Introducing a Revised Lexical Approach to Study User Experience in Game Play by Analyzing Online Reviews

Abstract

This paper proposes a revised lexical approach to understand user experience in game play by analyzing online game reviews. The lexical approach is originally used by psychologists to study personality traits [1]. We argue that game players have used natural languages to describe computer games and their experiences over time, and that the most important characteristics of game play experience would be reflected in player language. Therefore, user experience during game play can be studied by examining the vocabularies used by players in online reviews. Based on 696,801 reviews downloaded from three major game websites, the lexical approach was adapted to analyze textual content pertaining to computer games. Six major factors (playability, creativity, usability, competition, sensation, and strategy) were identified and ranked. While playability, creativity, and usability suggest how to measure success of a game, competition, sensation, and strategy provide three effective stimuli to game enjoyment. The implications of the revised lexical approach and findings from this study were discussed.