Maximizing Player Engagement in a Global Warming Sensitization Video Game Through Reinforcement Learning

Global warming's consequences must be known and humanity has to take action. In spite of the efforts already taken toward that goal, the challenge remains. Of all media used to achieve that goal, video games are not as used as their increase in popularity may suggest; even when they are, their entertainment value is too low to raise interest. In this paper, we present a serious game called "Penguin Panic!", specifically developed to increase sensitization about climate change. In this game, a Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DDA) system is used to increase the player's interest by providing him or her with a flow-friendly game world. Using Reinforcement Learning, this DDA system adjusts difficulty in real-time based on the player's skills.