Abstract :
The emerging field of game user research (GUR) investigates interaction between players and games and the surrounding context of play. Game user researchers have explored methods from, for example, human-computer interaction, psychology, interaction design, media studies, and the social sciences. They´ve extended and modified these methods for different types of digital games, such as social games, casual games, and serious games. This article describes several current GUR methods. A case study illustrates two specific methods: think-aloud and heuristics.
Keywords :
computer games; human factors; user centred design; GUR; casual game; digital game; game design; game user research; heuristics method; player behavior; serious game; social game; think-aloud method; Context awareness; Games; Heuristic algorithms; Human computer interaction; Researach and development; Testing; User interfaces; A/B testing; RITE; Rapid Iterative Testing and Evaluation; computer games; computer graphics; game playability; game usability; game user research; heuristics; human-computer interaction; playtesting; software development; think-aloud;
