Measuring Engagement of Spectators of Social Digital Games

Summary

We propose a methodology that enables measuring engagement of spectators in a social digital game combining physiological and self-reported data. As this digital game involves a group of freely moving people, the experience is filmed using a synchronizing technique that links physiological data with events in the game.

Abstract

The goal of this methodology is to assess explicit and implicit measures of engagement of spectators during social digital games in a group of participants with motion tracking systems. In the context of games that are not confined within a screen, measuring the different dimensions of engagement such as physiological arousal can be challenging. The focus of the study is made on the spectators of the game and the differences in their engagement according to interactivity. Engagement is measured with physiological and self-reported arousal, as well as an engagement questionnaire at the end of the experiment. Physiological arousal is measured with electrodermal activity (EDA) sensors that record the data on a portable device (EDA box). Portability was essential because of the nature of the game, which is akin to a life-size pong and includes many participants that move. To have an overview of the events of the game, three cameras are used to film three angles of the playing field. To synchronize the EDA data with events happening in the game, boxes with digital numbers are used and put in the frames of cameras. Signals are sent from a sync box simultaneously to the EDA boxes and to light boxes. The light boxes show the synchronization numbers to the cameras, and the same numbers are also logged on the EDA data file. That way, it is possible to record EDA of many people that move freely in a large space and synchronize this data with events in the game. In our particular study, we were able to assess the differences in arousal for the different conditions of interactivity. One of the limitations of this method is that the signals cannot be sent farther than 20 meters away. This method is, therefore, appropriate for recording physiological data in games with an unlimited number of players but is restricted to a limited space.

Introduction

Studying the experience of game spectators helps to better understand the positive and negative aspects of the game, and in turn, can help to improve its design¹. Recent innovations in the gaming industry have allowed new types of experiences that move forward from traditional console-based gaming². With digital games that use motion tracking systems that are not confined within a screen, audiences do not have to be positioned in a fixed spot anymore. This new reality creates challenges in the assessment of spectators' experience. The experiment was performed in the studio of the creators of the game but could be rep....

Protocol

The following protocol was approved by HEC Montréal's ethics committee prior to the beginning of the data collection.

1. Participant screening for the experiment

1. Recruit participants 18 years and older. Ensure that participants understand the language of the experiment, can stand for 20 min, possess a smartphone dating from a maximum of 5 years, do not have skin allergies or sensitivities, do not have a pacemaker and do not suffer from epilepsy or any other diagnosed healt.......

Discussion

Please note that the steps were performed in the studio of the creators of the game but could be replicated in a laboratory setting or another environment that has enough space to fit the game. It is important to note that the sync box can only transmit a pulse to the lights and EDA boxes that are within 20 meters. Therefore, the game room or playing field must not be larger.

Existing laboratory methods have used software to simultaneously begin both the recording of the videogame screen and p.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
BITalino (r)evolution Freestyle Kit (PLUX Wireless biosignals S.A.)	BITalino	810121006
Devices (1 syncbox, 3 light boxes, 2 EDA boxes)	Developed by Tech3Lab researchers1	n/a
CubeHX2	n/a	n/a
Charging station	Prime 60W 12A 6-Port Desktop Charger	RP-PC028
6 USB3 wires for charging	Insignia 3m (10 ft.) Charge-and-Play USB A/ Micro USB Cable	NS-GPS4CC101-C2
3D scanner	Velodyne LiDAR	VLP-16
Projectors	Barco	F90-W13
Jerseys* (fabric, tape, string)	Any	Any
2 low light cameras	Sony	A7S
2 tripods for the A7S	Manfrotto	MVK500190XV
2 light stands for the go pro and the syncbox	Impact	LS-8AI
1 plier for the light stand of the syncbox	Neewer	Super Clamp Plier Clip
1 magic arm for the light box of the go pro	Magic Arm	143A
1 Go Pro	Go Pro	5
1 Microphone	Rode	VideoMic Rycote
2 armbands	Amyzor	Moisture Wicking Sweatband
*Make them yourself by taping the number on the fabric and perforating two holes to enter the string
Sources: 1.Courtemanche, F. et al. Method of and System for Processing Signals Sensed From a User. US 15/552,788 (2018). 2. Léger, P.M., Courtemanche, F., Fredette, M., Sénécal, S. A cloud-based lab management and analytics software for triangulated human-centered research. In Lecture Notes in information Systems and Neuroscience. Edited by Thomas Fischer, 93-99, Springer. Cham (2019).