Abstract:

A player interacts with rules system of the game to create dynamics from the static elements of the games. While gameplay aesthetics or (for simplicity sake) player experiences are created from the dynamics, design research on creation of dynamics and aesthetics is scant. We study how a player creates dynamics event-by-event and in the process of creation how do they experience fun.

My thesis will specifically view the player experience of fun from a design analysis persepctive. To support this perspective, I use constructionism, emergentism, and complexity theories as my theoretical grounding.

The end goal of thesis is to facilitate board game designers to record and analyse player experiences of their board games while playtesting the gameplay.

Thesis Keywords: Fun, Gameplay, Game Design Analysis, Ludic Form, Player Designer,

Thesis Theoretical Viewpoints: Formalism, Constructionism, Emergentism.

Publications:

• Design and Shape of Gameplay: A methodological discourse. Asmodee and Game-in-lab Generation Analog, 2023. Paris, France & online.

• Dhamelia, M & Dalvi, G (2023) Dear (Dear) Games, India Loves You. Games Symposium for Oceania and Asia Pacific, 2023 (GSOAP). Melbourne, Australia / (Link to the Presentation)

• Dhamelia, M & Dalvi, G (2023) Detailing the Ludic form: A Design Research Inquiry into Gameplay Aesthetics. Nordic DiGRA. April, 2023.

• Dhamelia, M & Dalvi, G (2023) A Protocol to Study Gameplay Experiences from Game Design Research Perspective. DiGRA. June 2023.

• Dhamelia, M. & Dalvi, G. (2022) Designing Fun in Classrooms Activities. Teacher Plus, July 2022. **

• Dalvi, G. & Dhamelia, M. (2022) Games, Gambling, & Guilt: Mobile games involving money warrant deeper examination. Frontline. The Hindu, 2022. **

• Dhamelia, M., & Dalvi, G. (2022). Designing Fun: A Method to Identify Designable Experiential Elements in Analog Abstract Games. Digital Games Research Association Conference, DIGRA 2022. **

• Dhamelia, M. (2021). Characterising Gameplay Experience in Abstract Board Games. CHIPlay 2021.

• Dhamelia, M., & Dalvi, G. (2021). Pleasures in Games: Conceptual Analysis of Fun in Games. 52nd International conference on Simulation and Gaming, ISAGA 2021. **

• Dhamelia, M., & Dalvi, G. (2021). Exploring Multi-Cultural Notions of Fun in Games. Affecting Game Spaces, The University of Edinburgh. **

• Dhamelia, M., & Dalvi, G. (2020). Player Experience: Design and Research. Encyclopedia of Computer Games and Graphics

• Sharma S, Mahamuni R, Lobo S, Das B, Hirom U, Verma R, Dhamelia M. CRAFT CHANGE: BEHAVIOUR PROGRESSION FRAMEWORK–EVALUATION IN QUASI PARTICIPATORY DESIGN SETTING. LeNS Conference.

• Dhamelia, M., & Dalvi, G. (2019). Cultural domain analysis for soundscape assessment. In Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies (Vol. 134).

• Dhamelia, M., & Dalvi, G. (2018). NudgeEntrance: Domestic intervention to change hand washing behaviour. 2018 IEEE 6th International Conference on Serious Games and Applications for Health, SeGAH 2018.

• Bhat, G. K., Chandra, A., Dhamelia, M., Teketi, R., & Kadam, D. (2017). De-convolving migration methodology via detailed assessment and cognitive learning-Generating migration assessment report. 2017 IEEE International Conference on Cloud Computing in Emerging Markets (CCEM), 119–123.

• Vora, M., & Dhamelia, M. (2015). Load and Audio Visual Control using Brain Computer Interface. International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research & Practice, 1(7), 160–161.
  
  ** Please email me for the papers in case you do not find them on the web.