What does Twitch Play?
Applying Self Determination Theory to Examine Shared Control in Video Games
In his Master thesis Philipp Sykownik examined shared
control as a novel interaction pattern for multiplayer games. He elaborated a
framework that formally defines four different patterns of shared control that guided
a structured design approach for his originally developed shared control game
Shairit.
As a theoretical framework for the design and evaluation of Shairit, Self-Determination Theory was applied.
Thus, the thesis aimed to identify the impact of shared control on satisfaction
of the psychological needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness as factors
of the overall game experience.
Shairit distinguishes itself from other
multiplayer games by allowing up to four players to control a shared player
representation. It implements two of the four previously defined shared control
patterns by either alternating control between
players automatically or
granting them with simultaneous control over the collective representation. To further
evaluate those two control patterns in terms of their potential to provide an
entertaining game experience, each of them was implemented
in two versions,
that differ in some game mechanics expected to provide different game
experiences.
The objective of Shairit’s game design was to
evaluate how different patterns of shared control may impact the perceived need
satisfaction and how potential threats introduced by them could be prevented by
purposefully designed game mechanics.
An experimental evaluation of three of
Shairit’s control modes indicate that the two implemented patterns
tend to satisfy different needs, and that a theory-guided design process seems
promising to prevent the patterns from being dissatisfying.
Evaluation of the
fourth control mode is pending.
Ultimately, the identification of threats and
benefits induced by shared control is crucial to allow for effective
application of the interaction pattern in other contexts, given that positive
game experiences may enhance various healthy processes.
After all, Shairit provides a hilarious game experience,
nurtured by the social dynamics between players, and absolutely worthwhile to
try out.
- Dr. rer. nat. Philipp Sykownik
Phone: +49 203 379 1341
Fax: +49 203 379 4476
Mail: philipp.sykownik[at]uni-due.de
Room: LE 307
- Type
- Topic
- Author
- Master's Thesis
- What does Twitch Play? Analyzing the Influence of Communally Controlled Interfaces on Need Satisfaction
- Philipp Sykownik