Analyzing user behavior via gameplay metrics

User-oriented research in the game industry is undergoing a change from relying on informal user-testing methods adapted directly from productivity software development to integrating modern approaches to usability- and user experience testing. Gameplay metrics analysis form one of these novel techniques, being based on instrumentation methods in HCI. Gameplay metrics are instrumentation data about the user behavior and user-game interaction, and can be collected during testing, production and the live period of the lifetime of a digital game. The use of instrumentation data is relatively new to commercial game development, offering a powerful supplement to existing user-oriented testing methods. This presentation will introduce a metrics solution and a series of case studies of games from major Danish game developer IO Interactive of EIDOS.