Escape the Decision Arena – Designing and evaluating an immersive collaborative gaming experience in a cylindrical environment

Title: Escape the Decision Arena – Designing and evaluating an immersive collaborative gaming experience in a cylindrical environment
Author: Peter Dromberg
Publication Year: 2022
Institution: Linköppings Universitet
Department: Department of Science and Technology

When I was researching for interesting Masters Theses this one stood out to me. Most of the other Masters theses I found where classic 2D Games, Inventory Systems or traffic simulations. This one is also a Game, but it uses a 360 Degree screen with multiple projectors around a round table. This makes the interaction and the possibilities much harder but also much more interesting.

1. Level of Design

The level of design in this thesis is well-structured and follows a classic scientific style, with clear sections, example images, and graphs that aid in understanding the content. It is a traditional approach, aligning with academic standards for a scientific master’s thesis. However, the design remains quite formal and restrained, which contrasts with more visually creative, “designy” theses that explore unique layouts or experimental formats.

2. Degree of Innovation

The work is innovative in several aspects. It explores game design in a non-standard environment (the Decision Arena), which includes an unusual 360-degree display and sound system, creating a new avenue for cooperative immersive games. The thesis pushes the boundaries of typical multiplayer games by integrating physical space with digital interaction, specifically focusing on collaborative gameplay and sound localization.

3. Independence

The authors show a high degree of independence, having not only designed and developed the game but also evaluated it through multiple user tests. They tackled various technical challenges, such as integrating WebSockets, Unreal Engine, and SuperCollider for an immersive audio-visual experience, which demonstrates their capability to work autonomously and resolve complex, interdisciplinary problems.

4. Outline and Structure

The thesis follows a logical and clear structure, with sections on the theoretical framework, methodology, game design, evaluation, and results. Each chapter builds on the previous one, which aids in understanding their design decisions. The theoretical section covers immersion, sound, and interface design comprehensively, providing a strong foundation for the project. However, the structure could be improved by consolidating some sections to streamline readability.

5. Degree of Communication

The thesis communicates its findings well, though there are some technical terms that could benefit from additional clarification for general readers. The methods and results are presented clearly, with diagrams and figures enhancing the understanding of the Decision Arena’s setup and the system architecture. The authors also provided a balanced presentation of quantitative and qualitative evaluation results, which enhances the comprehensibility of their research outcomes.

6. Scope of the Work

The scope is ambitious, covering game design, sound engineering, and immersive technology within a collaborative environment. The authors focused on multiple dimensions of the game (visuals, sound, interaction) within the limited space and technology constraints of the Decision Arena. While comprehensive, the scope might have been narrowed to explore one or two aspects more deeply, such as sound localization or immersive design mechanics.

7. Orthography and Accuracy

The Author effectively communicate his concept, which aligns well with academic standards. It is written very well and helps to really understand the topic and the Journey the Author went through.

8. Literature

The thesis utilizes a good selection of literature related to immersive experiences, game design, and sound localization, particularly relevant to the unique Decision Arena setting. The authors have cited a range of studies on immersion, interface design, and collaborative gaming, indicating a strong theoretical basis for their project.

Sources

https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1740943/FULLTEXT01.pdf

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