CALL FOR PAPERS
Playability and player experience of casual games
K.U.Leuven, 15 September 2010
Workshop in conjunction with the Fun and Games Conference 2010
This workshop focuses on the development and use of all kinds of playability and player experience measures, like quantitative metrics and data harvesting, to evaluate digital games. Playtesting metrics are very much in demand and yet not much often used within the casual gaming industry, although already standard practice in the larger game development studios. Therefore all game genres are addressed, but casual games are considered the preferred focus. Introducing a system for player experience evaluation earlier in the game design cycle will influence the final design as well while still under development. The focus of this workshop consists therefore in defining which methods are best to apply in the casual game domain, and in analyzing their efficacy and applicability.
Call for papers
Position papers are invited on the use of different evaluation methods for digital games. Special attention is given to quantitative metrics, especially when applied to casual games. Additional issues include the specific nature and value of evaluation techniques/methodologies that can be used during the game development process, the player experience associated with it and its implications for interface design. The workshop will include thematically organized formal presentations, followed by group discussions. Submissions are invited on the following topics (though not restricted to these topics):
- Biometric measures as playtest metrics
- Game design methods, principles and processes in relation to quantitative metrics useful in the prototyping phase
- The added value of physiological measures for casual games
- The use of playability heuristics in casual games design
- Subjective (qualitative and quantitative) and objective evaluation methods of digital games (with a focus on their applicability for casual games)
- Guidelines linking physiological responses to player evaluation of games
- Integration of game industry demands into a coherent player-centered evaluation methodology.
The workshop is intended for game developers and designers; human factors practitioners; interface evaluators and testers; academics, researchers and students with interests in game evaluation and in psychophysiological evaluation in particular. Submissions are expected in the form of four-page position papers, describing the area of research, specific work (empirical or theoretical) on the workshop topic and the innovative character of the research at hand. Papers should be formatted according to the ACM guidelines. Position papers should be sent to calvi.l@nhtv.nl.
Participants will be selected on the basis of the relevance of their work and their interests and familiarity with the topic. Accepted papers will be published by the University Press of the NHTV University of Breda. The workshop organizers will consider, after the workshop, the publication of a revised version of the papers presented as a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal. In order to be considered for publication in this special issue, papers will have to be resubmitted and undergo a reviewing process with external reviews (still to be defined).
Deadlines
- 7 May 2010: Workshop submission deadline.
- 7 June 2010: Workshop acceptance/rejection deadline.
- 10 July 2010: Authors submit to organizers camera-ready versions of papers.
- 15 September 2010: Workshop at Fun and Games 2010.
Organizing Commitee
Licia Calvi, NHTV University of Breda (The Netherlands)
Stefano Gualeni, NHTV University of Breda (The Netherlands)
Koos Nuijten, NHTV University of Breda (The Netherlands)
Lennart Nacke, University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
Karolien Poels, University of Antwerp (Belgium)
Programme Commitee
Hans Bouwknegt, NHTV University of Breda (The Netherlands)
Yvonne de Kort, Eindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands)
Robbie Grigg, University of Portsmouth (UK)
Wijnand IJsselsteijn, Eindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands)
Steven Malliet, University of Antwerp (Belgium)
Christof van Nimwegen, K.U.Leuven (Belgium)
Marianna Obrist, University of Salzburg (Austria)
For more information visit the workshop website:
http://playability.affectivegaming.info