Exploiting General-Purpose In-Game Behaviours to Predict Players Churn in Gameful Systems

The value of a game is assessed by measuring the intensity of the level of activity of its players. No matter how thoroughly though the design is, the litmus test is whether players keep using it or not. To reduce the number of abandoning players, it is important to detect in time the subjects at risk. In the literature, many works are targeting this issue. However, the main focus has been on entertainment games, from which articulated indicators of in-game behaviors can be extracted. Those features tend to be context-specific and, even when they are not, they are proper of full-featured games, and thus, impossible to adapt to other systems such as games with a purpose and gamified apps. In this preliminary work, we fed to an Artificial Neural Network general-purpose in-game behaviors, such as participation data, to predict when a player will definitively leave the game. Moreover, we study the appropriate amount of information, in terms of players’ history, that should be considered when predicting players’ churn. Our use case study is an on-the-field long-lasting persuasive gameful system

Do Influencers Influence? -- Analyzing Players' Activity in an Online Multiplayer Game

In social and online media, influencers have traditionally been understood as highly visible individuals. Recent outcomes suggest that people are likely to mimic influencers' behavior, which can be exploited, for instance, in marketing strategies. Also in the Games User Research field, the interest in studying player social networks has emerged due to the heavy reliance on online influencers in marketing campaigns for games, as well as in keeping players engaged. Despite the inherent value of those individuals, it is still difficult to identify influencers, as the definition of influencers is a debated topic. Thus, how can we identify influencers, and are they indeed the individuals impacting others' behavior? In this work, we focus on influence in retention to verify whether central players impacted others' permanence in the game. We identified the central players in the social network built from the competitive player-vs-player (PvP) multiplayer (Crucible) matches in the online shooter Destiny. Then, we computed influence scores for each player evaluating the increase in similarity over time between two connected individuals. In this paper, we were able to show the first indications that the traditional metrics for influencers do not necessarily apply for games. On the contrary, we found that the group of central players was distinct from the group of influential players, defined as the individuals with the highest influence scores. Then, we provide an analysis of the two groups.Comment: accepted for publication in IEEE Conference on Games (CoG) 202

Turning Users\u27 In-Game Behaviours into Actionable Adaptive Gamification Strategies using the PEAS Framework

Adaptive gamification answers the need to customize engagement strategies because users are motivated by different game elements and mechanics. To better understand these individual preferences, user modelling is vital. However, gameful designers must make many decisions on matching profiling data to actual adaptation strategies, which makes modelling particularly challenging. The lack of a standardized and guided process for adaptive gamification hinders replicability, comparability, and complicates making adaptation dynamic. In this study, we analyzed a persuasive gameful application (Play\&Go) to show how in-game behaviours can be translated into adaptation strategies. We used an existing adaptation framework (PEAS) grounded in the games and gamification literature. Our work demonstrates the suitability of the PEAS model as a shared, standardized method for adaptive gamification and shows how it can guide the process of transforming user behaviours into actionable adaptation strategies

Turning Users' In-Game Behaviours into Actionable Adaptive Gamification Strategies using the PEAS Framework

Adaptive gamification answers the need to customize engagement strategies because users are motivated by different game elements and mechanics. To better understand these individual preferences, user modelling is vital. However, gameful designers must make many decisions on matching profiling data to actual adaptation strategies, which makes modelling particularly challenging. The lack of a standardized and guided process for adaptive gamification hinders replicability, comparability, and complicates making adaptation dynamic. In this study, we analyzed a persuasive gameful application (Play\&Go) to show how in-game behaviours can be translated into adaptation strategies. We used an existing adaptation framework (PEAS) grounded in the games and gamification literature. Our work demonstrates the suitability of the PEAS model as a shared, standardized method for adaptive gamification and shows how it can guide the process of transforming user behaviours into actionable adaptation strategies

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and aging: epidemiology to management

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in the elderly, in whom it carries a more substantial burden of hepatic (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) and extra-hepatic manifestations and complications (cardiovascular disease, extrahepatic neoplasms) than in younger age groups. Therefore, proper identification and management of this condition is a major task for clinical geriatricians and geriatric hepatologists. In this paper, the epidemiology and pathophysiology of this condition are reviewed, and a full discussion of the link between NAFLD and the aspects that are peculiar to elderly individuals is provided; these aspects include frailty, multimorbidity, polypharmacy and dementia. The proper treatment strategy will have to consider the peculiarities of geriatric patients, so a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory. Non-pharmacological treatment (diet and physical exercise) has to be tailored individually considering the physical limitations of most elderly people and the need for an adequate caloric supply. Similarly, the choice of drug treatment must carefully balance the benefits and risks in terms of adverse events and pharmacological interactions in the common context of both multiple health conditions and polypharmacy. In conclusion, further epidemiological and pathophysiological insight is warranted. More accurate understanding of the molecular mechanisms of geriatric NAFLD will help in identifying the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approach for individual elderly patients

Relationship of Serum Fetuin-A Levels with Coronary Atherosclerotic Burden and NAFLD in Patients Undergoing Elective Coronary Angiography

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Age-associated alterations in cholesterol homeostasis: evidence from a cross-sectional study in a Northern Italy population.

BACKGROUND: The modifications of cholesterol metabolism associated with aging are ill-defined. The objective of this study was to define age-associated alterations of the different metabolic pathways controlling cholesterol homeostasis by analyzing circulating sterols. METHODS: We analyzed serum samples collected from 201 adult (75 male, 126 female) subjects within the epidemiological MICOL study (Multicentrica Italiana Colelitiasi). The age range was 38-79 years; 103 had evidence of gallstones. The concentrations of the different sterols, recognized as markers of the main pathways of cholesterol homeostasis, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, including lathosterol (synthesis), campesterol and sitosterol (absorption), and 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (degradation to bile acids). RESULTS: A significant direct correlation was detected between age and cholesterol levels (r =0.34, P<0.01). The lathosterol/cholesterol ratio was lower in older age quartiles (P<0.05 by analysis of variance), with an inverse correlation between the lathosterol/cholesterol ratio and age (r=-0.32, P<0.01). Such correlation was particularly evident in females. The campesterol/cholesterol and sitosterol/cholesterol ratios were inversely correlated with aging in control, but not in gallstone patients. The levels of 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one were not correlated with age. CONCLUSION: These data show a reduction of cholesterol synthesis with aging which is associated with increased circulating cholesterol levels. The finding might be related to a reduced metabolic need for cholesterol in advancing age, leading to a downregulation of the main mechanisms of cholesterol intake in the liver. A different age-related behavior was observed in gallstone-free versus gallstone patients regarding cholesterol absorption. The possible implications in terms of the pharmacological management of hypercholesterolemia in the elderly remain to be defined

Collaborative learning in a simulated environment

This thesis purpose is to compare the effectiveness of collaborative learning against individual learning applied at the context of environment awareness. The game consists in a treasure hunt for wastes: the wastes are hidden all over the world; the task is to find them and recycle them correctly. To study the aforementioned situation, the game has two versions: a single player and a multiplayer mode. The latter based on collaboration as essential element to reach the goal. The project idea is to sensitize the player by placing him in a world, which is coherent with his own environment. The world is set up from official sources of what world’s condition are in order to give an immersive sensation; this choice is due to the concept of situated learning for which the learning is set in an environment that is similar to where the learning material will be applied in future