Let the Players Go! Substituting Excessive Handholding with Autonomous Experiences

This paper explores how games can facilitate greater autonomous experiences. The project describes possibilities of how a certain kind of simulation can be a viable substitute for the often overwhelming and explicit communications of information that characterize many instances of handholding in video games. We hypothesize that consistently supporting the players’ expectations regarding their interactions with the world can result in decisions informed by players’ knowledge and experiences from the real world and consequently can lead to feelings of autonomy over their own actions. To test these hypotheses a vertical slice of a video game was developed with mechanics that were chosen to support the players’ natural intuition and what they want to do, rather than restrict them to what they can do. An experiment was conducted where 12 participants tested the first version of the game, then answered questions and filled a survey based on the Player Experience Inventory (PXI). Based on the feedback, an improved second version of the game was made. The results of the two versions were then compared. Overall findings show how leveraging implicitly communicated information, consistent simulation and logical mechanics enhance the players perceived autonomy and can teach players complex systems without resorting to handholding strategies. The methods used can be turned into practical steps that game developers can take into consideration if developers want to facilitate more autonomous experience for their players.