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The Second Player’s Dilemma
By: Jeff Touchstone
Supervisor: Myque Ouellette
Masters of Interactive Technology degree conferred September 22, 2007
Thesis / Project completed: September 22, 2007
This thesis explores the subject of how game developers can create meaningful choices for players in a cooperative mode given a single player framework. By creating a Half-Life 2 level with branching paths, multiple purpose spaces, and dilemma puzzles. A dilemma puzzle is problem involving two players that has no obvious solution and often something is lost and gained regardless of the decision. This thesis also examines efficient cooperative multiplayer level design techniques, and looks at ways to script a level that works well for single-player and cooperative game modes.
The results of this thesis are based on playtest sessions, which were conducted at the Guildhall at SMU. While the experiment was designed within a first-person shooter context the thesis results are applicable to other game genres. It was discovered players respond better to simple dilemmas rather than complex dilemmas when certain conditions were met. For instance players need to receive direct feedback from each other. It helps keep players focused on the task at hand.
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