Simplifying game mechanics: gaze as an implicit interaction method

This paper explores the possibilities of using player gaze as an implicit interaction method, to simplify game mechanics in a space shooting video game. First, a set of five experienced players were eye-tracked while playing the game Ikaruga where gaze information was recorded. The observed gaze patterns from these players were used to design two novel implicit interaction techniques. The techniques aimed to reduce the complexity of common game mechanics from this genre. Two video game prototypes were then developed. Both made use of traditional mechanics, but only one featured the gaze-based implicit interaction techniques (Figure 1). Nine participants then played both prototypes in a user study. A questionnaire was used to evaluate their experience with the implicit interaction techniques. Also, the final scores of each player were recorded to analyze if there was any significant change in performance between the prototypes, due to an unfair advantage provided by the interaction techniques. Results show that participants had an overall positive experience and agreeing that the gaze interaction provided a game mechanic simplification. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the score results when comparing both of the interaction techniques.