is discussed in relation to the video game industry, science fiction and fantasy genres, and Arahabaki in the popular mind.

Effects Of Video Gaming And Conventional Physical Therapy On Upper Limb Rehabilitation In Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial From Rafsan Neuro Rehabilitation Center, Peshawar

Effects Of Video Gaming And Conventional Physical Therapy On Upper Limb Rehabilitation In Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial From Rafsan Neuro Rehabilitation Center, Peshawar

How To Tame a Toxic Player? A Systematic Literature Review on Intervention Systems for Toxic Behaviors in Online Video Games

Toxic behavior is known to cause harm in online games. Players regularly experience negative, hateful, or inappropriate behavior. Interventions, such as banning players or chat message filtering, can help combat toxicity but are not widely available or even comprehensively studied regarding their approaches and evaluations. We conducted a systematic literature review that provides insights into the current state of interventions literature, outlining their strengths and shortcomings. We identified 36 interventions and qualitatively analyzed their approaches. We describe the types of toxicity being addressed, the entities through which they act, the methods used by intervention systems, and how they are evaluated. Our results provide guidance for future interventions, outlining a design space based on known systems. Furthermore, our findings highlight gaps in the literature, e.g., a sparsity of empirical evaluations, and underexplored areas in the design space, enabling researchers to explore novel directions for future interventions.

"Wichita 1-1, Fox Three" - The Role of 3D Telemetry Analysis in Combat Flight Simulation

Analyzing 3D telemetry data collected from competitive video games on the Internet can support players in improving performance as well as spectators in viewing data-driven narratives of the gameplay. In this paper, we conduct an in-depth qualitative study on the use of telemetry analysis by embedding over several weeks in a virtual F-14A Tomcat squadron in the multiplayer combat flight simulator DCS World (DCS) (2008). Based on formative interviews with DCS pilots, we design a web-based game analytics framework for rendering 3D telemetry from the flight simulator in a live 3D player, incorporating many of the data displays and visualizations requested by the participants. We then evaluate the framework with real mission data from several air-to-air engagements involving the virtual squadron. Our findings highlight the key role of 3D telemetry playback in competitive multiplayer gaming.

From Imagination to Innovation: Using Participatory Design Fiction to Envision the Future of Accessible Gaming Wearables for Players with Upper Limb Motor Disabilities

The interest in enhancing video game interactions through wearable technology has grown, yet accessible gaming with wearables remains underexplored. This study employs participatory design fiction, enabling disabled gamers to envision a future with tailored gaming wearables while critiquing technology. We conducted a two-phase study. Phase one involved in-depth interviews with upper limb motor disability participants; we developed a fictitious gaming wearable by analyzing the data using reflexive thematic analysis. A smaller group iterated on the wearable in phase two to ideate on ideal futures with accessible gaming wearables. Using data and dialogic/performance analysis, we crafted a design fiction diegetic prototype as a tech review video. This research highlights disabled gamers' unique needs and experiences around gaming wearables. It offers an innovative diegetic prototype for accessible gaming tech. Our methodological contribution merges narrative inquiry and dialogic/performance analysis in participatory design fiction research, providing a valuable approach for future studies.

Like It or Not: Exploring the Impact of (Dis)liked Background Music on Player Behavior and Experience

Entertainment media, including video games, utilize background music (BGM) to enhance ambiance and gameplay, with a growing trend of players replacing in-game audio with personal music for potentially improved gameplay. Yet, research has not systematically investigated the connection between liked or disliked BGM and player behavior and experience. With our work, we make this step by letting users play the popular and well-researched game Tetris with BGM of their choice, and go one step further by adding music to the game that they specifically dislike, as this direction has been neglected thus far, but could prove interesting to target certain player behavior or experience. In our lab-study (N=31) we found that liked BGM increased engagement with the game and enhanced player experience, while disliked music reduced immersion. These findings suggest that music preferences should be taken into greater account in game design, e.g. by offering more options for BGM customization.

Towards Democratisation of Games User Research: Exploring Playtesting Challenges of Indie Video Game Developers

Playtesting is a games user research (GUR) method used to evaluate design decisions based on feedback gathered from players with the goal to improve player experience. HCI games research has been actively working on and promoting best practices in GUR. However, these practices often require resources, knowledge and expertise, which are not readily available for indie video games developers. Thus, to better understand how GUR can support these developers, we conducted an interview study with 13 indie games professionals to learn about their practices and the challenges they face when doing playtesting. We report on the key findings from this study, including challenges with finding appropriate participants and handling the data from playtests. We provide a discussion of how existing GUR practices can be adapted and what HCI games research can do to help mitigate these challenges to make playtesting more accessible and impactful to indie video games developers.

Exploring the Role of Action Mechanics in Game-Based Stress Recovery

Digital games can provide effective recovery from stress, with players turning to a variety of genres-including those with game mechanics that can be considered stressors themselves, i.e., action mechanics. We examine whether action mechanics undermine or facilitate game-based recovery by exposing participants (n=60) to a stress induction, and then having them play a roguelike game in one of three conditions: Combat-Required, Combat-Optional, and Combat-Free. We assess experience through self-report and observed physiological responses. Our findings suggest that gameplay-irrespective of action mechanic intensity-supports the recovery process through the pathways of experienced psychological detachment, control, dominance, and pleasure. Additionally, action mechanics were perceived by participants as particularly promising for mastery recovery experiences-but undermine the recovery pathways of relaxation, as corroborated by experienced arousal and subjective stress. Physiological measures corroborate subjective self-report. We contend that video games featuring action mechanics represent a promising strategy for stress recovery, and may be particularly beneficial in the re-assertion of mastery.

Playing Through Tough Times: Exploring the Relationship between Game Aspects and Coping Strategies during Difficult Life Challenges

The potential benefits of playing video games during times of difficulty have been increasingly recognised by researchers yet little is known about how particular aspects of games may relate to different forms of coping. An exploratory survey of 130 participants and content analysis identified 31 game aspects, across 6 categories, that were beneficial or detrimental to players. Our findings illustrate that games can support a range of coping strategies, including emotion-focused, avoidance, and meaning-focused coping. We also identify how specific aspects of games relate to different coping strategies during times of personal difficulty. For instance, emotion-focused coping was most commonly linked to challenge game aspects, where overcoming difficulties allowed players to experience positive emotions such as competence. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into how games may be able to facilitate a range of coping strategies during tough times.

Role models in gaming: Wishful identification and maladaptive daydreaming mediate the association between desire for fame and game engagement

BackgroundThe popularity of video games has considerably increased in recent years, with approximately 3.24 billion players worldwide in 2021. Empirical evidence suggests that the quality of engagement in video games can determine whether a gaming activity is associated with psychological distress (i.e., problematic gaming) or self-enhancing outcomes (i.e., esports career pursuits). This study investigates the role of influential gaming role models and other external factors relating to fame appeal in gamers' different ways of engagement. MethodsA total of 803 adolescent and adult gamers (89.29 % male, Mage = 24.90 years, SD = 6.13) were recruited through an online questionnaire. ResultsA path analysis was constructed demonstrating that wishful identification partially mediated the relationship between desire for fame and esports career planning. Moreover, maladaptive daydreaming fully mediated the association between desire for fame and gaming disorder symptoms. Wishful identification with gaming role models predicted both esports career planning and gaming disorder symptoms. ConclusionsThe findings shed light on the importance of considering the role of gaming role models in predicting healthy and problematic gaming patterns.

Problems of copyright protection for gaming content

The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the current issues of copyright protection of game content in the context of the rapid development of the video game industry. The study examines the peculiarities of legal protection of various elements of video games, including software code, audiovisual components, storylines and characters. It analyses the main challenges faced by developers and publishers in protecting their intellectual property rights, including unauthorised copying, piracy and unlicensed modifications. The author analyses the terminology of the industry, in particular, the concept of ‘video game’ which is widely used in international practice. At the same time, the author establishes that the term ‘computer game’ prevails in the European legal space. This terminological difference reflects regional peculiarities in approaches to classification and legal regulation of interactive entertainment products. Despite certain semantic differences, both terms cover electronic games operating on various digital platforms. With the development of online capabilities, video games have moved far beyond the isolated and closed subculture they once were. Video games now create an interactive virtual community and a thriving business that is part artistic expression, part sporting competition and part mass entertainment. A comprehensive analysis of a wide range of court precedents from different jurisdictions relating to the protection of rights to video content in the field of interactive entertainment was carried out. The study of these court decisions allowed the author to identify the key legal approaches and principles applied in cases of copyright infringement of video game elements. It is found that the differences between video games and other intellectual property objects have led to difficulties in determining the legal regime most appropriate to their specifics. Video games include a variety of constituent elements, many of which are eligible for legal protection. The growing involvement of video games in civilian circulation has given rise to the urgent problem of copyright protection for game content.

Prospective associations between Sleep, Sensation-Seeking and Mature Screen Usage in Early Adolescents: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.

Early exposure to mature content is linked to high-risk behaviors. This study aims to prospectively investigate how sleep and sensation-seeking behaviors influence the consumption of mature video games and R-rated movies in early adolescents. A secondary analysis examines the bidirectional relationships between sleep patterns and mature screen usage. Data were obtained from a subsample of 3,687 early adolescents (49.2% female; mean age: 11.96 years) participating in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study. At Year 2 follow-up, participants wore Fitbit wearables for up to 21 nights to assess objective sleep measures and completed a scale about sensation-seeking traits. At Year 3 follow-up, they answered questions about mature screen usage. Of the sample, 41.8% of the sample reported playing mature-rated video games and 49% reported watching R-rated movies. Sensation-seeking traits were associated with R-rated movie watching one year later. Shorter sleep duration, later bedtime, more bedtime variability, and more social jetlag (discrepancy between the mid-sleep on weekdays and weekends) were associated with mature-rated video gaming and R-rated movie watching one year later. Sleep duration variability was associated with mature-rated video gaming. There was also an interaction effect: those with higher sensation-seeking scores and shorter sleep duration reported more frequent R-rated movie usage than those with longer sleep duration. Secondary analyses showed bidirectional associations between later bedtimes, more variability in bedtimes, and more social jetlag with mature screen usage. Early adolescents with sensation-seeking traits and poorer sleep health were more likely to engage in mature screen usage.