Selective commitment: player choice and dedication to end states in games

Date
2015
Authors
Lai, Benjamin Chun Ting
Supervisor
Kenobi, Ben
Pollmuller, Britta
Item type
Exegesis
Degree name
Master of Creative Technologies
Journal Title
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Publisher
Auckland University of Technology
Abstract

There are noticeably two types of player commitments in video games, one in which the player is forced into a linear progression towards certain values, or a dominant strategy that conducts the players values. But some games allow players to selectively choose their commitments, and the virtual game environment scarcely blocks players from progression their valued end state.

Using a qualitative heuristics methodology, this project developed several prototypes to identify seven key components and its necessary attributes that promotes selective commitment. A game system will be developed using these attributes that promotes commitments to be selective as opposed to forced as a possible solution space. The system will be tested in the form of a board game.

The board game will be interrogated to analyse the effectiveness of the system. The results found that players attached to particular value structures, but players can also switch to different values with the same level of effectance if they desire. This indicates that the system promotes and provides players the capability for selective commitments.

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Keywords
Choice , Commitment , Progression , Emergence , Value , Agency , Online games , Online identity , Qualitative heuristics
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