Beam Me 'Round, Scotty! II: Reflections on Transforming Research Goals into Gameplay Mechanics

John Harris, Mark Hancock

Abstract: We reflect on the design, implementation, and testing of the experimental testbed game Beam Me 'Round, Scotty! II and the numerous design lessons learned in transitioning theoretical research questions about social presence and connectedness into concrete gameplay mechanics contrasting asymmetric and symmetric cooperative play. We discuss the unanticipated challenges that can emerge from seemingly unrelated design choices and the importance of grounding experimental conclusions and design recommendations in specific gameplay contexts.