Data Analysis through Visualization

This chapter discusses the topic of how one can use visualization techniques to analyze game data. Specifically, the chapter delves into the development of heatmaps to analyze spatio-temporal data. The chapter also discusses spatio-temporal visualizations and state-action transition visualizations. We also discuss two visualization systems that we have developed within the GUII lab: Stratmapper and Glyph. We provide you with a link that allows you to explore the use of these visualizations with real game data. This chapter is written in collaboration with Riddhi Padte and Varun Sriram, based on their work in Dr. Seif El-Nasr’s game data science class at Northeastern University; Erica Kleinman, PhD student at University of California at Santa Cruz; and Andy Bryant, software engineer at GUII Lab. The chapter also includes labs where you get to experience the analysis of game data through visualization.