Game-on-demand:

The HoDoo English game was developed to take advantage of the benefits attributed to on-line games while teaching English to native Korean speakers. We expected to see that the improvements in the subjects’ English language abilities after playing the HoDoo English game would be associated with increased brain functional connectivity in the areas of the brain involved in the language production (Broca’s area) and the understanding (Wernicke’s area) networks. Twelve children, aged nine and ten, were asked to play the on-line English education game for 50 minutes per day, five days per week for twelve weeks. At baseline, and again at the end of twelve weeks of game play, each child’s English language ability was assessed and a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan was conducted. The on-line English education game play effectively improved English language skills, especially in terms of non-verbal pragmatic skills. Following twelve weeks of on-line English education game play, the children showed positive connectivity between Broca’s area and the left frontal cortex as well as between Wernicke’s area and the left parahippocampal gyrus and the right medial frontal gyrus. Changes in pragmatic scores were positively correlated with average peak brain activity in the left parahippocampal gyrus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report an improvement in English ability and changes in brain activity within language areas after on-line language education game play.

Long network latency negatively impacts the performance of online games, and thus mechanisms are needed to mitigate its effects in order to provide a high-quality gaming experience. In this paper, we propose an indirect relay system (IRS) to forward game-state updates over detour paths in order to reduce the round-trip time (RTT) among players. We first collect extensive traces for RTTs among actual players in online games. We then analyze these traces to quantify the potential performance gain of the detour routing. Our analysis reveals that substantial reduction in the RTTs is possible. For example, our results indicate that more than 40% of players can observe at least 100 ms of RTT reduction by routing game-state updates through 1-hop detour paths. Because of the reduction in RTTs, players can join more gaming sessions that were not available to them due to long RTTs of the direct paths. Most importantly, we design and implement a complete IRS system for online games. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first system that directly reduces RTTs among players in online games, while previous works in the literature mitigate the long RTT issue by either hiding it from players or preventing players with high RTTs from being in the same game session. We implement the proposed IRS system and deploy it on 500 PlanetLab nodes. The results from real experiments show that the IRS system improves the online gaming quality from several aspects, while incurring negligible network and processing overheads. In particular, we observe that, with the proposed IRS system, more than 80% of game sessions achieve 100 ms or higher RTT reduction.

With the rapid development of the online gaming industry, how to improve user experience, optimise game design and increase business revenue through intelligent algorithms has become a key issue in the industry. The Multi-armed Gambling Machine (MAB) algorithm, as a classic reinforcement learning problem, has shown great potential for decision optimisation in online games. By balancing the strategy of ‘ exploration and development ’ , the MAB algorithm gradually optimises decision making in an uncertain environment, enhancing the personalised gaming experience, optimising the economic system and improving player retention. This paper reviews the innovative application of the MAB algorithm in online games, focuses on its application in game design, personalised recommendation, game economic system and player retention optimisation, discusses the challenges of the MAB algorithm in practical application and proposes future research directions. Through an overview of existing research results, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive perspective for academia and industry to promote the further development and application of the MAB algorithm in online games.

Consumer innovativeness affects how consumers evaluate new products; however, the effect of global and domain-specific innovativeness on willingness to play a new online game remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of openness to experience (global innovativeness) and variety-seeking behaviour in online gaming (domain-specific innovativeness) on intention to play new online games by applying bidimensional and hierarchical perspectives. In this study, 418 undergraduate students with online gaming experience were surveyed and the response data were analysed using a structural equation modelling technique. The findings indicate that global innovativeness directly influences intention to play new online games, although the relationship is mediated by domain-specific innovativeness. Thus, online game firms can effectively attract new online game players by considering their openness to experience and variety-seeking behaviour as market segmentation variables.

Article impact statement: Online games can improve the collection of data on human decision-making in situations relevant to conservation and stakeholder trade-offs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Since the growth of online gaming in the mid‐2000s, an increasing number of studies have theorised that virtual game worlds provide an optimal environment for language learning – both first language literacy development and second language acquisition. Although online games are often thought of as little more than distractions, a number of studies have demonstrated that there exist myriad opportunities for communication and learning, including language learning, in many games. One of the most popular games, the massively multiplayer online game World of Warcraft , for example, relies for much of its success on the opportunities it presents for engaging collaboration in navigating the world and taking part in team combat, often mediated via language. While a number of studies have already examined first language socialization processes in games, particularly following the release of World of Warcraft a decade ago, research on opportunities for second language learning opportunities in online games is still emerging, and this area of research will be the focus of this review. Via a meta‐analysis of both first and second language studies in areas within and outside of linguistics and language education, this review will explore why virtual game worlds are said to constitute such ideal environments for language learning.

Emerging adults (EAs), defined as adults aged 18 to 25, remain a difficult group to engage in healthy behaviours (including positive dieting and eating patterns). The environmental elements that influence the health behaviours of EAs have been studied. However, the literature is mixed on how online game environments, including eSports and game streaming, can be used to positively engage EAs. In this scoping review, we identified and analysed research on online games, EAs, and dietary patterns to create a behavioural ecological map of influences that intersect with EAs through online games. In total, 75 studies were found, identifying 23 influences that intersect with EAs through their online game use. ESports organisations, eSports athletes, and content creators may be areas of future research (and intervention) as these factors could positively influence the dietary behaviours of EAs (through online games).

In the past decade, online games have become an important electronic commerce application. A good understanding of customer online game behaviors is critical for both researchers and practitioners, such as game vendors and game developers. Many researchers focus their studies on the consumers’ intention to play online games. However, the industry becomes more and more interested in the key factors to retain customers. To tackle the retention problem, this paper proposes a research framework of online game play loyalty. Based on this framework, thirteen hypotheses were developed and tested through a survey in U.S. universities. Overall, the results indicate the following: 1) Online game technology factors, such as the game story, game graphics, game length, game control and online game services, have significant impact on players’ game enjoyment; 2) Game enjoyment and social norms have positive effects on intention to play; 3) Social norms, quality of online game community and intention to play are important predictors of online game loyalty.Keywordsonline gamesloyaltyintentionenjoyment

The Internet has enabled the popular pastime of playing video games to grow rapidly by connecting game players in disparate locations. However, with popularity have come the two challenges of hosting a large number of users and detecting cheating among users. For reasons of control, security, and ease of development, the most popular system for hosting on-line games is the client server architecture. This is also the most expensive and least scalable architecture for the game publisher, which drives hosting costs upwards with the success of the game. In addition to the expense of hosting, as a particular game grows more competitive and popular, the incentive to cheat for that game grows as well. All popular online games suffer from cheats in one form or another, and this cheating adversely affects game popularity and growth. In this dissertation we follow a hypothetical game company (GameCorp) as it surmounts challenges involved in running an on-line game. We develop a characterization of gamer habits and game workloads from data sampled over a period of years, and show the benefits and drawbacks of multiplexing online applications together in a single large server farm. We develop and evaluate a geographic redirection service for the public server architecture to match clients with servers. We show how the public server game architecture can be used to scalably host large persistent games such as massively multiplayer (MMO) games that previously used the client server architecture. Finally we develop a taxonomy for client cheating in on-line games to focus research efforts, and specifically treat one of the categories in detail: information exposure in peer-to-peer games. The thesis of this dissertation is: a methodology for accurate usage modeling of server resources can improve workload management; public-server resources can be leveraged in new ways to serve multiplayer on-line games; and that information exposure in peer-to-peer on-line games is preventable or detectable with the adoption of cryptographic protocols.

The purpose of this study was to determine how the meaning of the look and content of the online game “Garuda Mas”. This game contains aspects of politically charged designations so that it can become a propaganda technique. The subject of this study is the game “Garuda Mas” which has been input on social media Facebook. Methods of data collection using documentary and literature. Data analysis using descriptive techniques. Data validity checking techniques using triangulation source.The results showed that the game “MAS GARUDA” can form the perspective of the players against Mas Garuda as a superhero figure hopes the Indonesian people who are able to overcome all the problems that exist in Indonesia. This game is a form of creative campaigns using propaganda techniques inserted in the game that has the power to change the mindset of every player. Change of mindset occurs because the player did not have an opportunity to think critically on aspects marking contained in the game. By indirectly the players will feel the emotional of this game and assume characterizations “Garuda Mas” in this game is a truth that can be believed. Keywords: Descriptive, Online Games, Mas Garuda, Partai Gerindra

There are many game system features in an online game and one of them is the avatar system. Avatar here is a system in the game, that gives player on the game an opportunity to dress up visual of their character according to what they want. Avatar has various types and forms that can be choose. This research aims to learn what kind of visual design avatar is preferred by online game players, which will provide an overview for game designers to create avatars in the game. This study uses a virtual ethnographic method that is connected with dramaturgical theory, how a person plays a role in the world of online games by using this avatar system. The results showed that avatars with style that match in real life are still more in demand than avatars with shapes that tend to be unique. Even though sometimes game players play different roles in the game world, they still tend to dress up their characters with visuals that match their style in real life in terms of avatar.

Game Nusantara Online is the only online game that lifted the Indonesian culture hey day empires that ever existed and is the only original online games domestically-made. So it is not surprising that this game displays various types of display depicting national cultural identity in the game. The method used in analyzing was John Fiske the semiotics (semiology) through three tiers level, reality, representation, and ideology in the opening game in the form of nondialogue short film, but it was also analyzed in the game play in game logo, the cast of characters, and missions “Timun Mas”. Further analysis was based on the study of literature and other supporting data to determinenational cultural identity. After doing research on the game Nusantara Online, it was found thatnational cultural identity displayed on the level of reality by visualizing typical clothing and accessories of Indonesia empire at that time, the use of the name on the cast of characters that has its own story and has become the local culture, including Hayam Wuruk, Elephant Mada, and others. Visualization of social life, such as religious rituals Bendrong Dimples and Bali, and incorporate folklore or legends in the game missions. While the level of representation, the camera technique is used so that the details of the national cultural identity clearly visible on the clothing motif and shape of the building. The ideology that displayed the Nusantara Online games are games that have cultural values and history of Nusantara (Indonesia).

The rapid progress of technology and widespread use of internet has increased the frequency of video gaming among children. The objective was to determine the frequency and patterns of video game use and video game addiction (VGA) in secondary school students and the relationship with socio-demographic, familial and individual factors. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in four secondary schools in varied sociodemographic characteristics. A structured questionnaire was applied to the parents who agreed to participate. 'Videogame Addiction Scale for Children (VASC)' was performed to the videogamer students. 297 healthy students were included; 245 (82.5 %) reported as video game players. The rate of VGA was 1.6 % in our whole sample. The VGA rate was 3.1 % within the male students. VASC-Geometric Mean Score (VASC-GMS) was significantly higher in male and obese children (p < 0.001, p= 0.022, respectively). Students who use social media also had higher scores (p= 0.034). Gaming consoles, online games or games with multiplayers increase the VASC-GMS scores (p= 0.028, p= 0.002, p= 0.016, respectively). War and strategy games lead higher VASC-GMS (p < 0.001, p= 0.034, respectively). In contrast, mind and casual games were related to lower VASC-GMS (p= 0.006, p= 0.004, respectively). It was observed that being male, being obese, use of social media, game console ownership, playing specific game genres (war or strategy games), online and multiplayer games are related to higher scores of video game addiction scale in secondary school students. Future prospective studies and preventive measures on VGA should focus on these factors.

This study reveals that online video games have emerged as a novel platform for social interaction, wherein numerous gaming options facilitate player’s competition and collective interaction within the virtual realm. Gamers have increasingly begun to form distinct virtual social communities due to the inherent capacity of these games to facilitate social networking in a multiplayer online setting. This phenomenon has given rise to a unique social dynamic among video game enthusiasts. The present study delves into an exploration of the social gaming behaviour exhibited by participants engaged in multiplayer online games. Additionally, it seeks to establish a correlation between virtual and real-world behaviours by examining the relationship between destructive and constructive social behaviours and the dominance and affiliation dimensions of social interaction. &#x0D; Purpose: Online gaming has become a unique phenomenon among the young players with a significant influence on them. The basic objective of this study was to determine the social interaction caused by online gaming among young game players. This study conducted in Pakistani perspective has achieved the objections set to analyze the influence of online gaming and increased level of social interaction. &#x0D; Design/Methodology/Approach: To conduct this investigation, an online survey was administered to individuals who regularly engage in multiplayer gaming activities and dedicate a substantial portion of their daily time to gaming. The study sample consisted of 200 gamers spanning an age range of 16 to 30 years.&#x0D; Findings: The results of this inquiry shed light on the prevalence of pro-social behaviour and anti-social behaviour, characterized by constructive and destructive actions among gamers, respectively. Furthermore, the study reveals that destructive behaviour negatively predicts affiliation, while constructive behaviour has a positive predictive influence on affiliation. Moreover, certain demographic variables, such as age and gender, exert a significant impact on the prediction of dominance within the gaming community. The findings of this study provide substantial support for the notion that virtual social interactions have a notable influence on real-world behaviours, underscoring the interconnectedness between the online gaming environment and broader social dynamics.&#x0D; Implications/Originality/Value: Online gaming has become a common practice not only among young adults but also among the minors. Thus, this phenomenon has reduced physical activities among the youth and even among the school going children. This study may provide an insight into the matter and possible appropriate recommendations as well.

Model of online game addiction: The role of computer-mediated communication motives