research-article

If at First You Don’t Succeed: Helping Players Make Progress in Games with Breaks and Checkpoints

Authors:
Colby Johanson

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

0000-0003-0333-5933
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,
Brandon Piller

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

0000-0001-5439-199X
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,
Carl Gutwin

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

0000-0003-4470-9495
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,
Regan L. Mandryk

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

0000-0003-0772-6616
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Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction Volume 7 Issue CHI PLAYArticle No.: 387pp 342–368https://doi.org/10.1145/3611033

Published:04 October 2023Publication History

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

Developing skill and overcoming in-game challenges is of great interest to both players and game designers. Players can improve through repetition, but sometimes practice does not lead to improvement and progress stalls. It would be useful if designers could help players make progress without compromising their long-term skill development. We carried out a study to investigate how two techniques—checkpoints and breaks—affect in-game progress and player skill. Checkpoints allow multiple attempts at a challenge without having to repeat earlier sections; this aids progress, but could potentially hinder skill development. Second, breaks in gameplay have been shown to accelerate skill development, but their effectiveness is unknown when the breaks are integrated into the game's design. Our study evaluated the effects of game-integrated breaks and checkpoints on players' in-game progress (when the techniques were present) as well as two test sessions (with all techniques removed). Our results showed that both checkpoints and breaks aid progress (combining both had the largest effect) and that neither technique reduced performance in the transfer task, suggesting that skill development was not hindered. Our work provides evidence that checkpoints and breaks are valuable techniques that can assist both player progress and skill.

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Index Terms

If at First You Don’t Succeed: Helping Players Make Progress in Games with Breaks and Checkpoints
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Human computer interaction (HCI)
    1. HCI theory, concepts and models

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Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction Volume 7, Issue CHI PLAY
November 2023
1360 pages
EISSN:2573-0142
DOI:10.1145/3554313
Editor:
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Apple, USA
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Publication History
- Published: 4 October 2023
Published in pacmhci Volume 7, Issue CHI PLAY

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If at First You Don’t Succeed: Helping Players Make Progress in Games with Breaks and Checkpoints

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

References

Cited By

Index Terms

Recommendations

The interplay between immersion and appeal in video games

Classic Nintendo games are (computationally) hard

Is a Change as Good as a Rest? Comparing BreakTypes for Spaced Practice in a Platformer Game

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If at First You Don’t Succeed: Helping Players Make Progress in Games with Breaks and Checkpoints

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

References

Cited By

Index Terms

Recommendations

The interplay between immersion and appeal in video games

Classic Nintendo games are (computationally) hard

Is a Change as Good as a Rest? Comparing BreakTypes for Spaced Practice in a Platformer Game

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