Integrating Stereotype User Models for Adaptive Scenarios in Game Playing within Immersive Virtual Environments
Panagiotis Strousopoulos, Christos Troussas, Akrivi Krouska, Phivos Mylonas, Cleo Sgouropoulou · 2023
Stereotypes constitute a widely used technique for creating user models. This paper explores the potential of stereotype-based models in virtual environments in order to enhance user engagement and learning outcomes. The focus is on an application, named Beekeeper World, which employs adaptive scenarios that respond to user actions. These scenarios, referred to as stereotype user models, represent predefined behavior patterns that Beekeeper World uses to respond to specific user actions. In the game context, these stereotypes are triggered by particular player interactions involving the ecological dynamics of bees and spiders. The first one challenges the player when s/he fails to protect a bee by strengthening the enemy spider. The second stereotype is a way of helping the player by pausing the spiders' spawning when s/he cannot defend the bees. These stereotypes can be instrumental in creating predictable, consistent behavior in Beekeeper World. They provide a framework for the system to respond to various user inputs in a consistent manner. This consistency can be crucial in maintaining the desired user engagement, as it ensures that the system's responses align with the user's expectations based on their previous interactions. Furthermore, these stereotypes can contribute to the complexity and challenge of the game, as they require the player to understand and adapt to these patterns in order to succeed, thereby promoting strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.