HOW PLAYERS LEARN THROUGH PLAY: A GUR Study of Hades
Ongoing player research project combining observation, think aloud protocol, and post-play interviews
Research Focus
How do new players understand mechanics, feedback, failure, and progression during early play?
Method
Observation, Think-aloud Protocol, Post-Interviews.
Players complete an early play session while being observed and encouraged to think aloud. After the session, they take part in a short reflective interview.
What I Am Looking For?
Moments of clarity, confusion, hesitation, discovery, frustration, and engagement.
Why Hades?
Hades teaches players through repetition, feedback, failure, and progression without constantly stopping the game to explain itself. This makes it a strong case for studying how games guide understanding through play.
Planned Output
The study will identify recurring patterns in player behavior and translate them into design implications