Evaluating the Effects of AI Directors for Quest Selection

TL;DR

This study compares three AI Directors in video games to evaluate their impact on quest selection and player experience, finding that a non-random AI Director enhances player satisfaction over a random one.

Contribution

It provides the first direct comparison of multiple AI Directors' effects on player experience through a human subject study.

Findings

Non-random AI Director improves player experience

AI Directors can effectively personalize game content

Random AI Director yields less satisfying player experience

Abstract

Modern commercial games are designed for mass appeal, not for individual players, but there is a unique opportunity in video games to better fit the individual through adapting game elements. In this paper, we focus on AI Directors, systems which can dynamically modify a game, that personalize the player experience to match the player's preference. In the past, some AI Director studies have provided inconclusive results, so their effect on player experience is not clear. We take three AI Directors and directly compare them in a human subject study to test their effectiveness on quest selection. Our results show that a non-random AI Director provides a better player experience than a random AI Director.