Slides from my talk at Bitspiration 2012. Posing the question if fun is a helpful concept in game testing and what alternatives there are. Giving a case study of an indie action game and showing further implications.

1. Better than Fun?

2. Fun
sucks!

3. Divorce kid of
Psychology
and
Video Games

5. User Experience Research
Speaker
Lever
Electric grid

7. Game Design
Sensory
Fun
Elements
Technical
Flaws
Challenge
Rewards

8. Fun

9. Beliefs
Perception
Memory
Needs
Behavior
Emotion
Motivation

10. Perceived Competence
Self-Control
Needs and Incentives
Social Norms
Learning Experience
Dispositions
Intelligence
Reaction Time
Heart Rate
Genetics
Preferences
Upbringing

11. Games
Perception Interpretation
Genetics
Evaluations
Attitudes Experience
Reception
Belief Forming
Feelings
Biography Reactions
Verbal Output
Behavior
Fun

13. Fun
Can we measure it?
Does it help us predict behavior?
Is it specific enough to help us improve our
products?

14. Gamification

21. Psychology on games
Incentive theories
Flow Experience
Cognitive theories
Self-Determination Theory

22. Cognitive theories
Self-Determination Theory

23. Richard M. Ryan
Edward L. Deci

24. Satisfaction of
fundamental needs
Intrinsic motivation

25. Satisfaction of
The need for Competence
The need for Autonomy
The need for Relatedness
Intrinsic motivation

26. The need for
Competence

27. The need to feel effective

30. Meaningful Feedback
Optimal Challenge
Mastery Experience
Context

31. Too Easy/Hard
Control Issues
Unspecific Feedback

35. The need for
Autonomy

36. The need to feel volitional

39. Unique Identity
Opportunities for Action
Choice of Paths

40. Forced Action
Fake Opportunities
Loss of Control

45. Autonomy = Choices

46. The need for
Relatedness

47. The need for
meaningful relations

50. Being Acknowledged
Receiving Support
Making an Impact

51. Isolation
Hostility
Indifference

59. Self-Determination
Theory
Product
Improvement

60. TankWars
• What it is

61. Tank Deathmatch
Real-time Multiplayer

62. Unity 3D
Crossplatform
Facebook

63. Indie Developer

65. Me
Usability Heuristics
GameFlow

67. Developer Training
Player Questionnaire
Motivational Review

69. „How many strategies lead to success?“
„To what extent can players influence their
identity?“
„How frequently are mastery moments
offered?“
„What kind of feedback is given?“
„What elements of the game scale in
difficulty?“
„How is the player‘s impact on the world
made visible?“
„How is a supportive community
encouraged?“

70. InGaME
• User Assessment
– Questionnaire
– What it measures
– How it is constructed

71. InGaME I strongly agree
1 2 3
• User Assessment
„When I failed I knew why.“
– Questionnaire
„I was satisfied with my performance.“
– What it measures
„The goals were clear to me.“
– How it is constructed
„I felt supported by the other players.“
„I felt free to express my own playstyle.“
„I felt that my contributions were unique.“
„The game allowed me to create a unique identity.“
„When I failed I knew why.“

72. InGaME
• User Assessment
7
– Questionnaire
6
5
– What it measures
4
– How it is3 constructed
2
1

77. Community Analysis
&
Player Typology

78. Thank you for listening!

79. Questions?
References?
Feedback?

80. bj.dressler@ .com
@BenDressler
Ben Dressler