Player satisfaction model and its implication to cultural change

Abstract

Game refinement theory has been studied to derive a measurement of game sophistication. Recently, it has been developed as physics in mind, which may relate to the state of player's feelings such as satisfaction and comfort in mind. This article explores a link between game refinement theory and reinforcement schedule. A notion of winning hardness to achieve the goal (m) of a gamified activity, relative to the reinforcement schedules (N), is proposed through the physics in mind measures, which is utilized to quantify an activity's enjoyment. By applying these new measurements to various gaming activities, the sense of player satisfaction and sophistication in game-playing is induced. Indicators for cultural changes and their implications to game-playing landscapes and experiences were established based on evidence from various well-known games. From such findings, the link between game refinement theory and reinforcement schedule may imply that classifying the games according to our mind's psychological activities is vital in design decisions that largely influences people's quality of life.