When a Pandemic Enters the Game: The Initial and Prolonged Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Live-Stream Broadcasters on Twitch

The global COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the popularity of video games and online-gaming platforms. However, little research is devoted to understanding how the pandemic has affected gamers, especially live-stream broadcasters. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on established streamers on Twitch. By using a longitudinal time-series design and focusing on a large sample (N = 23,019) of broadcasters, we were able to determine the initial as well as prolonged effects of the pandemic on their streaming behavior. Our results suggest that the pandemic was a "game changer" for the target group, especially in regard to their choice of game settings and their focus on non-gaming content. Relating the data obtained from the target group of established streamers to the general platform data, we discuss the pandemic-related platform dynamics

When a Pandemic Enters the Game: The Initial and Prolonged Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Live-Stream Broadcasters on Twitch

The global COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the popularity of video games and online-gaming platforms. However, little research is devoted to understanding how the pandemic has affected gamers, especially live-stream broadcasters. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on established streamers on Twitch. By using a longitudinal time-series design and focusing on a large sample (N = 23,019) of broadcasters, we were able to determine the initial as well as prolonged effects of the pandemic on their streaming behavior. Our results suggest that the pandemic was a game changer for the target group, especially in regard to their choice of game settings and their focus on non-gaming content. Relating the data obtained from the target group of established streamers to the general platform data, we discuss the pandemic-related platform dynamics

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

Preface to the Special Issue on Immersive Environments: Challenges, Research and New Developments

Immersion could be defined as a subjective impression of participating in a comprehensive, realistic experience [1]. However, immersion should not be treated as a unique property, as it is achieved from a complex interaction of representational fidelity and learner interaction, holding a dependency on other aspects of the environment [2, 3]. The use of immersive environments which create a feeling of ?presence? naturally allows for more complex social interactions and designed experiences [4]. A particular use of these technologies is in educational settings, where they can enhance learning experiences, foster participation, collaboration, creativity and engagement; creating huge opportunities for integration and research. Effective immersive learning experiences can be created with multiple media using myriad techniques and employing a wealth of knowledge that spans many disciplines. This includes but is not limited to computer science, user experience and media design, the learning sciences, architecture, game development, artificial intelligence, biology, medicine, and thousands of disciplinary and occupational content areas wherein immersive learning and training may be relevant. The Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN) is ?an international organization of developers, educators, and research professionals collaborating to develop the scientific, technical, and applied potential of immersive learning? [5]. The vision of the network is to develop a comprehensive research and outreach agenda that encompasses the breadth and scope of learning potentialities, affordances and challenges of immersive learning environments. The first international conference iLRN 2015 held in Prague, Czech Republic, attracted a number of high-quality contributions. As a follow-up, this special issue was organised as an open call to seek a wider set of contributions from the research community, including extended versions of iLRN 2015 best papers

Learning to program using immersive approaches: A case study learning SAS®, IBM Bluemix and Watson Analytics

Learning to program is an activity which needs the learner to develop a range of new skills. Traditionally, this has been achieved in Universities by a presenting a series of structured lectures and tutorials covering the syntax and grammar of the language. This approach often leads to disengagement by many of the weaker students. It is becoming clear that this may not be the most effective approach in the twenty first century as a result of the continuous development of software packages which leads to the need to continually revise the teaching materials. In addition, modern millennial students demand engaging modes of learning that al-so prepare them for employment. This paper evaluates an approach which pro-vides a directed, immersive learning approach that mirrors the real world of em-ployment, develops both the requisite technical skills together with the fundamen-tal soft skills necessary for employment and prepares the students for lifelong learning and development and maintenance of new skills and languages. It also provides an intensely engaging environment that allows students to demonstrate the wide range of technical and soft skills that are necessary for a successful ca-reer. This approach also leads to high levels of achievement from the students and reduces stress levels in the academics leading the courses. The approach should be applicable to most STEM subjects which require the use of specialist software packages

Two Decades of Game Jams

In less than a year's time, March 2022 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the first documented game jam, the Indie Game Jam, which took place in Oakland, California in 2002. Initially, game jams were widely seen as frivolous activities. Since then, they have taken the world by storm. Game jams have not only become part of the day-to-day process of many game developers, but jams are also used for activist purposes, for learning and teaching, as part of the experience economy, for making commercial prototypes that gamers can vote on, and more. Beyond surveying game jams and the relevant published scientific literature from the last two decades, this paper has several additional contributions. It builds a history of game jams, and proposes two different taxonomies of game jams - a historical and a categorical. In addition, it discusses the definition of game jam and identifies the most active research areas within the game jam community such as the interplay and development with local communities, the study and analysis of game jammers and organisers, and works that bring a critical look on game jams