Understanding User Experience in Serious Games: The Role of Narratives, Game Design and Player Background

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dc.contributor.authorNtoa, Stavroulaen_US
dc.contributor.authorNtagianta, Anastasiaen_US
dc.contributor.authorFlores, Fernandaen_US
dc.contributor.authorHalilovic, Jasminkoen_US
dc.contributor.authorKolek, Lukášen_US
dc.contributor.authorFormánková, Lucieen_US
dc.contributor.authorViraphong, Lisleyen_US
dc.contributor.authorDivoy, Emilieen_US
dc.contributor.authorCernoušková, Petraen_US
dc.contributor.authorSelekos, Petrosen_US
dc.contributor.authorApostolakis, Konstantinos C.en_US
dc.contributor.authorStamou, Stefaniaen_US
dc.contributor.authorStephanidis, Constantineen_US
dc.contributor.editorCampana, Stefanoen_US
dc.contributor.editorFerdani, Danieleen_US
dc.contributor.editorGraf, Holgeren_US
dc.contributor.editorGuidi, Gabrieleen_US
dc.contributor.editorHegarty, Zackaryen_US
dc.contributor.editorPescarin, Sofiaen_US
dc.contributor.editorRemondino, Fabioen_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-05T21:24:45Z
dc.date.available2025-09-05T21:24:45Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractThis paper presents findings from three user studies conducted on digital heritage games designed to foster historical understanding and emotional engagement through immersive experiences. The evaluated games - We Grew Up in War, Those From Below, and Gulag Diaries - explore historical narratives related to conflict, migration, and forced labor. The studies involved small-scale participant groups from culturally relevant backgrounds, utilizing a mixed-methods approach comprising established game experience questionnaires, structured interviews, and facilitator observations. The results indicate that participants generally responded positively to the games, particularly appreciating their narrative depth, audiovisual design, and emotional impact. However, the studies also identified areas for improvement in terms of usability, navigation, and onboarding, especially given that the games tested were in their alpha stages. Notably, individual differences in prior gaming experience, familiarity with the technology used, and prior knowledge of the historical subject matter significantly influenced how participants engaged with and interpreted the content, while gender was also found to be a moderating factor of game experience. The findings presented in this paper offer useful insights and recommendations for digital heritage games, with an emphasis on improving user experience while maintaining historical authenticity, engaging narratives, and interactive storytelling.en_US
dc.description.sectionheadersGame Design Methods and Applications
dc.description.seriesinformationDigital Heritage
dc.identifier.doi10.2312/dh.20253297
dc.identifier.isbn978-3-03868-277-6
dc.identifier.pages10 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.2312/dh.20253297
dc.identifier.urihttps://diglib.eg.org/handle/10.2312/dh20253297
dc.publisherThe Eurographics Associationen_US
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International License
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectCCS Concepts Human-centered computing~Human computer interaction (HCI)~HCI design and evaluation methods~User studies Applied computing~Computers in other domains~Personal computers and PC applications~Computer games
dc.subjectCCS Concepts Human
dc.subjectcentered computing~Human computer interaction (HCI)~HCI design and evaluation methods~User studies Applied computing~Computers in other domains~Personal computers and PC applications~Computer games
dc.titleUnderstanding User Experience in Serious Games: The Role of Narratives, Game Design and Player Backgrounden_US
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Track 14 – Play, Learn, Explore (Serious Games Society – GALA SESSION)