Inproceedings,
A Framework for Cooperative Communication Game Mechanics from Grounded Theory
Proceedings of the First ACM SIGCHI Annual Symposium on Computer-human Interaction in Play, page 257--266. New York, NY, USA, ACM, (2014)
DOI: 10.1145/2658537.2658681
Abstract
A rich element of cooperative games are mechanics that communicate. Unlike automated awareness cues and synchronous verbal communication, cooperative communication mechanics enable players to share information and direct action by engaging with game systems. These include both explicitly communicative mechanics, such as built-in pings that direct teammates' attention to specific locations, and emergent communicative mechanics, where players develop their own conventions about the meaning of in-game activities, like jumping to get attention. We use a grounded theory approach with 40 digital games to identify and classify the types of cooperative communication mechanics game designers might use to enable cooperative play. We provide details on the classification scheme and offer a discussion on the implications of cooperative communication mechanics.
