Games User Research Methods

A Player-Centered Toolkit

Games User Research Methods Book Cover

This is your definitive guide to understanding and utilizing Games User Research (GUR) data collection methods. It is for game developers, UX designers, product managers, and students who want to create more engaging, intuitive, and fair game experiences.

Move beyond gut feelings to truly comprehend your players through systematic player research and data-driven decision making. This comprehensive toolkit covers everything from ethical foundations to advanced behavioral and attitudinal analysis.

Key Features

Ethical Research

Grasp the foundations of ethical and purpose-driven player research.

Behavioral Data

Observe player behavior with telemetry, A/B tests, and playtesting.

Player Attitudes

Understand player attitudes through surveys, interviews, and focus groups.

Method Selection

Select and combine the right GUR methods for any research question.

Table of Contents

Part I: Foundations of Player-Centered Games User Research

  • 1. The "Why": Purpose-Driven Data Collection in GUR
  • 2. The "Who & How": Ethical & Inclusive Data Collection
  • 3. The "What": Understanding Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods

Part II: The Behavioral Toolkit: Observing What Players Do

  • 4. In-Game Telemetry & Analytics: The Silent Observer
  • 5. A/B Testing and Experimental Design: Comparing Variants
  • 6. Observational Studies: Watching Play Unfold
  • 7. Playtesting: The Core GUR Activity
  • 8. Beyond the Basics: Specialized & Physiological Behavioral Methods

Part III: The Attitudinal Toolkit: Understanding What Players Say & Think

  • 9. Surveys & Questionnaires: Gathering Data at Scale
  • 10. Structuring Intuition: Card Sorting & Tree Testing for Information Architecture
  • 11. Capturing Appeal: Desirability Studies & Aesthetic Feedback
  • 12. Interviews: Deep Dives into Player Perspectives
  • 13. Focus Groups: Exploring Shared Experiences
  • 14. Longitudinal Self-Report: Experiences Over Time (Diary Studies & More)

Part IV: Specialized Toolkits: Expert & Community-Driven Insights

  • 15. Expert Reviews: Leveraging Specialized Knowledge
  • 16. Community & Social Listening: The Voice of the Live Game
  • 17. Leveraging Existing Data: Bug Reports & QA Insights

Part V: Applying the Toolkit: Integration, Strategy, and the Future

  • 18. The Right Tool for the Job: Selecting & Combining Methods
  • 19. Write That Down: Effective and Clear Documentation
  • 20. It's All About Presentation: Delivering GUR Insights for Maximum Impact
  • 21. Weaving GUR into Development: Practical Integration
  • 22. The Evolving GUR Landscape: Future Trends & Your Role
  • 23. Conclusion: The Enduring Craft of Understanding Players

Book Covers

Front Cover

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Back Cover

Back Cover

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