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Games User Research

12/18/2012

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Games User Research (GUR) is a small but growing community of psychologists, designers, engineers and researchers with the common goal to take games to the next level. Using scientific methods GUR professionals conduct experiments, user tests, data collections and analyzes to make video and computer games more fun and to help other stakeholders make better decisions about game design and development.
Until now there have only been very few descriptions and articles about GUR in the media.

This recent article shares the scope, intent and philosophy of GUR with the world like no other article has. Enjoy the read, watch the videos and let me know what you think about GUR.

-Sebas

Articles:
- http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/24/3538296/data-entry-risk-management-and-tacos-inside-halo-4s-playtest-labs
- http://www.wired.com/gaming/virtualworlds/magazine/15-09/ff_halo
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Brain Exercise Useless?

4/20/2010

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I just discovered this article on Time's website (Link) which discusses a study recently published in the journal Nature. In this article researchers evaluate the effectiveness of brain exercise programs that are widely available on computers, game consoles, and the internet. It's a multi-million dollar business, so the stakes are high. There's not much to discuss without reading the entire study and its methodology. Are such programs really useless? Is there a difference between training healthy and damaged brains? This study would also affect my current research as I rely on the human brain's plasticity to rehabilitate cognitive functions in patients with brain injuries.
I will take a closer look at the article as soon as the current issue of Nature
is available through online subscription. In the meanwhile, I am left with the task to review the scientific literature on this topic to prepare myself for discussing brain plasticity in-depth in my upcoming publications and dissertation.

Update: 2 more links
Youtube
Comment from Brain Training Provider
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    Sebas

    Experimental Psychologist
    Research Associate

    Mad Scientist

    Red 5 Studios
    Institute for Creative Technologies, USC, Los Angeles

    View my profile on LinkedIn

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