Abstract
Crafting in videogames is a common game mechanic, especially in survival games. Sincecrafting is a process where players need to invest time, cognitive, physical or digital
resources to craft a digital object, this thesis investigates the influence of crafting of
weapons in video games on player behavior during combat scenarios.
Previous work highlights that players attribute greater personal value to items they
have crafted themselves, similar to how artisans perceive their work as therapeutic and
rewarding. The study posits that the complexity and feasibility of the crafting process
contribute to the perceived success and value of the crafted item, thus influencing player
engagement.
Little is known about how the complexity of crafting processes in video games influences player behavior, particularly in terms of combat strategies during encounters.
Therefore, a conducted study with 24 participants aimed to investigate the impact of
crafting complexity on the players’ combat behaviour. This is relevant because the
results offer valuable information for game developers to enhance player experiences.
A significant result was found between the complexity of weapon crafting and the
proximity of players equipped with an axe to enemy robots during combat (p=0.04) with
a Repeated Measures study design. Specifically, complex crafting processes resulted in
players maintaining closer distances to opponents compared to simpler crafting. The
same principal but the player equipped with a bow instead of an axe could not produce any significant result. This finding suggests that crafting complexity significantly
impacts player engagement in combat situations. We conclude that a more complex
crafting mechanic of a crafted weapon could contribute to a higher engagement in combat scenarios.
| Date of Award | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | German (Austria) |
| Supervisor | Martin Kocur (Supervisor) |