Exploring behavioral expressions of player experience in digital games

This paper describes a first exploration of human motor behavior that may be associated with player experiences in digital games. Evidence from literature suggests that patterns in pressure and postural movement data may be indicative for experiences such as interest, arousal, frustration and boredom. In the current study we explore the relation between behavioral measures and people's emotional experience during game play. Results from the study presented in this paper indicate that the intensity of people's actions (e.g. pressure exerted on the mouse) and bodily movement relates to several experiences during game-play, including frustration. However, the results show that these behavioral measures do not exclusively relate to one specific experience. Rather, the results imply these behavioral measures to relate to the level of arousal and level of dominance felt during game-play. From these results it is evident that behavioral measures have a clear application potential. This study presents a starting point in the development of a set of behavior-based measures of player experiences. Establishing sensitivity and validity of such measures can be regarded as the necessary first step in the process of creating an emotionally adaptive game.