Showing papers in "International Journal of Intelligent Games & Simulation in 2008"

Sound and immersion in the first-person shooter

Abstract: One of the aims of modern First-Person Shooter (FPS) design is to provide an immersive experience to the player. This paper examines the role of sound in enabling such immersion and argues that, even in 'realism' FPS games, it may be achieved sonically through a focus on caricature rather than realism. The paper utilizes and develops previous work in which both a conceptual framework for the design and analysis of run and gun FPS sound is developed and the notion of the relationship between player and FPS soundscape as an acoustic ecology is put forward (Grimshaw and Schott 2007a; Grimshaw and Schott 2007b). Some problems of sound practice and sound reproduction in the game are highlighted and a conceptual solution is proposed.

Play, Game, World: Anatomy Of A Videogame

Abstract: This paper is part of an experimental approach aimed to study the nature of videogames. We will focus on videogames rules in order to try to understand the anatomy of a videogame. Being inspired by the methodology that Propp used for his classification of Russian fairy tales, we have cleared out recurrent diagrams within rules of videogames. We then analyzed these rules diagrams by using the definition of a game drawn by Salen and Zimmerman, which led us to propose a definition for the nature of gameplay. Through an additional analysis, we will be able to propose a typology of videogames rules which extends the typology proposed by Frasca.

Invincible - A Stratego Bot

Abstract: For decades, the main interest of game AI research has gone to the game of Chess. A lot of techniques were developed for this game that are applicable for other games as well. Stratego is one of the games for which the existing techniques reach no satisfactory performance levels, even against weak human players. Invincible is a Stratego-bot that uses innovative techniques to solve the weaknesses of existing Stratego-bots. The process to reason about the next move has been divided in different plans that give values to moves based on clearly defined goals. Invincible further uses a probabilistic model of the opponents pieces where each piece is modeled having a probability for each of the ranks it can possibly have. We developed a running prototype. This prototype has been tested, and the results of these tests are discussed in this paper.

e-Campus : A Mmorpg Providing E-Services To Campus Users

Abstract: This paper introduces "e-Campus", a virtual reality world reproducing the campus of La Reunion island’s university. This platform was created in the context of a collaboration between the university and a private company specialized in video games. It is based on a game engine initially dedicated to MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). The aim is thus to provide users (students, teachers and administrative members) with all e-services that a campus can give, from the online courses to the restaurant’s menu, through immersive representations. A first prototype has been recently released and tested: by developers through a benchmark, and by end-users through focus groups studies. Sociologists, statisticians and usability specialists are involved in the experience and help to structure the test process, gather feedbacks and analyse them. These information help us to evaluate and improve our application in order to increase the appropriation of e-Campus by the different groups of users.

Plot Control For Emergent Narrative: A Case Study On Tetris

Abstract: Interactive narrative and adaptive execution are some of innovative aspects of game development. There are various approaches in the area, but they are most about complex games and stories including characters, emotional aspects and dialogues. In this paper, we wonder about the possibility to associate a basic puzzle game with a monitoring system designed for interactive narrative. We study the narrative aspects of the Tetris game, and show evidence of narrative construction in game execution. Then we make a tour of current approaches for interactive narrative in games, and study their application to puzzle games. We end with a proposition of plot monitoring for games, relying on parallel between drama tension in a movie and player's tension in front of a game. An experiment was made with the game Tetris, showing that a control system designed around evaluation of player’s tension make it possible to obtain an execution trace closed to a narrative one.

Game Based Learning Creating a Triangle of Success: Play, Interact and Learn

Abstract: As teachers tend to use new technologies to engage students in the learning process, game-based learning can offer a powerful approach for learning and skills development. This study examines how the integration of 3D-Online Multi-Players Role-Playing Educational Serious Games (3D-OMPRPESGs) would enhance students’ learning performance. Multiple game sessions are conducted for three times and promising results are obtained. This study found that the more students play the 3D-OMPRPESGs, the higher perception of social interaction they will experience and the better learning performance they will achieve. Additionally, students who did not play any session of the game experienced the lowest perception of social interaction and performed the worst.

Collaborative Robot Agents For AIBO Soccer

Abstract: This paper describes how methods for collaborative agents can be applied to improve the soccer playing skills of the AIBO (Artificial Intelligence roBOt) of SONY Corporation. The technical details of our method for collaboration is explained in detail, and the design and implementation of a working prototype is presented. The software works on an ad-hoc wifi network where AIBOs can connect and disconnect at all times. Data is shared between the AIBOs in such a way that they can determine the right objectives for themselves and fine-tune their actions with the others. In addition a simulation framework has been developed to allow developers to test different collaboration strategies before they are deployed in the real AIBOs.

An Application Of Goms Model To Analyse And Predict Gamer Behaviours In Mmorpg

Abstract: The main objective of this research is to build a behavior prediction model of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game (MMORPG) gameplay using the GOMS analysis method. GOMS analysis (Card et al. 1983) is an observational approach to Human Computer Interaction (HCI) to model and predict behaviors of a human operator in a highly interactive task. This method has been employed by many researchers in order to model and predict the behaviors of gamers (or computer game players). However, it is rare to find its application in the MMORPG game genre. In this research, a pilot experiment was previously conducted with three skilled gamers. The gamers were provided with the goals and operators through the user's guide book, and they found methods and selection rules while being observed (Song et al., 2006). Based on the results obtained from the pilot study, this research was expanded and the model was further tested with 30 subjects (gamers). The new outcomes revealed that the relevance of GOMS analysis for predicting selection rules is 96.25% according to the degree of abstraction and 77.35% based on the degree of complexity. This research will provide game designers with a new testing mechanism in the early development stages, in order to improve the quality of the game product.