Comparing Measures of Perceived Challenge and Demand in Video Games: Exploring the Conceptual Dimensions of CORGIS and VGDS

Title of the Paper

Comparing Measures of Perceived Challenge and Demand in Video Games: Exploring the Conceptual Dimensions of CORGIS and VGDS

Paper Information

• Subject Area: Research on video game player experience, focusing on quantitative measures of perceived challenge and demand
• Keywords: Video games, challenge, demand, player experience, questionnaire

Research Background and Problem

• Identified Challenges:

  • Perceived challenge and demand are key experiences in game design, but current understanding of these experiences is limited.
  • The gaming industry primarily relies on low-structured manual testing, making it difficult to systematically measure video game experiences.
  • Two player experience scales (CORGIS and VGDS) are rooted in different academic domains, and it is unclear whether their dimensions overlap.

• Significance:

  • Understanding how challenge and demand influence player experience is crucial for game design and optimization, helping developers create more engaging games.

• Motivation and Related Work:

  • CORGIS is based on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), measuring perceived challenge across cognitive, emotional, performance, and decision-making dimensions.
  • VGDS stems from media and communication studies, measuring perceived demand across cognitive, emotional, controller, physical, and social dimensions.
  • The two scales appear to have similar dimensional structures, and researchers hypothesize potential overlap, which requires empirical validation.

Solution

• Research Methods:

  • Compare two theoretical models: a fully overlapping five-factor structure model and a non-overlapping nine-factor structure model.
  • Recruit 1,101 players to complete an online survey, recalling their recent gaming experiences and completing the two scales.
  • Use Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to test the two models.

• Innovations:

  • Combine theoretical perspectives from two domains to analyze player experience.
  • Provide a more comprehensive approach to understanding the conceptual dimensions of perceived challenge and demand.

• Implementation Steps and Techniques:

  • Define the questionnaire and analysis plan.
  • Collect player data using the measurement tools (CORGIS and VGDS).
  • Apply statistical tools (SPSS and R) for factor analysis to uncover the latent dimensions of the combined scales.

Research Findings

• Specific Findings:

  • Neither the fully overlapping five-factor model nor the non-overlapping nine-factor model could be validated.
  • A seven-factor model was established through exploratory factor analysis, including the following dimensions:
    • Cognitive Dimension
    • Emotional Dimension
    • Controller Dimension
    • Physical Dimension
    • Social Dimension
    • Performance Dimension (from CORGIS)
    • Decision-Making Dimension (from CORGIS)
  • The seven-factor model provides a more comprehensive understanding of player experience and highlights the unique perspectives of CORGIS and VGDS.

• Advantages Compared to Existing Solutions:

  • Integrates the research methods and theoretical foundations of both scales.
  • Identifies two independent but complementary player experience concepts: perceived challenge and demand.

• Experimental and Evaluation Results:

  • Data selection met sampling standards for factor analysis.
  • The seven-factor structure was validated through exploratory factor analysis, demonstrating strong internal consistency.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • The current study is based on exploratory analysis and may be influenced by sample specificity, requiring further validation to enhance generalizability.
  • Potential directions include developing a comprehensive scale or improving existing scales to capture a broader range of player experiences.
  • Data collection methods could be refined to require players to report gaming experiences immediately, reducing recall bias.
  • The sample was skewed toward male players, and future studies should ensure more diverse samples.

Conclusion

• Comprehensive Understanding:

  • Both CORGIS and VGDS scales capture the concepts of perceived challenge and demand but exhibit unique and complementary characteristics.
  • An innovative seven-factor model is proposed to interpret player experiences in video games.

• Potential Applications:

  • The findings can be applied to game development, gamification in educational systems, and user experience improvements in virtual and mixed reality fields.