Semi-automated level design via auto-playtesting for handheld casual game creation

Edward J. Powley; Simon Colton; Swen Gaudl; Rob Saunders; Mark J. Nelson

doi:10.1109/CIG.2016.7860438

Semi-automated level design via auto-playtesting for handheld casual game creation

Edward J. Powley, Simon Colton, Swen Gaudl, Rob Saunders, Mark J. Nelson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We provide a proof of principle that novel and engaging mobile casual games with new aesthetics, game mechanics and player interactions can be designed and tested directly on the device for which they are intended. We describe the Gamika iOS application which includes generative art assets; a design interface enabling the making of physics-based casual games containing multiple levels with aspects ranging from Frogger-like to Asteroids-like and beyond; a configurable automated playtester which can give feedback on the playability of levels; and an automated fine-tuning engine which searches for level parameterisations that enable the game to pass a battery of tests, as evaluated by the auto-playtester. Each aspect of the implementation represents a baseline with much room for improvement, and we present some experimental results and describe how these will guide the future directions for Gamika.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2016 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games (CIG 2016)
Editors	Tommy Thompson
Place of Publication	Piscataway NJ USA
Publisher	IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Pages	372-379
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	9781509018833, 9781509018826
ISBN (Print)	9781509018840
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/CIG.2016.7860438
Publication status	Published - 2016
Externally published	Yes
Event	IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Games 2016 - Santorini, Greece Duration: 20 Sept 2016 → 23 Sept 2016 http://cig16.image.ece.ntua.gr/ieee-cig-2016-proceedings/index.html (Website & Proceedings)

Publication series

Name	IEEE Conference on Computatonal Intelligence and Games, CIG
Publisher	IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
ISSN (Print)	2325-4270
ISSN (Electronic)	2325-4289

Conference

Conference	IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Games 2016
Abbreviated title	CIG 2016
Country/Territory	Greece
City	Santorini
Period	20/09/16 → 23/09/16
Internet address	http://cig16.image.ece.ntua.gr/ieee-cig-2016-proceedings/index.html (Website & Proceedings)

Access to Document

10.1109/CIG.2016.7860438

Cite this

Powley, E. J., Colton, S., Gaudl, S., Saunders, R., & Nelson, M. J. (2016). Semi-automated level design via auto-playtesting for handheld casual game creation. In T. Thompson (Ed.), 2016 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games (CIG 2016) (pp. 372-379). Article 7860438 (IEEE Conference on Computatonal Intelligence and Games, CIG). IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1109/CIG.2016.7860438

Powley, Edward J. ; Colton, Simon ; Gaudl, Swen et al. / Semi-automated level design via auto-playtesting for handheld casual game creation. 2016 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games (CIG 2016). editor / Tommy Thompson. Piscataway NJ USA : IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2016. pp. 372-379 (IEEE Conference on Computatonal Intelligence and Games, CIG).

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title = "Semi-automated level design via auto-playtesting for handheld casual game creation",

abstract = "We provide a proof of principle that novel and engaging mobile casual games with new aesthetics, game mechanics and player interactions can be designed and tested directly on the device for which they are intended. We describe the Gamika iOS application which includes generative art assets; a design interface enabling the making of physics-based casual games containing multiple levels with aspects ranging from Frogger-like to Asteroids-like and beyond; a configurable automated playtester which can give feedback on the playability of levels; and an automated fine-tuning engine which searches for level parameterisations that enable the game to pass a battery of tests, as evaluated by the auto-playtester. Each aspect of the implementation represents a baseline with much room for improvement, and we present some experimental results and describe how these will guide the future directions for Gamika.",

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series = "IEEE Conference on Computatonal Intelligence and Games, CIG",

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Powley, EJ, Colton, S, Gaudl, S, Saunders, R & Nelson, MJ 2016, Semi-automated level design via auto-playtesting for handheld casual game creation. in T Thompson (ed.), 2016 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games (CIG 2016)., 7860438, IEEE Conference on Computatonal Intelligence and Games, CIG, IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Piscataway NJ USA, pp. 372-379, IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Games 2016, Santorini, Greece, 20/09/16. https://doi.org/10.1109/CIG.2016.7860438

Semi-automated level design via auto-playtesting for handheld casual game creation. / Powley, Edward J.; Colton, Simon; Gaudl, Swen et al.
2016 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games (CIG 2016). ed. / Tommy Thompson. Piscataway NJ USA: IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2016. p. 372-379 7860438 (IEEE Conference on Computatonal Intelligence and Games, CIG).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research

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AB - We provide a proof of principle that novel and engaging mobile casual games with new aesthetics, game mechanics and player interactions can be designed and tested directly on the device for which they are intended. We describe the Gamika iOS application which includes generative art assets; a design interface enabling the making of physics-based casual games containing multiple levels with aspects ranging from Frogger-like to Asteroids-like and beyond; a configurable automated playtester which can give feedback on the playability of levels; and an automated fine-tuning engine which searches for level parameterisations that enable the game to pass a battery of tests, as evaluated by the auto-playtester. Each aspect of the implementation represents a baseline with much room for improvement, and we present some experimental results and describe how these will guide the future directions for Gamika.

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Powley EJ, Colton S, Gaudl S, Saunders R, Nelson MJ. Semi-automated level design via auto-playtesting for handheld casual game creation. In Thompson T, editor, 2016 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games (CIG 2016). Piscataway NJ USA: IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 2016. p. 372-379. 7860438. (IEEE Conference on Computatonal Intelligence and Games, CIG). doi: 10.1109/CIG.2016.7860438

Semi-automated level design via auto-playtesting for handheld casual game creation

Abstract

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