Research, Publications, and Interviews

If you would like to contact Microsoft Game Studios' user research group for information regarding the group, its research efforts, or to request a print version of any publication, please contact gur@microsoft.com.

2006

Here’s Entertainment!, by D. Wixon. Interactions: New Visions of Human-Computer Interaction. (Reoccurring forum edited and or written by former MGS User Research Manager Dennis Wixon)

The Perception Engineers, by Spanner. The Escapist Magazine. (Featuring D. Gunn and T. Nichols)

We're Not Listening: An Open Letter to Academic Game Researchers, by J. Hopson. Gamasutra.com

K. Isbister (2006). Better Game Characters by Design: A Psychological Approach.  (Interview with R. Pagulayan).  Morgan Kaufmann.

Nunes-Ueno, M., Davis, J., Goebel, K., Quiroz, D., Hove, P., Harrison, C., Sellar, T., & Hopson, J.  (2006).  Do-It-Yourself Usability: How to Use User Research to Improve your Game.  Presented at the Game Developer’s Conference, San Jose CA, March 2006.

Pagulayan, R., Gunn, D., & Romero, R. (2006). A Gameplay-Centered Design Framework for Human Factors in Games.  In W. Karwowski (ed.) 2nd Edition of International Encyclopedia of Ergonomics and Human Factors, London: Taylor & Francis.

Pagulayan, R., Keeker, K., Fuller, T., Wixon, D., & Romero, R. (in press) User-centered design in games (revision).  In J. Jacko and A. Sears (Eds.), Handbook for Human-Computer Interaction in Interactive Systems.  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Pagulayan, R., and Keeker, K. (in press). Measuring Pleasure and Fun: Playtesting.  In C. Wilson, Handbook of Formal and Informal Interaction Design Methods.  Morgan Kaufmann.

2005

Back to School, by D. Beltramo. Interactions: New Visions of Human-Computer Interaction, Vol. 12.5, October. (Featuring C. Harrison)

Davis, J., Steury, K., & Pagulayan, R. (manuscript submitted).  A survey method for assessing perceptions of a game: The consumer playtest in game design.  Game Studies: the International Journal of Computer Game Research. Vol. 5, issue1, 10/2005

Medlock, M.C., b, D. McGee, M, Welsh, D. (in press). The Rapid Iterative Test and Evaluation Method: Better Products in Less Time.  Cost Justifying Usability 2, edited by R. Bias & D. Mayhew.

Nunes-Ueno, M., Davis, J., Goebel, K., Burdick, M., Quiroz, D., & Gunn, D.  (2005).  Do-It-Yourself Usability: How to Use User Research to Improve your Game.  Presented at the Game Developer’s Conference, San Jose CA, March 2005.

Romero, R., & Lorusso, T. (2005).  Befuddlement in Action: Classic Usability Problems in Games and How to Avoid Them.  Presented at the Game Developer’s Conference, San Jose CA, March 2005.

Wixon, D. (2005). Is ROI an Effective Approach for Persuading Decision Makers on the Value of User-Centered Design? Panel Discussion at Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2005).
Download Slides (2.6 MB)

2004

Fulton, B., & Romero, R. (2004). User-testing in a Hostile Environment: Overcoming Resistance and Apathy in your Game Company. Presented at the Game Developer’s Conference, San Jose CA, March 2004.
Download Paper (4.6 MB)

Gamboa, M., Kowalewski, R., & Roy, P. (2004).  Playtesting Strategies.  Presented at the Game Developer’s Conference, San Jose CA, March 2004.
Download Paper (79 KB)

Hopson, J. (2004). Behavioral Game Design. Presented at the Game Developer’s Conference, San Jose CA, March 2004.
Download Paper (707 KB)

Keeker, K., & Lazarro, N. (2004). What’s My Method?  A Game Show on Games. Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2004) (p. 1093-1094). Vienna, Austria, April 2004.

Keeker, K., Pagulayan, R., Sykes, J., & Lazarro, N. (2004). The Untapped World of Video Games. Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2004) (p. 1610-1611). Vienna, Austria, April 2004.

Pagulayan, R., & Steury, K. (2004). Beyond Usability in Games. Interactions, 11, (5).pp. 70-71.  New York, ACM Press.

2003

Fulton, B., & Fuller, T. (2003). HCI, Usability, and Computer Games.  Presented at the Digital Games Research Conference 2003, November 2003 University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Fulton, B., & Medlock, M. (2003). Beyond Focus Groups: Getting More Useful Feedback from Consumers. Game Developer's Conference 2003 Proceedings, San Jose CA, March 2003.
Download Paper (76 KB)

Pagulayan, R. J., Keeker, K., Wixon, D., Romero, R., & Fuller, T. (2003).  User-centered design in games.  In J. Jacko and A. Sears (Eds.), Handbook for Human-Computer Interaction in Interactive Systems (pp. 883-906).  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Download Paper (28 KB)

Pagulayan, R. J., Steury, K. R., Fulton, B., & Romero, R. L (2003).  Designing for fun: User-testing case studies. In M. Blythe, K. Overbeeke, A. Monk, and P. Wright, (Eds.), Funology: From Usability to Enjoyment (pp. 137-150). Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Download Paper (26.5 KB)

2002

Fulton, B. (2002).  Beyond Psychological Theory: Getting Data that Improve Games.  Game Developer's Conference 2002 Proceedings, San Jose CA, March 2002. Reprinted on the front page of Gamasutra.com on May 21, 2002, viewable at gamasutra.com.
Download Paper (4 KB)

Fulton, B (2002).  Conversations from GDC Europe: Bill Fulton, Zeno Colaco, Harvey Smith Interview by John McLean-Foreman at Game Developer's Conference-Europe 2002, (London, UK), on the front page of Gamasutra.com on Sept 11, 20.02, viewable at gamasutra.com.
Download Paper (61 KB)

Medlock, M. C., Wixon, D., Terrano, M., Romero, R., Fulton, B. (2002).  Using the RITE Method to improve products: a definition and a case study. Usability Professionals Association, Orlando FL July 2002
Download Paper (117 KB)