Kaitlyn Rae's profile

Interplaying Emotions - Penn State Thesis

Kaitlyn Rae
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gameplay character attachment research research project thesis Thesis Project Pixel art unity unity 2d Video Games
The Next Level
As part of the Bachelor of Design curriculum at Penn State, students are required to complete a research based thesis project on a topic of their choosing in their senior year. (2014-2015)
My research focused on character design and a player's emotional attachment to characters in a video game. I began with a visual approach to this research before shifting my focus to gameplay as the main vehicle for character attachment in games with visual style serving to enhance attachment. The project that developed resulted in documentation outlining my research and an interactive application that demonstrates concepts created from research. Through this project, I drafted a gameplay spectrum that categorizes video games based on the different ways players interact with characters in games. An accompanying style guide outlines each mode in the spectrum based off research and personal experience. In the interactive application, users can explore examples of different modes in sample levels.

At the time, I found that looking at games through the spectrum can help to better understand how character attachment can be created when designing a game. Looking back, these concepts could be expanded upon and further explored. However, the research and exploration I did as part of this thesis has given me a greater appreciation and understanding for game and character design.
To download the project documents and application use this link:
Main thesis documentation outlining research, gameplay spectrum, style guide, etc.
gameplay character attachment research research project thesis Thesis Project Pixel art unity unity 2d Video Games
Chart illustrating the gameplay spectrum according to levels of player interaction with a character in a game
Design document that outlines design guidelines for video game design based on gameplay modes and character attachment
gameplay character attachment research research project thesis Thesis Project Pixel art unity unity 2d Video Games
Character concept art for interactive character in the Playground
gameplay character attachment research research project thesis Thesis Project Pixel art unity unity 2d Video Games
Playground Screenshot - Character style 1 in Observation Mode
gameplay character attachment research research project thesis Thesis Project Pixel art unity unity 2d Video Games
Playground Screenshot - Character style 2 performing an action in Symbiosis Mode
gameplay character attachment research research project thesis Thesis Project Pixel art unity unity 2d Video Games
Senior Thesis exhibit photo by Drew Heo
gameplay character attachment research research project thesis Thesis Project Pixel art unity unity 2d Video Games
Senior Thesis exhibit photo by Drew Heo
Interplaying Emotions - Penn State Thesis
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Interplaying Emotions - Penn State Thesis

Bachelor of Design senior research based thesis on relationship between gameplay/graphics and character attachment in game design.

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