Nothing motivates us as deeply as a highly engaging and interactive experience. Such engagement is manifested in video games; however, the effective design and evaluation of player experiences is challenging to understand and explain. Research regarding affective physiological systems has provided some insight into these challenges, as well as revealing new possibilities to explore. In this talk, Dr. Lennart Nacke will present a critical reflection on his experiences in researching, developing, and analyzing video games. Furthermore, he will discuss the potential health benefits of games and interactive physiological technology, examining the dichotomy of danger and excitement created by the emergence of the player-game interaction research field.

Dr. Lennart Nacke is currently an Assistant Professor and Lab Director at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). His research focuses on the creation and analysis of digital gaming environments and mechanics using physiological and brainwave sensor technology and innovative design methods. Particularly, he is interested in the development of games for health and fitness as well as the effects of sound in games. He has chaired the CHI PLAY 2014 and Gamification 2013 conferences and the CHI 2014 Games and Entertainment Spotlight. His research papers have won honorable mention and best paper awards at premier conferences in the field of human-computer interaction (CHI 2011 and CSCW 2012).