Evaluating User Experience in Games: Concepts and Methods - Lirmm

68 E.H. Calvillo-Gámez et al.
The difference in control did have a final impact on the level of enjoyment.
Answering the original question, the difference between both input devices is that
the keyboard gives the player better control of the experience. Even though both
devices let users perceive the game equally while making it their own, it was the lack
of control with the knob made the difference in the gaming experience. Furthermore,
there was such a lack of control with the knob that it actually marred the experience.
That is, one of the CEGE was missing thus providing a negative experience.
With this example, we have shown how to use the CEGE theory to objectively
study different gaming experiences. The theory provided an explanation of the
outcome of the experience.
4.7 Summary
In this chapter, we have presented a novel approach to User Experience. We have
argued that by looking at the experience as a twofold phenomenon, process and
outcome, and by studying the elements of the process it is possible to formulate an
objective theory regarding experience. We acknowledged that experience is indeed
a personal endeavour, but there are also common elements in the experience that
allow it to be shareable among different users.
We presented the Core Elements of the Gaming Experience (CEGE) theory
to understand the experience of playing video-games. The theory describes those
elements that are necessary, but not sufficient, to provide a positive experience
while playing video-games. The formulation of the theory using a grounded theory
approach is presented. The theory can be summarised as follows: If the CEGE
are present, then there is no guarantee that the experience would be positive, but
it will not be negative; if they are missing, then the experience would be negative.
A model that abstracts the relationship between the CEGE and a questionnaire to
assess them was also presented.
An example of using the theory to study two different experiences was also presented.
Following a hierarchical approach to find the element of the process that
affected the outcome of the experience, we showed how to compare two different
experiences. The results showed that in one case the lack of control produced a
negative experience, while in the other example it produced a positive experience.
The theory allowed to formulate and test an objective hypothesis regarding the user
experience of playing video-games.
The CEGE theory can be used to evaluate different experience. Future work can
look at the theory to evaluate single instances of experience, instead of comparing
two similar experiences. The CEGE theory can be used to assess experience in an
objective way, it is not about assessing the game or the user, but the interaction of
both of them. Further work can look at the elements that might be sufficient to obtain
a positive experience, or that complement the CEGE.
Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank Dr. Sarah Faisal, Dr. Lidia Oshlyansky and
Charlenne Jennett for valuable comments on this work. Eduardo H. Calvillo-Gámez is sponsored
by SEP-PROMEP.