Evaluating GameFlow in a Multiplayer Online Strategy Game Under Development

Abstract

GameFlow is a widely used model of player enjoyment, with hundreds of applications to designing and evaluating games and game-like experiences since its first publication. Derived from a general set of heuristics for creating enjoyable player experiences, GameFlow strives to be a general model of player enjoyment, applicable to all game genres and platforms. However, research so far has been focused on the single-player experience and GameFlow elements such as Challenge and Control can vary considerably in a group situation. Therefore, it is also important to test the GameFlow model’s applicability to multiplayer games. In this article, we report the findings of a study that applies the GameFlow model to a multiplayer online strategy game under development. Expert reviews, using the GameFlow criteria, were conducted by 12 stakeholders (developer, players, researchers, and journalists) in the game Neptune’s Pride 2: Triton. We reflect on lessons learned about evaluating a multiplayer game under development, as well as several key points of improvement for future versions of the GameFlow model and criteria.