An Evaluation of Realistic Animal Behavior in Video Games
By: David Elkin
Supervisor: Michael McCoy
Masters of Interactive Technology degree conferred June 19, 2009
Thesis / Project completed: June 19, 2009

Video games are becoming ever more realistic and complex.  Not only are computer controlled opponents reacting more intelligently to player actions, but characters in the background also react to each other to create the appearance of a living virtual world.  Do these details truly make a video game more immersive and fun?  As video games develop into rich realistic worlds, developers must use their resources wisely when determining which features improve a player’s experience.

This study explores how more realistic animal behavior in video games affects player immersion and fun.  This project created two versions of a game level using The Elderscrolls IV: Oblivion (2K Games, 2007) game engine with six different scenarios of animal interactions.  The first version used the animal behavior AI that shipped with the game.  The second version used scripted behavioral sequences to imitate more realistic predator-prey relationships.  Testers played through both versions of the level and answered questionnaires focused on the immersion and fun of each version of the level.  

Results suggest that the majority of players notice and identified realistic animal behaviors in games.  Testing also indicated that roughly half of the testers found realistic animal behavior more immersive and fun than the simple more aggressive animal behavior most commonly found in video games.

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