Muse-based game design

Game design and user experience (UX) design both centre on the design of experiences. But whereas it is par for the course for end-user perspectives to be included during early design stages in UX, there is little methodological support or research into how to incorporate player perspectives into early stages of game design. In this paper, we introduce muse-based game design, an experimental empathic design approach foregrounding a dialogic artist -- muse relationship between a game designer and player. Following a user research stage focused on learning about the player, the designer forms idiosyncratic design constraints inspired by and relating to the player, which are then used to inspire ideation. To understand the consequences, advantages, and disadvantages of this approach, we discuss findings from two years of application of this style of game design in a Master's-level class of game design students at the IT University of Copenhagen.

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