Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer

Marcello Andres Goḿez Maureira; Dirk P. Janssen; Stefano Gualeni; Michelle Westerlaken; Licia Calvi

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6

Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer

Marcello Andres Goḿez Maureira, Dirk P. Janssen, Stefano Gualeni, Michelle Westerlaken, Licia Calvi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

In this paper we compare the effects of using three game user research methodologies to assist in shaping levels for a 2-D platformer game, and illustrate how the use of such methodologies can help level designers to make more informed decisions in an otherwise qualitative oriented design process. Game user interviews, game metrics and psychophysiology (biometrics) were combined in pairs to gauge usefulness in small-scale commercial game development scenarios such as the casual game industry. Based on the recommendations made by the methods, three sample levels of a Super Mario clone were improved and the opinions of a second sample of users indicated the success of these changes. We conclude that user interviews provide the clearest indications for improvement among the considered methodologies while metrics and biometrics add different types of information that cannot be obtained otherwise.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Advances in Computer Entertainment
Subtitle of host publication	10th International Conference, ACE 2013, Boekelo, The Netherlands, November 12-15, 2013. Proceedings
Editors	Dennis Reidsma, Haruhiro Katayose, Anton Nijholt
Place of Publication	Cham
Publisher	Springer
Pages	77-92
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-319-03161-3
ISBN (Print)	978-3-319-03160-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6
Publication status	Published - 2013
Externally published	Yes
Event	10th International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment, ACE 2013 - Boekelo, Netherlands Duration: 12 Nov 2013 → 15 Nov 2013 Conference number: 10

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	8253
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	10th International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment, ACE 2013
Abbreviated title	ACE
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Boekelo
Period	12/11/13 → 15/11/13

Keywords

Biometrics
Casual games
Combined methodologies
Game industry
Games
Games user research
Level design
Physiological measures
Platformer
Quality assurance
User testing
n/a OA procedure

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6

Cite this

Goḿez Maureira, M. A., Janssen, D. P., Gualeni, S., Westerlaken, M., & Calvi, L. (2013). Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer. In D. Reidsma, H. Katayose, & A. Nijholt (Eds.), Advances in Computer Entertainment: 10th International Conference, ACE 2013, Boekelo, The Netherlands, November 12-15, 2013. Proceedings (pp. 77-92). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 8253). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6

Goḿez Maureira, Marcello Andres ; Janssen, Dirk P. ; Gualeni, Stefano et al. / Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer. Advances in Computer Entertainment: 10th International Conference, ACE 2013, Boekelo, The Netherlands, November 12-15, 2013. Proceedings. editor / Dennis Reidsma ; Haruhiro Katayose ; Anton Nijholt. Cham : Springer, 2013. pp. 77-92 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

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title = "Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer",

abstract = "In this paper we compare the effects of using three game user research methodologies to assist in shaping levels for a 2-D platformer game, and illustrate how the use of such methodologies can help level designers to make more informed decisions in an otherwise qualitative oriented design process. Game user interviews, game metrics and psychophysiology (biometrics) were combined in pairs to gauge usefulness in small-scale commercial game development scenarios such as the casual game industry. Based on the recommendations made by the methods, three sample levels of a Super Mario clone were improved and the opinions of a second sample of users indicated the success of these changes. We conclude that user interviews provide the clearest indications for improvement among the considered methodologies while metrics and biometrics add different types of information that cannot be obtained otherwise.",

keywords = "Biometrics, Casual games, Combined methodologies, Game industry, Games, Games user research, Level design, Physiological measures, Platformer, Quality assurance, User testing, n/a OA procedure",

author = "\{Goḿez Maureira\}, \{Marcello Andres\} and Janssen, \{Dirk P.\} and Stefano Gualeni and Michelle Westerlaken and Licia Calvi",

year = "2013",

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language = "English",

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Goḿez Maureira, MA, Janssen, DP, Gualeni, S, Westerlaken, M & Calvi, L 2013, Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer. in D Reidsma, H Katayose & A Nijholt (eds), Advances in Computer Entertainment: 10th International Conference, ACE 2013, Boekelo, The Netherlands, November 12-15, 2013. Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 8253, Springer, Cham, pp. 77-92, 10th International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment, ACE 2013, Boekelo, Netherlands, 12/11/13. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6

Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer. / Goḿez Maureira, Marcello Andres; Janssen, Dirk P.; Gualeni, Stefano et al.
Advances in Computer Entertainment: 10th International Conference, ACE 2013, Boekelo, The Netherlands, November 12-15, 2013. Proceedings. ed. / Dennis Reidsma; Haruhiro Katayose; Anton Nijholt. Cham: Springer, 2013. p. 77-92 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 8253).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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AU - Calvi, Licia

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AB - In this paper we compare the effects of using three game user research methodologies to assist in shaping levels for a 2-D platformer game, and illustrate how the use of such methodologies can help level designers to make more informed decisions in an otherwise qualitative oriented design process. Game user interviews, game metrics and psychophysiology (biometrics) were combined in pairs to gauge usefulness in small-scale commercial game development scenarios such as the casual game industry. Based on the recommendations made by the methods, three sample levels of a Super Mario clone were improved and the opinions of a second sample of users indicated the success of these changes. We conclude that user interviews provide the clearest indications for improvement among the considered methodologies while metrics and biometrics add different types of information that cannot be obtained otherwise.

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ER -

Goḿez Maureira MA, Janssen DP, Gualeni S, Westerlaken M, Calvi L. Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer. In Reidsma D, Katayose H, Nijholt A, editors, Advances in Computer Entertainment: 10th International Conference, ACE 2013, Boekelo, The Netherlands, November 12-15, 2013. Proceedings. Cham: Springer. 2013. p. 77-92. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_6

Comparing game user research methodologies for the improvement of level design in a 2-D platformer

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Keywords

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