Ergonomic Evaluation of Portable Videogame Software

This study, a 2007 DiGRA conference paper, examines the short-term psychophysiological effects of playing video games on portable consoles, with a focus on whether brief play can improve players' moods. Its central aim is to identify which aspects of game content, player skill, and playing experience contribute to positive mood changes. The authors position their work against a backdrop of public debate that often emphasizes the negative effects of games, arguing that positive influences deserve equal scientific attention.

The experiment involved ten healthy graduate students, averaging 24.5 years of age, none of whom had previously played the five selected PlayStation Portable titles: Ridge Racers, Taiko Drum Master Portable, Dig Dug, Mojipittan Daijiten, and Lumines. Each subject played for fifteen minutes in a two-stage design, the first at low familiarity and the second after reaching a set level of mastery. Researchers measured electrodermal activity as an indicator of emotional arousal, salivary amylase as a stress marker, and Profile of Mood States questionnaire scores before and after play.

Results varied considerably by game. Ridge Racers and Mojipittan Daijiten were associated with increased vigor and reduced fatigue, though amylase rose in the latter. Lumines produced increased vigor and decreased fatigue with low physiological arousal, suggesting a relaxing effect. Taiko Drum Master showed higher arousal and vigor when players cleared favored or difficult stages, while Dig Dug yielded mixed outcomes influenced by individual preference. The authors conclude that video games can produce measurable psychophysiological changes, that their direction depends on game and player characteristics, and that playing content and personal preference shape these effects. The authors acknowledge the small sample and limited measures, and note that statistical significance was reached only for some indicators.