Influence of Game Elements: Investigation in Player Navigation in Open World Game Environments

Grinder-Hansen, Arne

4. term

Medialogy, Master

2013

2013-09-25

59 pages

Game studies have taken numerous approaches in order to understand both the game and the player. However, this study differs slightly from the more general studies, by trying to gain a more inclusive understanding of how the game elements that create the environment, such as game objects, play part in an open game world and how this knowledge can be used to improve upon the navigation in games. Based upon findings from user studies and game theory, an open game world was created, in order to serve as a test environment. A survey was developed and the players were observed to identify reactions and patterns in user responses to the game elements. This study thus attempt to provide insight into general reactions in terms of navigation in relation to game elements inside an open game world, and aims by the use of grounded theory to lay the foundations for a framework that can be applied to user relations with selected game elements, to create new means of guiding the player through open world environments. In addition the findings have potential use to improve upon narratives in game design by allowing for more subtle guiding of the player, in the hope of creating a less "forced" control of the players' movements.

Spil elementer ; navigation ; player ; game studies

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