Beyond Tutorials - How Players Develop Competitive Gaming Skills and What can we do to Support them?

Players usually have a strong aspiration to improve their gaming skills, a desire which has been further reinforced by the increase of multiplayer games and the rise of competitive gaming. Learning to play can be guided by the game itself (e.g., via tutorials) but can also be largely self-regulated with players setting their own performance goals and by the social ecosystems surrounding games. However, self-regulated learning can be influenced by self-efficacy beliefs. This panel discusses different strategies players follow to improve their skills as well as high-level characteristics of how learning and self-efficacy manifests in different competitive genres. These can serve as useful guideposts for those interested in implementing teaching practices, systems, and tools for learning to play in- and outside of competitive games.

The Power of Buttons: How Interfaces Shape Game Immersion

In this session, we will explore game immersion, revealing how even seemingly minor UI elements — like buttons — can be essential in setting the game's mood. Drawing from research on player responses to interfaces, we will present 12 techniques for using buttons effectively in games, illustrated with examples from World of Tanks. Whether you're a designer, developer, or just curious about game psychology, this session will change the way you click the next time you play.