Organizing adaptation using agents in serious games

Abstract

Computer games are frustrating if they are too difficult, but boring if they are too easy. This thesis proposes a framework computer games that adjust to the skill level of the user on the fly. This way games are just challenging enough for that particular person. One of the most important factors in making computer games fun is making sure that they have the right difficulty for the player. Most games can be played at different difficulties, which you can chose before you start the game. This way you need to know how good you are at the game before you start playing the game. Different people also increase their skill level at different rates. If the increase in skill level is different than the game designer expected then the game will still become too difficult or too easy for the user. Games that are able to adjust to the player skills while he is playing already exist. However these games are only able to change small elements. For example, changing the aiming accuracy of the opponents in a shooting game or giving less damage to the player if he is hurt. The framework can be used for creating games that are able to keep track of the skill level of the player and adjust accordingly. They estimate the skill level of the player by dividing the game in small parts and measuring the performance of the player on every part that is finished. Really different tasks are chosen according to the skill level of the user. For example, a game level with lots of aiming tasks if the player needs to improve its aiming skill. Game designers usually create a nice story that the player experiences while he is playing the game. But if different players get different tasks according to their skill level then the ordering of the storyline might change and possibly ruin the experience for the player. The system developed in Utrecht allow games to adjust to the user while making sure that the storyline, created by the game designer, is preserved. For example a character with a broken leg cannot suddenly walk again to make the game easier. They also makes sure that parts of the game that should be more challenging remain more challenging for the player. The game is no fun if the extra difficult opponent at the end of the game is skipped or makes it so easy that the player could easily win in the first attempt. Eventually this research will result in games that are fun to play for everyone. The games will still have the nice stories that make them exciting . But with the big difference that you can just start the game and the game will automatically make sure that the game difficulty is perfect for you.