Evaluation of NPC Behaviour in a Simulated Video Game Environment Through Player Perception

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between non-player character (NPC)
behaviour and the effect it can have on the player and their overall experience of the video game through a survey-based evaluation. The experimental part of this paper describes the process of creating a simulated video game environment in Unity, a cross-platform game
engine, with the addition of Adventure Creator, a Unity toolkit. It showcases certain NPC behaviour and analyses the results of the survey that was conducted after the players finished playing the simulation. The survey was completed by 23 participants (n=23). Convincement, interactivity and consistency of the behaviour were the most mentioned qualities when it
came to positive experiences, while unclear and unnatural behaviour compounded with technical difficulties greatly diminished the player’s experience. The participants tended to assign meaning, intentions and even emotions to relatively simple programmed behaviours, emphasizing the impact of the player’s interpretation when it comes to interacting with an NPC and showing that even the simplest variations in behaviour can greatly impact the way it can be perceived and interpreted; thus it was concluded that NPC behaviour has an important role in the process of shaping the experience and opinion of the player. This study contributes
to the ongoing discussion of the ways that NPC behaviour can be developed to create an impactful impression on the player and challenge the ways a player can interact with the world of the video game.