Lumines

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.

• A 2007 DiGRA study of ten healthy graduate students (average age 24.5) playing five PlayStation Portable titles for fifteen minutes each found that video games can produce measurable psychophysiological changes, with the direction of effects depending on the game and the player.
• Ridge Racers and Mojipittan Daijiten were associated with increased vigor and reduced fatigue, though salivary amylase, a stress marker, rose during Mojipittan Daijiten play.
• Lumines produced increased vigor and decreased fatigue alongside low physiological arousal, suggesting a relaxing effect.