Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Player Experience

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Serious Games

Abstract

In computer science, the concept of user experience has proven to be beneficial in order to improve the quality of interaction between software and its users, by taking users’ emotions and attitudes into account. In general, user experience focuses on interaction. As not only interaction (e.g., good usability) is of importance for players, this chapter discusses how the concept of user experience can not only be applied to serious games, but also how it can be extended in order to cover the characteristics of games as a special software. For this refined concept, the term player experience has been coined. First, the concept of player experience is introduced in this chapter. The adequate conceptualization of player experience requires differentiating specific dimensions like (game-) flow, immersion, challenge, tension, competence, and emotions. Because of the individual nature of player experience, psychological models need to be used for the conceptualization as they are able to reflect this multidimensional structure. In addition, interdisciplinary models are needed in order to address the various factors influencing player experience. This ensures a holistic approach. Second, the question how to measure player experience is discussed. Here, different levels have to be distinguished: Behavior, physiological reactions, and subjective experience. Finally, it is shown how knowledge about player experience can be employed to develop serious games systematically and to improve their quality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Issues of player experience are addressed at many conferences, ranging from the Games and Serious Games conferences mentioned in Chap. 1 to more specific conferences on usability, user experience, computer-human interaction (CHI) etc. Papers concerning player experience can be found in journals addressing human-computer interaction (e.g., Interacting with computers, Computers in Human Behavior, and International Journal of Human-Computer Studies), as well as journals specifically addressing games and serious games (e.g., Journal of gaming and virtual worlds).

Recommended Literature

Issues of player experience are addressed at many conferences, ranging from the Games and Serious Games conferences mentioned in Chap. 1 to more specific conferences on usability, user experience, computer-human interaction (CHI) etc. Papers concerning player experience can be found in journals addressing human-computer interaction (e.g., Interacting with computers, Computers in Human Behavior, and International Journal of Human-Computer Studies), as well as journals specifically addressing games and serious games (e.g., Journal of gaming and virtual worlds).

  • Bernhaupt R (ed) (2010) Evaluating user experience in games – Concepts and methods. Springer, London—This book addresses both game researchers and developers. The book provides an overview of methods for evaluating and assessing player experience before, during, and after playing games

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernhaupt R (ed) (2015) Game user experience evaluation. Springer International Publishing, Cham—This book is an update of the previously mentioned edition. Current developments in the assessment and evaluation of player experience are covered

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairclough SH (2009) Fundamentals of physiological computing. Interact Comput 21(1–2):133–145—This article gives a comprehensive overview of psychophysiological methods used for assessment of the current state of users and players, as well as their integration into adaptive systems. In addition, selected ethical issues are addressed

    Google Scholar 

  • Kivikangas JM, Chanel G, Cowley B, Ekman I, Salminen M, Järvelä S, Ravaja N (2011) A review of the use of psychophysiological methods in game research. JGVW 3(3):181–199—This article gives a comprehensive overview of the psychophysiological measures typically used in game research. It also provides valuable information about the theories behind psychophysiological measurement

    Google Scholar 

  • Mäyrä F (2008) An introduction to game studies. SAGE Publications, London—This textbook introduces students to the research field of studying games. The book delivers historical facts about (digital) games as well as basic knowledge concerning research methods for game studies

    Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE (2009) Affective ludology: Scientific measurement of user experience in interactive entertainment. Blekinge Institute of Technology, Doctoral Dissertation Series No. 2009:04—This dissertation is a comprehensive example of how the player experience can be investigated in practice. Various methods are thoroughly discussed concerning their research quality and systematically applied to selected research issues

    Google Scholar 

References

  • Biocca F, Harms C, Gregg J (2001) The networked minds measure of social presence: pilot test of the factor structure and concurrent validity. In: 4th annual international workshop on presence, Philadelphia, PA, 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockmyer JH, Fox CM, Curtiss KA, McBroom E, Burkhart KM, Pidruzny JN (2009) The development of the game engagement questionnaire: a measure of engagement in video game-playing. J Exp Soc Psychol 45:624–634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown E, Cairns P (2004) A grounded investigation of game immersion. In: CHI conference proceedings/conference on human factors in computing systems. CHI conference. ACM, New York, pp 1297–1300

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvillo-Gámez EH, Cairns P, Cox AL (2010) Assessing the core elements of the gaming experience. In: Bernhaupt R (ed) Evaluating user experience in games. Springer, London, UK, pp 47–71

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cowley B, Kosunen I, Lankoski P, Kivikangas JM, Järvelä S, Ekman I, Kemppainen J, Ravaja N (2013) Experience assessment and design in the analysis of gameplay. Simul Gaming 45:624–634

    Google Scholar 

  • Deci EL, Koestner R, Ryan RM (1999) A meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. Psychol Bull 125(6):627–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desurvire H, Wiberg C (2009) Game usability heuristics (PLAY) for evaluating and designing better games: the next iteration. In: Ozok AA, Zaphiris P (eds) Online communities and social computing. LNCS 5621, Springer, Berlin, pp 557–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Engl S, Nacke LE (2013) Contextual influences on mobile player experience—a Game User Experience Model. Entertainment Computing 4(1):83–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu FL, Su RC, Yu SC (2009) EGameFlow: a scale to measure learners’ enjoyment of e-learning games. Comput Educ 52(1):101–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fullerton T, Swain C, Hoffman S (2004) Game design workshop. Morgan Kaufmann, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerling KM, Klauser M, Niesenhaus J (2011) Measuring the impact of game controllers on player experience in FPS games. Proceedings of the 15th international academic mindtrek conference: envisioning future media environments (MindTreck’11). ACM, New York, pp 83–86

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hanin YL (2007) Emotions and athletic performance: individual zones of optimal functioning model. In: Smith D, Bar-Eli M (eds) Essential readings in sport and exercise psychology. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, pp 55–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy S, Dutz T, Wiemeyer J, Göbel S, Steinmetz R (2015) Framework for personalized and adaptive game-based training programs in health sport. Multimed Tools Appl 74:5289–5311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann T, Wirth W, Schramm H, Klimmt C, Vorderer P, Gysbers A, Böcking S, Ravaja N, Laarni J, Saari T, Gouveia F, Sacau AM (2015) The spatial presence experience scale (SPES). JMP. doi:10.1027/1864-1105/a000137

    Google Scholar 

  • Hattie J (2009) Visible learning: A synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hazlett RL (2006) Measuring emotional valence during interactive experiences. Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems. ACM, New York, pp 1023–1026

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hocine N, Gouaich A, Cerri SA (2014) Dynamic difficulty adaptation in serious games for motor rehabilitation. In: Goebel S, Wiemeyer J (eds) Games for training, education, health and sports. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 115–128

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann K, Wiemeyer J, Hardy S, Göbel S (2014) Personalized adaptive control of training load in Exergames from a sport-scientific perspective. In: Goebel S, Wiemeyer J (eds) Games for training, education, health and sports. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 129–140

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Huizinga J (2013) Homo ludens, 23rd edn. Rowohlt, Reinbek

    Google Scholar 

  • Isbister K, Mueller F (2014) Guidelines for the design of movement-based games and their relevance to HCI. Hum-Comput Interact 30(3–4):366–399

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson SA, Marsh HW (1996) Development and validation of a scale to measure optimal experience: the flow state scale. J Sport Exercise Psy 18(1):17–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller JM (1987) Development and use of the ARCS model of instructional design. JID 10(3):2–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller JM (2009) Motivational design for learning and performance: the ARCS model approach. Springer Science & Business Media, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolasinski EM (1995) Simulator sickness in virtual environments, Technical report, DTIC Document. U.S. army research institute for the behavioural and social sciences, Alexandria, VA

    Google Scholar 

  • Kort YA de, IJsselsteijn WA, Poels K (2007) Digital games as social presence technology: Development of the social presence in gaming questionnaire (SPGQ). In: Proceedings of PRESENCE, 195203

    Google Scholar 

  • Law E, Vermeeren APOS, Hassenzahl M, Blythe M (2007) Towards a UX manifesto. Proceedings of the British HCI group annual conference. British Computer Society, London, pp 205–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazzaro N (2008) The four fun keys. In: Isbister K, Schaffer N (eds) Game usability: advancing the player experience. Elsevier, Burlington, pp 315–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Lombard M, Ditton TB (1997) At the heart of it all: the concept of presence. J Comput-Mediat Comm 3(2)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maier M, Ballester BR, Duarte E, Duff A, Verschure PF (2014) Social integration of stroke patients through the multiplayer rehabilitation gaming system. In: Goebel S, Wiemeyer J (eds) Games for training, education, health and sports. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 100–114

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Malone TW (1980) What makes things fun to learn? Heuristics for designing instructional computer games. Proceedings of the 3rd ACM SIGSMALL symposium and the first SIGPC symposium on small systems. ACM, New York, New York, pp 162–169

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Malone TW (1982) Heuristics for designing enjoyable user interfaces: lessons from computer games. Proceedings of the 1982 conference on human factors in computing systems. ACM, New York, New York, pp 63–68

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mandryk RL, Atkins MS (2007) A fuzzy physiological approach for continuously modeling emotion during interaction with play technologies. Int J Hum-Comput St 65(4):329–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marker AM, Staiano AE (2015) Better together: Outcomes of cooperation versus competition in social exergaming. Games Health J 4 (1):25-30

    Google Scholar 

  • Mäyrä F (2008b) An introduction to game studies. SAGE Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Moser C, Fuchsberger V, Tscheligi M (2012) Rapid assessment of game experiences in public settings. Proceedings of the 4th international conference on fun and games (FNG’12). ACM, New York, pp 73–82

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller F, Isbister K (2014) Movement-based game guidelines. Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems. ACM, New York, pp 2191–2200

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller F, Edge D, Vetere F, Gibbs MR, Agamanolis S, Bongers B, Sheridan JG (2011) Designing sports: a framework for exertion games. In: CHI’11: proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems, Vancouver, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE (2009) Affective ludology: scientific measurement of user experience in interactive entertainment. Blekinge Institute of Technology, Doctoral Dissertation Series No. 2009:04

    Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE (2010) From playability to a hierarchical game usability model. Proceedings of future play 2010. ACM, New York, pp 11–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE (2013) An introduction to physiological player metrics for evaluating games. In: Seif El-Nasr M, Drachen A, Canossa A (eds) Game analytics: maximizing the value of player data. Springer, London, pp 585–619

    Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE (2015) Games user research and physiological game evaluation. In: Bernhaupt R (ed) Game user experience evaluation. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 63–86

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE, Lindley CA (2010) Affective ludology, flow and immersion in a first-person shooter: Meas Player Exp Loading… 3(5):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE, Drachen A (2011) Towards a framework of player experience research. In: Proceedings of the second international workshop on evaluating player experience in games at FDG’11. ACM, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE, Drachen A, Kuikkaniemi K, Niesenhaus J, Korhonen HJ, Hoogen VDW, Poels K, IJsselsteijn WA, Kort Y (2009) Playability and player experience research. In: Proceedings of DiGRA 2009, DiGRA, Tampere, pp 1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE, Drachen A, Göbel S (2010a) Methods for evaluating gameplay experience in a serious gaming context. Int J Comp Sci Sport 9(2):40–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE, Grimshaw MN, Lindley CA (2010b) More than a feeling: measurement of sonic user experience and psychophysiology in a first-person shooter game. Interact Comput 22(5):336–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nacke LE, Bateman C, Mandryk RL (2014) BrainHex: a neurobiological gamer typology survey. Entertain comput 5(1):55–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura J, Csikszentmihalyi M (2002) The concept of flow. In: Snyder CR, Lopez SJ (eds) Handbook of positive psychology. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 89–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips C, Johnson D, Wyeth P (2013) Videogame reward types. Proceedings of the first international conference on gameful design, research, and applications. ACM, New York, pp 103–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Poels K, de Kort YAW, IJsselsteijn WA (2008) FUGA—The fun of gaming: measuring the human experience of media enjoyment. Deliverable D3.3: game experience questionnaire. TU Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravaja N, Salminen M, Holopainen J, Saari T, Laarni J, Järvinen A (2008) Emotional response patterns and sense of presence during video games: potential criterion variables for game design. Proceedings of the 3rd nordic conference on human-computer interaction (NordiCHI ‘04). ACM, New York, pp 339–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves B, Read JL (2013) Total engagement: How games and virtual worlds are changing the way people work and businesses compete: Harvard Business Press, Boston, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigby S, Ryan R (2007) The player experience of need satisfaction (PENS): an applied model and methodology for understanding key components of the player experience. http://www.immersyve.com/?wpdmdl=8283. Accessed 18 Feb 2016

  • Ryan RM, Deci EL (2000) Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. Am Psychol 55(1):68–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan RM, Rigby CS, Przybylski A (2006) The motivational pull of video games: a self-determination theory approach. Motiv emotion 30(4):344–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schell J (2008) The art of game design: a book of lenses, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultze U (2010) Embodiment and presence in virtual worlds: a review. J Inform Technol 25(4):434–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair J (2011) Feedback control for exergames. Dissertation, Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley

    Google Scholar 

  • Skalski P, Tamborini R, Shelton A, Buncher M, Lindmark P (2011) Mapping the road to fun: Natural video game controllers, presence, and game enjoyment. New Media & Society 13(2):224–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spelmezan D (2012) An investigation into the use of tactile instructions in snowboarding. Proceedings of the 14th international conference on human-computer interaction with mobile devices and services. ACM, New York, New York, pp 417–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweetser P, Wyeth P (2005) Game flow: a model for evaluating player enjoyment in games. ACM CIE 3(3):Article 3A

    Google Scholar 

  • Takatalo J, Hakkinen J, Kaistinen J, Nyman G (2011) User experience in digital games: differences between laboratory and home. Simul Gaming 42(5):656–673

    Google Scholar 

  • Vorderer P, Wirth W, Gouveia FR, Biocca F, Saari T, Jäncke F, Böcking S, Schramm H, Gysberg A, Hartmann T, Klimmt C, Laarn, J, Ravaja N, Sacau A, Baumgartner T, Jäncke P (2004) MEC spatial presence questionnaire (MEC-SPQ): short documentation and instructions for application. Report to the European community, project presence: MEC (IST-2001-37661)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiemeyer J, Hardy S (2013) serious games and motor learning—concepts, evidence, technology. In: Bredl K, Bösche W (eds) Serious games and virtual worlds in education, professional development, and healthcare. IGI Global, Heshey, PA, pp 197–220

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wiemeyer J, Deutsch J, Malone LA, Rowland JL, Swartz M, Xiong J, Zhang FF (2015) Recommendations for the optimal design of exergame interventions for persons with disabilities: challenges, best practices, and future research. Games Health J 4(1):58–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wirth W, Hartmann T, Böcking S, Vorderer P, Klimmt C, Schramm H, Saari T, Laarni J, Ravaja N, Gouveia FR, Biocca F, Sacau A, Jäncke L, Baumgartner T, Jäncke P (2007) A process model of the formation of spatial presence experience. Media Psychol 9:493–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wirth W, Schramm H, Böcking S, Gysbers A, Hartmann T, Klimmt C, Vorderer P (2008) Entwicklung und Validierung eines Fragebogens zur Entstehung von räumlichem Präsenzerleben. In: Matthes J, Wirth W, Fahr A, Daschmann G (eds) Die Brücke zwischen Theorie und Empirie. Operationalisierung, Messung und Validierung in der Kommunikationswissenschaft, Halem, Köln, pp 70–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Wourters P, Oostendorp HV, Boonekamp R, Spek EVD (2011) The role of game discourse analysis and curiosity in creating engaging and effective serious games by implementing a back story and foreshadowing. Interact Comput 23:329–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yerkes RM, Dodson JD (1908) The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation. J comparative neurology and psychology 18:459–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Xu M, Liu Y, He G, Han L, Lv P, Li Y (2011) The framework and implementation of virtual network marathon. IEEE international symposium on virtual reality innovation 2011, 19–20 March. Singapore, IEEE, New York, pp 161–167

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany

    Josef Wiemeyer

  2. University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

    Lennart Nacke

  3. University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Christiane Moser

  4. RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

    Florian ‘Floyd’ Mueller

Authors
  1. Josef Wiemeyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lennart Nacke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christiane Moser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Florian ‘Floyd’ Mueller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josef Wiemeyer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Design, Computer Science, Med, RheinMain University of Applied Sci, Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany

    Ralf Dörner

  2. Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany

    Stefan Göbel

  3. LS. f. Prakt. Informatik IV, Univ. Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany

    Wolfgang Effelsberg

  4. Inst für Sportwissenschaft S1|17 112, Technische Univ Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany

    Josef Wiemeyer

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wiemeyer, J., Nacke, L., Moser, C., ‘Floyd’ Mueller, F. (2016). Player Experience. In: Dörner, R., Göbel, S., Effelsberg, W., Wiemeyer, J. (eds) Serious Games. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40612-1_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40612-1_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40611-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40612-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation