Measuring Engagement In Games

Gamasutra is running an article written by Tim Hong of EmSense in which he describes the research his company did into the physiological reactions various games engender in players. In addition to outward cues like breathing and movement, EmSense also scans brainwaves and heart activity to provide a more complete picture of how a gamer is responding to what he sees and does. They collected hundreds of hours worth of data and made comparisons among a variety of shooters, such as Gears of War 2, F.E.A.R, and Half-Life 2. They found some interesting information on how pacing, tutorials, and cutscenes can affect a player's level of engagement with the games.

That's just happy, happy, joy, joy.

[Ostracus]

"They were actually surprised to see that people did react strongly when a seemingly important NPC gets killed. I guess they didn't play the original Half Life were people didn't want to get barney killed, even though the character has no consistence at all."

Of course I wanted Barney killed. That purple dinosaur has been vexing me for years.

Re:That's just happy, happy, joy, joy.

[MindlessAutomata]

http://impressive.net/games/barney/fun.cgi [impressive.net]

This has been on the internet FOREVER. It's time to take those years of torment out on the purple monstrosity, my friend.

Good luck, and God speed.

Replace a few words and...

[EdIII]

Gamasutra is running an article written by Tim Hung Lo of EmSense in which he describes the research his company did into the physiological reactions various pornographic videos engendered in viewers. In addition to outward cues like breathing and movement, EmSense also scans brainwaves and heart activity to provide a more complete picture of how a viewer is responding to what he sees and does. They collected hundreds of hours worth of data and made comparisons among a variety of shooters as they were watching such titles as Forest Hump, The Bush Administration, and 18 inches vs. 18 inches (midget porn). They found some interesting information on how pacing, tutorials, and cutscenes can affect a viewers's level of engagement with the videos.

Yeah..... That's a much better article :)

P.S - I know... I'm sick.

now that's a sticky situation

[Anonymous Coward]

So when is the study planned for Japan's h-game market.

Re:Just Shooters?

[servognome]

Engagement Test Results:

85% - Half Life 2

Engagement test complete.
Congratulations, a party will be held in honor of your accomplishment. Please proceed to the end of the test chamber, lay face down on the floor, and await pickup.

Cake will be served.

Who among us hasn't

[tillerman35]

- Dodged the RPG that's COMING RIGHT AT ME!!!
- Rotated the camera angle for fifteen minutes trying to look up a hot high-elf babe's robes
- Leaned left, right, and back while in a dog fight with a MIG
- Had their tummy do flip-flops when the character on screen jumps of an impossibly high cliff/building/etc
- Jumped waaaaay back out of the way when the spooky creepy wet-haired Japanese girl comes crawling out of the monitor

OK, I made that last one up- but if she ever does come crawling out of the monitor I'm gonna run like heck and not care who hears me scream like a girl.