Comparing the impact of game design methods on player emotional response
Ilmonen, Susanna (2023)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052614500
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052614500
Tiivistelmä
This thesis explores the impact of emotional design on players' emotional responses during gameplay, using the Mechanics Dynamics and Aesthetics (MDA) framework and flow theory to analyze a demo for the game Arrival of the Punnu. The thesis presents the different game design approaches and methods used to create the demo, with the goal of identifying elements that work as intended and areas in need of improvement.
Seven players with varying game preferences participated in this study, playing a 10-minute demo, and completing a questionnaire that mapped their player types and emotional responses to game events and characters. The MDA framework was used to analyze the demo's mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics, while flow theory was used to explore the players' level of engagement and immersion in the game.
The results indicated that while players enjoyed the gameplay, their emotional responses did not align with the intended design. Most players reported contentedness and neutral emotions towards characters, rather than the intended emotional responses. Based on the analysis, the study concludes by providing suggestions for improving gameplay elements to better align with intended emotional responses, using the MDA framework and flow theory.
Overall, this study contributes to the field of game design by examining the impact of emotional design on players' experiences, and by providing practical insights and recommendations for designing games that effectively elicit the intended emotional responses from players.
Seven players with varying game preferences participated in this study, playing a 10-minute demo, and completing a questionnaire that mapped their player types and emotional responses to game events and characters. The MDA framework was used to analyze the demo's mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics, while flow theory was used to explore the players' level of engagement and immersion in the game.
The results indicated that while players enjoyed the gameplay, their emotional responses did not align with the intended design. Most players reported contentedness and neutral emotions towards characters, rather than the intended emotional responses. Based on the analysis, the study concludes by providing suggestions for improving gameplay elements to better align with intended emotional responses, using the MDA framework and flow theory.
Overall, this study contributes to the field of game design by examining the impact of emotional design on players' experiences, and by providing practical insights and recommendations for designing games that effectively elicit the intended emotional responses from players.