Eye Movement Analysis for an Augmenting Video Game Development

eye movement analysis for an augmenting video game development investigation plan presentation january 20, 2009

PRESENTATION SUMMARY

Characterization of the investigation problem

Project objectives and finality

State of the art

Project methodology

Chronogram

Expected results

samuel de jesus almeida / sja@ua.pt

INVESTIGATION PROBLEM [1]

Video game industry generates millions of dollars in sales:

$45 billion by 2010 ( Hartig )

Video games must be appealing to the consumer:

Achievable through gameplay, game mechanics and game interface quality.

Sometimes video games are poorly developed. Why?

Reduced testing or none at all.

Results in fragile game elements: gameplay, game mechanics and game interface.

To overcome this problem, research is being conducted and products are being developed to assist in video game development & evaluation [ see State of the Art ];

Much of the existing work uses traditional usability evaluation techniques:

Not incorrect, but limited;

Games are a product of their own nature:

Proper evaluation techniques and development guidelines are required.

It is necessary to look into new technologies as solutions for these problems:

Eye tracking systems + other methods

The big question:

In what way can the analysis of the ocular globe movement contribute to the development of guidelines that can assist in the evaluation of enjoyment in video games?

PROJECT OBJECTIVES & FINALITY

To identify the potentialities associated to the use of eye tracking technology as a method of usability evaluation;

To identify currently used methods for evaluating usability in a video game context;

To identify and build a case study;

To develop a list of guidelines that can be used in video game development as well as usability studies

STATE OF THE ART [1]

Human Visual System:

Eye components

Eye muscles

Eye movements

Eye Tracking Systems:

Two common techniques

Point of regard  video-based combined pupil/corneal reflection

Eye tracking limitations

Technical, data extraction, data interpretation

Eye tracking potentialities

Visual search, learning, visibility of features, ...

Usability

Definitions (ISO n.9241-11; Jakob Nielsen);

Evaluation methods;

Video game usability ?

Game experience

Video Games

VG taxonomies (M. Wolf, C. Crawford, Rollings & Adams);

First-Person Shooter & RPG genre

Video Game Evaluation (Research and Projects)

Without Eye Tracking

Melissa Federoff ‘s Heuristics and Usability Guidelines for the Creation and Evaluation of Fun in Video Games (2002)

Desurvire, Caplan & Toth’s Using Heuristics to Evaluate the Playability of Games (2004)

Kim et al.’s Tracking Real-Time User Experience - TRUE (2006)

With Eye Tracking

El-Nasr & Yan’s Visual Attention in 3D Video Games (2006)

Johansen, Norgaard & Rau’s Can Eye Tracking Boost usability evaluation of computer games (2008)

METHODOLOGY

Exploratory methodology:

bibliographical research

Methodological procedure: elaboration of case study

Data collection techniques: inquiry & eye tracking

Inquiry: questionnaire instrumentation

Retrospective think-aloud process

Observation: video recordings, notes ( to be decided )

Participants: minimum of 15

Male or female

Divided into 3 groups: novice, regular , hardcore

CHRONOGRAM samuel de jesus almeida / sja@ua.pt

EXPECTED RESULTS

Confirmation of eye tracking as a method for usability evaluation;

Different gaming experience results in different quantitative results;

Main expected result: data retrieved allows for the development of guidelines for the evaluation and augmenting of the development of video games;

Project serves as the foundation for future work and a possible methodology for v.g. development.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA

Augment State of the Art section

Video game genres: rpg & fps; taxonomies

Find more recent projects that use eye tracking in video games;

Elaborate the participant selection questionairre;

Decide video game to use during case study;

Prepare meticulously case study.

THE END

thank you!

eye movement analysis for an augmenting video game development january 20, 2009 Samuel de Jesus Almeida / sja@ua.pt Mestrado em Comunicação Multimédia DeCA / Universidade de Aveiro