Embraceable Virtual Paws: Player Experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator

Chien Lu; Lobna Hassan

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-51452-4_2

Embraceable Virtual Paws: Player Experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator

Chien Lu, Lobna Hassan

Communication Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of companion animal welfare and video games by investigating the player experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator. A joint analysis of 925 player reviews and profiles on Steam is conducted to explore the potential of using video games to communicate sustainability in the context of companion animal welfare. Our findings reveal various aspects of player experiences and their implications including player agency, the role of achievements in the game, player-perceived emotions, and storification. Moreover, our analysis highlights the significance of interactivities and emotions in engaging players with the game’s primary theme, as some players have reflected the game’s theme to their real-life experiences. This connection indicates the effectiveness of using video games to communicate sustainability themes.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Videogame Sciences and Arts - 13th International Conference, VJ 2023, Revised Selected Papers
Editors	Liliana Vale Costa, Nelson Zagalo, Ana Isabel Veloso, Mário Vairinhos, Diogo Gomes, Esteban Clua, Sylvester Arnab
Publisher	Springer
Pages	19-32
Number of pages	14
ISBN (Print)	9783031514517
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51452-4_2
Publication status	Published - 2023
Publication type	A4 Article in conference proceedings
Event	International Conference on Videogame Sciences and Arts - Aveiro, Portugal Duration: 28 Nov 2023 → 30 Nov 2023

Publication series

Name	Communications in Computer and Information Science
Volume	1984
ISSN (Print)	1865-0929
ISSN (Electronic)	1865-0937

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Videogame Sciences and Arts
Country/Territory	Portugal
City	Aveiro
Period	28/11/23 → 30/11/23

Keywords

Companion Animal Welfare
Player Experience
Player Typologies

Publication forum classification

Publication forum level 1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Computer Science
General Mathematics

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-51452-4_2

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202402022058Licence: Unspecified

Embargoed Document

Animal_Shelter_Simulator__Videojogos_2023
Accepted author manuscript, 415 KB
Licence: Unspecified
Embargo ends: 3/01/25

Cite this

Lu, C., & Hassan, L. (2023). Embraceable Virtual Paws: Player Experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator. In L. Vale Costa, N. Zagalo, A. I. Veloso, M. Vairinhos, D. Gomes, E. Clua, & S. Arnab (Eds.), Videogame Sciences and Arts - 13th International Conference, VJ 2023, Revised Selected Papers (pp. 19-32). (Communications in Computer and Information Science; Vol. 1984). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51452-4_2

Lu, Chien ; Hassan, Lobna. / Embraceable Virtual Paws : Player Experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator. Videogame Sciences and Arts - 13th International Conference, VJ 2023, Revised Selected Papers. editor / Liliana Vale Costa ; Nelson Zagalo ; Ana Isabel Veloso ; Mário Vairinhos ; Diogo Gomes ; Esteban Clua ; Sylvester Arnab. Springer, 2023. pp. 19-32 (Communications in Computer and Information Science).

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abstract = "This paper explores the intersection of companion animal welfare and video games by investigating the player experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator. A joint analysis of 925 player reviews and profiles on Steam is conducted to explore the potential of using video games to communicate sustainability in the context of companion animal welfare. Our findings reveal various aspects of player experiences and their implications including player agency, the role of achievements in the game, player-perceived emotions, and storification. Moreover, our analysis highlights the significance of interactivities and emotions in engaging players with the game{\textquoteright}s primary theme, as some players have reflected the game{\textquoteright}s theme to their real-life experiences. This connection indicates the effectiveness of using video games to communicate sustainability themes.",

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author = "Chien Lu and Lobna Hassan",

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Lu, C & Hassan, L 2023, Embraceable Virtual Paws: Player Experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator. in L Vale Costa, N Zagalo, AI Veloso, M Vairinhos, D Gomes, E Clua & S Arnab (eds), Videogame Sciences and Arts - 13th International Conference, VJ 2023, Revised Selected Papers. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol. 1984, Springer, pp. 19-32, International Conference on Videogame Sciences and Arts, Aveiro, Portugal, 28/11/23. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51452-4_2

Embraceable Virtual Paws: Player Experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator. / Lu, Chien; Hassan, Lobna.
Videogame Sciences and Arts - 13th International Conference, VJ 2023, Revised Selected Papers. ed. / Liliana Vale Costa; Nelson Zagalo; Ana Isabel Veloso; Mário Vairinhos; Diogo Gomes; Esteban Clua; Sylvester Arnab. Springer, 2023. p. 19-32 (Communications in Computer and Information Science; Vol. 1984).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

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AB - This paper explores the intersection of companion animal welfare and video games by investigating the player experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator. A joint analysis of 925 player reviews and profiles on Steam is conducted to explore the potential of using video games to communicate sustainability in the context of companion animal welfare. Our findings reveal various aspects of player experiences and their implications including player agency, the role of achievements in the game, player-perceived emotions, and storification. Moreover, our analysis highlights the significance of interactivities and emotions in engaging players with the game’s primary theme, as some players have reflected the game’s theme to their real-life experiences. This connection indicates the effectiveness of using video games to communicate sustainability themes.

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Lu C, Hassan L. Embraceable Virtual Paws: Player Experiences in Animal Shelter Simulator. In Vale Costa L, Zagalo N, Veloso AI, Vairinhos M, Gomes D, Clua E, Arnab S, editors, Videogame Sciences and Arts - 13th International Conference, VJ 2023, Revised Selected Papers. Springer. 2023. p. 19-32. (Communications in Computer and Information Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-51452-4_2