Measuring perceived challenge in digital games: Development &amp; validation of the challenge originating from recent gameplay interaction scale (CORGIS)

Denisova, Alena; Cairns, Paul; Guckelsberger, Christian; Zendle, David

doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2019.102383

Cited by 81 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…However, video games are a diverse medium that allows for a range of nuanced and subtle experiences besides fun -video games may also aford profound emotional experiences [33,37,42]. Over the past few years, emotional player experiences have received increasing attention within PX research, addressing topics such as emotionally moving [6] and emotionally challenging moments [8,20,48], discomforting experiences [13,28], and emotional attachment to game characters [7]. These works [6-8, 28, 48] are particularly concerned with the specifc emotions players feel (or at least report feeling) while playing, ranging from awe and respect to sadness, regret, and disgust.…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…video games that have a profound emotional impact on the player in the form of complex, mixed-afect experiences, -has grown in HCI games research. Existing work has looked at player experiences ranging from emotionally challenging [8,16,20] and discomforting experiences [13,28] to emotionally moving moments [6]. Others have addressed how games aford emotional [33] and deep [51] experiences, and developed ideation tools to facilitate the design for such experiences [49].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Whatever the Emotional Experience, It’s Up to Them”: Insights from Designers of Emotionally Impactful Games

Denisova

Bopp

Nguyen

et al. 2021

Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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Emotionally impactful game experiences have garnered increasing interest within HCI games research. Yet the perspectives of designers have, to date, remained largely overlooked. We interviewed 14 indie game designers regarding their values and practices in designing emotionally impactful games. Counter to the focus of recent player experience (PX) studies, we fnd that while designers typically have a clear vision for the intended emotional impact, they aim for their games to provide a space for players to have their own personal experiences and interpretations. Despite this player-centric orientation, players were rarely involved before and during the production to evaluate the emotional experience. Based on these fndings, we identify gaps between design practice and PX research, raise open questions around the design and evaluation of emotionally impactful game experiences, and outline opportunities for HCI games research to more productively support game designers. CCS CONCEPTS• Human-centered computing → Empirical studies in HCI; User studies; • Applied computing → Computer games.

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Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Whatever the Emotional Experience, It’s Up to Them”: Insights from Designers of Emotionally Impactful Games

Denisova

Bopp

Nguyen

et al. 2021

Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Achieving a state of “flow” is an overarching aim of games (Csikszentmihalyi & Csikszentmihalyi, 1988; Ke, 2016), and the provision of optimal challenge within the game is crucial to this eg, through matching the game difficulty and the players' skill level (Denisova et al., 2017; Hamari et al., 2016; Kim & Ruipérez‐Valiente, 2020). Although the terms challenge and difficulty can often be used interchangeably, they are interrelated yet distinct concepts— difficulty can be defined as the “probability of task failure” (Lomas et al., 2017), whereas challenge is a more nuanced and harder to define concept based on player perception of effort and experience ie, how difficult do they find the game, which depends on a player's particular skills and prior expertise (Denisova et al., 2020). Within the context of learning, tasks that are too difficult can result in cognitive overload whereas simple tasks may lead to feelings of boredom and disengagement (Hendrix et al., 2018; Shute et al., 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing for “challenge” in a large‐scale adaptive literacy game for primary school children

Benton

Mavrikis

Vasalou

et al. 2021

Brit J Educational Tech

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The use of learning games within the classroom is becoming increasingly common because of their potential to positively impact learning. Recent developments in adaptivity offer further possibilities to personalise learning by tailoring the game to an individual child's level or particular learning needs. However, designing an adaptive learning game is a complex process as many different game components have an impact on the provision of optimal challenge, crucial for maintaining player engagement, with limited prior work considering the multifaceted nature of this concept. This paper explores how to design for “challenge” within large‐scale adaptive learning games through a case study focused on the design of a literacy game for three linguistically and cognitively diverse learner groups—novice readers, children with dyslexia and children learning English as a foreign language. In reflecting on our design process, we identify three key design tensions that arose: (a) supporting longer‐term learning goals through game replayability; (b) fostering either replication or innovation in pedagogy through adaptivity rules; and (c) addressing diversity between learner groups. We present a set of design recommendations to guide researchers and designers in taking a multidimensional view of challenge when designing large‐scale adaptive learning games. What is already known about this topic? Adaptive learning games can have a positive impact on children's learning outcomes. Ensuring optimal challenge within games is important for maintaining engagement. Designing adaptive learning games is a complex process. What this paper adds? Designing for optimal challenge within adaptive learning game should be considered as a multifaceted concept. Identification of key tensions related to optimising challenge that can emerge during the design of large‐scale adaptive learning games. Recommendations for adaptivity researchers and learning game designers for how to address these tensions in adaptive learning game design. Implications for practice and/or policy? We need a more systematic approach to adaptivity game design to ensure wider spread adoption. Learning game designers seeking to utilise adaptive components in designing for optimal challenge should consider a focus on learners who may require a more targeted approach. Adaptive learning games offer opportunities for pedagogical innovation in the classroom through exploiting innovative game features as well as large‐scale data collection to support adaptive learning over time.

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“…Gamers play on dedicated gaming consoles and on personal computers in their homes, but also on tablets and smartphones out in the world, and in dedicated gaming spaces (Entertainment Software Association, 2019 ). Research has demonstrated that people play digital games as a leisure activity to experience enjoyment (Boyle et al, 2012 ), escapism (Grove et al, 2016 ), immersion (Jennett et al, 2008 ), and challenge (Denisova et al, 2020 ), but gaming also provides more than just a pleasurable pastime. Playing digital games has also been shown to nurture wellbeing by helping players recover from daily stressors (Reinecke, 2009 ; Collins et al, 2019 ), repair noxious moods (Bowman and Tamborini, 2012 ), cope with life's challenges (Iacovides and Mekler, 2019 ), and practice emotional regulation (Granic et al, 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Passion for Playing World of Warcraft Predicts In-Game Social Capital, Loneliness, and Wellbeing

et al. 2020

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Playing digital games can nurture wellbeing by helping players recover from daily stressors, cope with life's challenges, practice emotion regulation, and engage in meaningful social interaction; however, this same leisure activity can also result in problematic gaming (i.e., harmful play at the expense of healthy behaviors), and social isolation that damages wellbeing. Research consistently demonstrates that the value or harm of gaming on wellbeing cannot be determined solely from whether and how much people play, but rather depends on contingent factors related to the player, the game, and the gaming context. In this paper, we aim to model contingent factors that differentiate between beneficial and harmful outcomes within players of the same massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). We model how passion for gaming-defined as a strong desire to engage in a beloved activity that is enjoyed and valued, in which time and energy is invested, and that ultimately integrates into a person's identity-affects loneliness and wellbeing. We employ the dualistic model that divides passion into harmonious passion (HP)-characterized by a balanced and authentic relationship with the beloved activity, and obsessive passion (OP)-characterized by preoccupation and inflexible persistence toward the loved activity. We sampled 300 frequent World of Warcraft (WoW) players, recruited from online forums, and used structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate the effects of their passion for playing WoW on in-game social capital, loneliness, and wellbeing. We demonstrate that HP for playing WoW facilitates in-game social capital (both bridging and bonding), combats loneliness, and increases wellbeing, whereas OP also builds social capital, but these social ties do not combat loneliness, and OP is directly associated with increased loneliness. Further, the positive effect of HP on wellbeing is mediated through an increase in bonding social capital and a resulting decrease in loneliness. Our findings highlight that passion orientation is important for characterizing the relationship between gaming and wellbeing. We contribute to the conversation on combating problematic gaming, while also promoting digital gaming as an appealing leisure activity that provides enjoyment, recovery, and meaningful social interaction for the millions of gamers who benefit from its captivation.

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Measuring perceived challenge in digital games: Development & validation of the challenge originating from recent gameplay interaction scale (CORGIS)

Cited by 81 publications

References 32 publications

“Whatever the Emotional Experience, It’s Up to Them”: Insights from Designers of Emotionally Impactful Games

“Whatever the Emotional Experience, It’s Up to Them”: Insights from Designers of Emotionally Impactful Games

Designing for “challenge” in a large‐scale adaptive literacy game for primary school children

How Passion for Playing World of Warcraft Predicts In-Game Social Capital, Loneliness, and Wellbeing

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