Playing with emotions: sentiment design for public space

Abstract

This design research explored ways to support emotional expression in interactive games played in a public, social setting. Affective gaming has incorporated emotional assessment to tailor feedback during gameplay, but as a result, distills complex emotional states into simple inputs. Our research focused not on measuring affect but on designing games to evoke emotional expression and sharing of personal experiences. This work centered on games in public spaces as a particularly rich area for exploration to influence other people. We present the design and initial play-testing results of four games that draw on a player's idiosyncratic experience and feelings as part of the game. These designs were based on internal paper prototyping sessions, naturalistic observation of the testing space and design and enactment sessions with researchers as participants and designers. Our design sessions indicate that image-based games are a rich element for these types of games, and the importance of ambiguity and disagreement amongst players to promote sharing of personal stories. Other design principles that emerged include affordances for short interactions, individual or multiple players, and forms of "cheating" as game play.