Publications: Gameplay Enjoyment and Learner Characteristics
ANGLE members Quick, Lin, and Atkinson have produced multiple publications on the topic of gameplay enjoyment, game design, and individual characteristics. This work has lead to the development of the Gameplay Enjoyment Model (GEM), which is being further developed by John M. Quick (you can read more about GEM at www.johnmquick.com). Information on the latest publications in this line of research is provided here.
Abstract
A survey study was conducted to better understand how gameplay enjoyment relates to players’ personality traits and video game preferences. This study demonstrated that the core design elements of games that lead to enjoyment can be empirically identified. Similarly, it showed that considering personality, an individual characteristic, can produce informative insights about how players perceive gaming experiences. Whereas video game research has historically emphasized either games or players in isolation (Juul, 2010), this study is an initial effort towards a holistic approach that considers how design features and player characteristics combine to generate enjoyable video game experiences. Two empirical taxonomies for creating more enjoyable game experiences are presented.
Citation
Quick, J. M., Atkinson, R. K., & Lin, L. (2012). Empirical taxonomies of gameplay enjoyment: Personality and video game preference. International Journal of Game-Based Learning, 2(3), 11-31.
Confirming the taxonomy of video game enjoyment
Abstract
An empirical taxonomy that details the design features that influence player perception of video games can be a useful tool for guiding the creation of effective gameplay experiences. Building from previous exploratory work in identifying a taxonomy of enjoyment in video games (Quick & Atkinson, 2011; Quick, Atkinson, & Lin, 2012), a follow-up study was conducted to gauge the gameplay preferences of 326 undergraduate learners. A confirmatory factor analysis was employed to validate, refine, and expand the existing taxonomy of video game enjoyment. This analysis confirmed the six previously identified design factors and substantially expanded their specificity by incorporating several new underlying features. The analysis and its resulting taxonomy are presented.
Citation
Quick, J. M., Atkinson, R. K., & Lin, L. (in press). Confirming the taxonomy of video game enjoyment. In A. Ochsner (Ed.), Proceedings GLS 8.0 Games + Learning + Society Conference. Pittsburg, PA: ETC Press.