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Multi-tasking while playing computer games

Multi-tasking while playing computer games. Gretchen Ortiz MS HCI-Psychology Celia Pearce, Ph.D. Director of Experimental Game Lab LCC. Background. Avid computer gamer. Past projects related to MMORPG’s and virtual worlds.

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Multi-tasking while playing computer games

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  1. Multi-tasking while playing computer games • Gretchen Ortiz • MS HCI-Psychology • Celia Pearce,Ph.D. • Director of Experimental Game Lab • LCC

  2. Background • Avid computer gamer. • Past projects related to MMORPG’s and virtual worlds. • Started to use Alt+tab command in many games without thinking about the HCI implications. Until one night…

  3. } • Computer games • Designed with the computer users in mind • Console games • Designed with console users in mind • Hybrid games • Designed with both types of users in mind, now that computers and consoles are closing the gap • Mobile games • Designed for the cell phone user in mind Different types of games

  4. Conflict arises • When computer games are designed for console users. • The computer user has a machine that does a lot more than play games. • Designers make the assumptionthat all users want to be immerse inside the game and do nothing else.

  5. Research • Participant observation and interviews inside an MMORPG called Maple Story Global • 2D side scrolling MMORPG • Anime Style Graphics • Population: 12-35 years of age. Very popular among teenagers and college students.

  6. Maple Story

  7. Participant observation • Started the participant observation without having a clear focus on the topic. • Once I started to keep journal entries it was clear that many players were AFK (away from keyboard) and frequently use the Alt+tab command.

  8. Journal entries • “Today I did party quests (group missions) and it’s mind-boggling how many players rush to the top boxes on stage 8 just to be able to Alt+tab properly. Some will have the courtesy to let you know and others will just do it without notifying the group”. • “We were all there waiting for him to respond so that the group could go on with the mission. After two minutes, he says: ‘Sorry I was on AIM’”. • “Today I played while using the messenger (IM), which is kind of hard if you don’t want to get killed. I wanted to level up (my character) while also chatting with one of my best friends using the messenger”.

  9. Interviews • 20 inside the game interviews • Participants were between 18-35 years of age • 10 conducted in Spanish/10 conducted in English • 14 male / 6 female • All of them have been playing the game for more than 5 months

  10. Analysis • AFK • Away from Keyboard. The users are taking their attention away from the game. Not necessarily away from the computer. • Alt+tab (Ctrl+Atl+Del) • commands for switching to another computer application. • Multi-tasking • the attention of the users is split between the game and something else.

  11. Analysis How many times do players AFK in a one hour game session?

  12. Analysis What players do when they AFK? • 10/20 said they usually stayed in their computers • 5/20 said sometimes they watched TV • 5/20 said sometimes they have to answer the phone • 11/20 said they had to go somewhere away from their computer

  13. Analysis What are players doing when they stay in their computers?

  14. Analysis • How do players switch from the game to another computer application?

  15. Evaluation • Maple Story is an example of a computer game that is designed for console users. • Full screen mode • Only seamless way to interact with other computer applications is by quitting the game • Assumption that the players want to focus on the game and nothing else

  16. Evaluation • Maple Story is an example of a computer game that is designed for console users. • Some players are even using other software to help them multi-task more efficiently.

  17. Evaluation Quote from an Internet article : “Plus, now I can play Maple Story while serving files with Subversion. And that’s nice and geeky “.

  18. Implications • Design computer games for computer users and their needs. • Do not rely on users expertise. • Do not rely on third party software to solve the problems. • Computer games should have seamless way in which to set up the game on window mode if desired.

  19. Future Work • Research to know if this kind of behavior is also present in other computer games • Issues with population: • Could it be that younger players are multi-tasking more than mature players? • Could it be that female players are multi-tasking more than male players?

  20. Thank you

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