An analysis of player strategies and performance in audio puzzles

Abstract

This paper presents the design of a puzzle game for the Android platform also shows a study on puzzle solving strategies across different interaction modalities and showcases a player performance analysis in each identified strategy. Solving puzzles is among the oldest challenges and entertainment activities available to us. However, despite major technological advances, the design of such games has never provided individuals with challenges beyond visual puzzles. We capitalized on this opportunity to tackle the design of puzzles which go beyond visual cues, utilizing sound and vibration feedback as well to offer a fresh challenge to players. Along with the design of this game, our research focused on analyzing puzzle solving strategies applied by users. In particular, this paper details a study in which we analyzed if players apply the same strategy to solve a visual and a audio puzzle. Complementing the strategies analysis on the audio mode, we also present a comparative analysis regarding performance metrics such as completion time, number of moves for completion and the attained score. Results point that players often opt to solve prominent areas first, leaving more abstract zones to the end, independently from the interaction modality involved. Performance analysis tells us that there are suitable strategies to maximize different performance metrics. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.