Topic 1, Whatever the Emtional Experience ITs Up to Them

Increased interest in emotionally impactful player experiences in HCI games research.
Study focuses on perspectives of indie game designers, which have been largely overlooked.
Interviews with 14 designers reveal:
- Clear vision for emotional impact.
- Aim for personal player experiences without direct involvement in design.
- Gaps identified between design practices and PX research.
- Highlights opportunities for HCI research to support game designers.

Historically, PX research centered on entertainment aspects of games (fun/enjoyment).
Recent studies explore nuanced emotional experiences (e.g., emotional challenges, discomfort, attachment).
The existing literature tends to indirectly address emotional responses, lacking guidance on specific design practices for emotional experiences.
The need for a closer understanding of designers’ viewpoints to inform PX research and bridge research-practice gaps.

Sample included indie game designers involved in creating emotionally impactful games.
14 out of 39 contacted designers participated in the study based on specific selection criteria.

Semi-structured interviews conducted with a focus on:
- Motivations behind emotionally impactful design.
- Intended player experiences.
- Emotional challenges within gameplay.
- Challenges faced in the design process.
Interviews conducted via various platforms (video chat, email, instant messaging).

Reflexive, inductive thematic analysis approach.
Development of 115 initial codes leading to candidate themes.
Identified three main themes:
1. Design Vision: Impact Players on a Personal Level.
2. Gameplay: Creating Room for Experience.
3. Experiential Fine-Tuning.

Designers prioritize impactful and personal player experiences.
Many designers articulate specific feelings intended to evoke:
- E.g., "experience of utter loneliness" or "feel disturbed".
Some designers allow for ambiguity, encouraging player interpretation.
Use of vague endings fosters unique interpretations among players.

Designers create contexts that allow player experiences to flourish.
Balance between negative and positive moments is crucial for appreciation.
Attention to gameplay mechanics to ensure alignment with emotional objectives.
Room for player interpretation is emphasized:
- E.g., role-playing through ambient mechanics rather than explicit narratives.

Continuous shaping of emotional experiences through playtesting.
Reliance on intuition and personal experience of the developers during development phases.
Player feedback typically gathered late in the design process.
Emphasis on evaluating narratives and emotional engagement at later stages.

Gaps exist between designers' values and PX research focus on specific emotional responses.
Future research should explore players' individual interpretations and emotional experiences more broadly.
Consider ambiguity as an important design element for emotional and interpretative challenges.
Player feedback and shared language between researchers and designers are crucial for narrowing the gap in emotional design practices.

Designers have a clear vision for emotional experiences but predominantly aim to offer personal interpretations.
Players' active engagement is essential for depth and emotional connection.
Highlighting the research-practice gap presents new avenues for future HCI games research and practical support for designers.