@inproceedings{Deterding:2023:10.1145/3611065,
author = {Deterding, S and Cutting, J},
doi = {10.1145/3611065},
pages = {1179--1205},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)},
title = {Objective difficulty-skill balance impacts perceived balance but not behaviour: a test of flow and self-determination theory predictions},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3611065},
year = {2023}
}

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TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Flow and self-determination theory predict that game difficulty in balance with player skill maximises enjoy- ment and engagement, mediated by attentive absorption or competence. Yet recent evidence and methodologi- cal concerns are challenging this view, and key theoretical predictions have remained untested, importantly which objective difficulty-skill ratio is perceived as most balanced. To test these, we ran a preregistered study (n=309) using a Go-like 2-player game with an AI opponent, randomly assigning players to one of three objective difficulty-skill ratios (AI plays to win, draw, or lose) over five matches. The AI successfully ma- nipulated objective balance, with the draw condition perceived as most balanced. However, balance did not impact play behaviour, nor did we find the predicted uniform ‘inverted-U’ between balance and positive play experiences. Importantly, we found both theories too underspecified to severely test. We conclude that balance and competence likely matter less for behavioural engagement than commonly held. We propose alternative factors such as player appraisals, novelty, and progress, and debate the value and challenges of theory-testing work in games HCI.
AU  - Deterding,S
AU  - Cutting,J
DO  - 10.1145/3611065
EP  - 1205
PB  - Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
PY  - 2023///
SN  - 2573-0142
SP  - 1179
TI  - Objective difficulty-skill balance impacts perceived balance but not behaviour: a test of flow and self-determination theory predictions
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3611065
UR  - https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3611065
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/105751
ER  - 

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