research-article

Damage Optimization in Video Games: A Player-Driven Co-Creative Approach

Authors:

Erica Kleinman,

Magy Seif El-NasrAuthors Info & Claims

CHI '24: Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Article No.: 368, Pages 1 - 16

https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642643

Published: 11 May 2024 Publication History

Abstract

The concept of dealing damage is established and widespread in video games. With growing complexity and countless interactions in modern games, capturing how damage unfolds becomes an intricate problem - for developers just as for players. Misunderstanding how to optimize damage potentials includes risks of game imbalances, game-breaking exploits, mismatches between player skill and challenge (harming flow), and impaired perceived competence. All of these considerably impact player experience, game reception, success, and retention, yet polishing optimal strategies remains often a player community effort. To accelerate, inform and ease this process, we implemented an interactive tool capable of simulating, visualizing, planning and comparing damage strategies in video games. Following a case study within the Guild Wars 2 community, we contribute a player-driven perspective on the problem of damage optimization, as well as an artifact that resulted in empirical improvements – advancing the fields of game analytics, game evaluation methods and self-regulated learning.

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Bikas IPfau JMuender TMalaka R(2024)Low Latency Feedback: Contrasting Training Outcomes of Immediate versus Delayed Feedback in Speedrunning Super Mario Bros.Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36770878:CHI PLAY(1-14)Online publication date: 15-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3677087
Pfau JSeif El-Nasr M(2024)On Video Game Balancing: Joining Player- and Data-Driven AnalyticsGames: Research and Practice10.1145/36758072:3(1-30)Online publication date: 30-Aug-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3675807
Bikas IPfau JMuender TMalaka R(2024)Space Out Gaming: Comparing Distributed Practice Sessions with Massed PlayProceedings of the 19th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games10.1145/3649921.3656985(1-4)Online publication date: 21-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3649921.3656985
Pfau J(2024)The Real MVP: Quantifying Individual Performances in Multiplayer Online Games2024 IEEE Conference on Games (CoG)10.1109/CoG60054.2024.10645665(1-8)Online publication date: 5-Aug-2024
https://doi.org/10.1109/CoG60054.2024.10645665
Teng ZHolmes JDominguez FPfau JJunior MEl-Nasr M(2024)Identifying Player Strategies Through Segmentation: An Interactive Process Visualization ApproachSerious Games10.1007/978-3-031-74138-8_7(77-90)Online publication date: 31-Oct-2024
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-74138-8_7

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