Computer Games Design And Technology

Our research covers the following topics

• Game design theory
• Game development practice
• Player psychology and the experience of play
• Narrative and storytelling with games

Disruptive game design

We're exploring ways to provide a deep, engaging game experience by disrupting player expectations of games and gameplay. We build this research on a foundation of cognitive psychology, coupled with existing models of gameplay, to create a new framework of ludic knowledge and a new model of ludic action.

• Disruption and cognitive engagement: 'A Theoretical Framework of Ludic Knowledge: A Case Study in Disruption and Cognitive Engagement' (2016), Howell, P.
• Disrupting player knowledge: 'Disrupting the Player's Schematised Knowledge of Game Components (2014), Howell, P., Stevens, B. & Eyles, M.
• Feature article on Gamasutra: 'Postmortem: The Chinese Room's Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs' (2014), Howell, P.
• Schematically disruptive game design: 'In Proceedings of DiGRA 2011 Conference: Think Design Play' (2011), Howell, P.

Ambient gameplay

We've created a deeper understanding of computer games and given designers new ways of developing richer gameplay. Our ambient gameplay research is inspired by the composer Brian Eno and his ambient music compositions. It focuses on gameplay mechanisms that support different levels of player engagement.

Ambient music is a genre that emphasises tone and atmosphere of traditional structure or rhythm. We analysed 2 research games: Ambient Quest (using pedometers) and Pirate Moods (using radio-frequency identification technology).

The results contained properties of persistence, discovery, engagement, invention, ambiguity and complexity. We benchmarked these themes against existing commercial games to confirm the wider applicability of the result. Games developed using this research included: City Block Cats, Ambient Quest 2.2, Ambient Quest 1.0, and Ambient Quest Pirate Moods.

• Playful Ambience: In proceedings of DiGRA 2011 Conference' (2011), Eyles, M. & Pinchbeck, D.
• Using an RFID Game to Phenomenologically Test a Theoretical Systemic Model for Describing Ambient Games: 'In Proceedings of DiGRA 2009 Conference' (2009), Eyles, M. & Eglin R.
• A Systemic Domain Model for Ambient Pervasive Persuasive Games: 'In Proceedings of CHI2008 Workship: Surrounded by Ambient Persuasion' (2008), Eyles, M., Eglin R. & Dansey, N.
• Entering an Age of Playfulness where Persistent, Pervasive Ambient Games Create Moods and Modify Behaviour: 'In Proceedings of Cybergames 2007 Conference' (2007), Eyles, M. & Eglin, R.
• Ambient Role Playing Games: Towards a Grammar of Endlessness: 'In Proceedings of the Women in Games Conference' (2007), Eyles, M. & Eglin, R.

Pervasive games and ambiguity

This project explores games that are designed to blur the boundaries between playing and not-playing. For example, by using real-world settings, extended play sessions and actors mixed in with the general public. 1 of the aims of pervasive games is to create heightened engagement, and experiences that are hard to discern from real life. These games can also create the phenomenon of apophenia, where players begin to see a game where none exists.

Since creativity and ambiguity are closely linked from a cognitive psychology perspective, the project also covers games for creativity, in particular games that relied on ambiguity as a facilitator of creativity and introspective play.

• Emergently-Persuasive Games: How Players of SF0 Persuade Themselves: 'Cases on Societal Effects of Persuasive Games' (2014), Dansey, N.
• DiGRA 2009 Conference: 'An Exploratory Study in Contextually-Ambiguous Pervasive Games' (2009), Eglin, R. Eyles, M. & Dansey, N.
• CHI 2008 Conference: 'A Systemic Domain Model for Ambient Pervasive Persuasive Games' (2008), Eglin. R, Eyles, M. & Dansey, N.
• Breaking the Magic Circle Seminar: 'Facilitating Apophenia to Augment the Experience of Pervasive LARPs' (2008), Dansey, N.

Game development as playful practice

Typically, developers are focused on creating the best games possible, while avoiding unnecessary obstacles and wasted effort. But some developers enjoy placing extreme obstacles in the way, just to see if they can be overcome.

For example, in 'game jams', people challenge themselves to plan, design, and create games within a short span of time, sometimes within 24 hours. It is this practice of overcoming unnecessary adversity that can be seen a form of play, and can be observed in other disciplines, such as creative writing.

Our research explores the different ways that game development can be playful, to see how this compares to other media. Ultimately, we are identifying a new perspective on what is often assumed to be a long-practiced and masochistic pastime.

Recent talks on our research include 'Playful Developers: A Study of Artificial Constraints and Developer Experiences', at the DiGRA UK Conference 2017.

Cognition as play

We're exploring the role of comprehension and interpretation in digital games, particularly in walking simulators, they are the key interaction. This practice-based research is being undertaken by 1 of our PhD students, and combines narrative theory with cognitive psychology. Games developed from this research include 'White Lake', a minimalist walking simulator.

Advanced Games Research Group

We're exploring a number of research-informed projects that are directly feeding into the design, development, and release of a range of games, both commercial and free.