A Study on Players’ State Estimation in FPS Games Based on Flow Theory

Abstract

The flow theory proposed by Csikszentmihalyi refers to the idea that when one's skill level and the challenge level for the task are highly balanced, a state of enjoyment called ‘flow’ is experienced. In game playing, the goal such as defeating enemies or completing quests are clearly defined. If there is a balanced state between the player's skill level and the challenge level for the game, it is possible to play the game in a state of flow. If the balance is not achieved, it may deviate from the flow state, and the player may feel anxiety or boredom during gameplay. To prevent deviation from the flow state, it is necessary to monitor the player's state and adjust the balance. This study aims to keep the flow state during gameplay and attempts to estimate the player's in-game state based on the flow model focusing on FPS games.