HybridGamePX: planejamento de playtests para avaliação da experiência do jogador em jogos híbridos

Abstract

Hybrid games represent an emerging category in game development, characterized by the integration of physical and digital elements. This blend of media and interactions creates new design possibilities but also presents specific challenges for evaluating player experience. This study proposes and evaluates the HybridGamePX model as a planning aid for playtests in hybrid games, contributing to the definition of perspectives that guide the evaluation of playability and player experience during testing sessions. The model structures the planning process around 22 perspectives and their corresponding guiding questions. The research was conducted in two phases. In the first, the model was developed based on theoretical review and previous studies on hybrid games, player experience, and playtest-based evaluation. In the second phase, the model was applied in five case studies involving hybrid physical-digital games, tested by students who used HybridGamePX to plan their sessions. Data collection included observation, interviews, and questionnaires based on the model itself. Additionally, questionnaires were applied to five students who served as evaluators in the case studies, in order to gather their impressions about using the model. Three invited specialists also assessed the applicability of HybridGamePX through a specific evaluation form. The results indicate that the model effectively supports the structuring of playtest planning, helping define what to observe and evaluate according to the test’s objectives and the characteristics of each game. Students reported that the model facilitated communication among mediators, the construction of data collection tools, and the identification of critical aspects of the hybrid experience. The specialists highlighted the potential of HybridGamePX as a support tool for evaluation, praising its organization into perspectives and its focus on aspects often overlooked in hybrid game assessment practices, while also suggesting improvements and a need for greater clarity in some perspectives. HybridGamePX proves useful as a guide for planning playtests in hybrid games, applicable to both games under development and finalized products.