Intuitive Interaction with Motion Controls in a Tennis Video Game

This paper broadens understanding of intuitive use in games by testing the influence of three naturally mapped motion control interfaces in the context of a tennis video game. It also extends exploratory work on natural mapping and intuitive interaction in video games by refining instruments to measure game technology familiarity. Repeated-measures experiment data (N = 120) is analysed via mixed ANOVAs with four distinct player characteristic variables. As with broader intuitive interaction research, results show that more familiar players performed more effectively; however, where differences exist, they point towards increased intuitive use gains with more naturally mapped control interfaces. Subjective measures suggest that control interfaces were perceived as more intuitive when they had higher levels of natural mapping, yet also point to the influencing roles of familiarity and the dimensions of the control types in shaping these perceptions.