Electronic Arts is developing new algorithms for match selection in multiplayer titles. The technology will adapt to the gamer’s current skill level and make it easier for him to win after several unsuccessful fights.
The method was called “Dynamic difficulty adjustment” (Dynamic difficulty adjustment, DDA).
The purpose of this system is to motivate players to spend more time in the game and not let them quit the title because of frustration and boredom.
The development of Electronic Arts drew the attention of an independent gaming journalist and video blogger YongYea. He found the patent documentation on DDA and analyzed it in a review on YouTube.
The patent documents of the DDA system are posted on the website of the ACM digital library and are available to holders of a paid subscription to this resource. The authors of the work indicated 5 EA employees.
The general information about the work says that the described system has been successfully tested in several multiplayer games published by Electronic Arts, but in which ones it is not specified.
According to these data, with the help of DDA, the researchers were able to increase the level of player engagement by 9%. It also says that the increase in engagement had no effect on the profitability of the game.
In addition, the study says that the operation of the DDA system can be made invisible to users.
However, so far there is no confirmation that Electronic Arts is already using these algorithms in its games or is preparing to implement them in the near future.
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