Love and Deepspace demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of F2P monetization strategies, effectively balancing emotional engagement, fairness, and optional spending to create a sustainable and player-friendly model.
How gratitude, identity, and trust *not pressure* drive the world’s most profitable free-to-play ecosystems. By Natali Panic-Cidic What if the key to monetizing free-to-play games isn't pushing players to pay, but making them want to? It might sound counterintuitive, but that’s exactly what a growing body of academic and industry research is revealing. The most … Continue reading The Heart of Free: Rethinking F2P Business Models for the Next Generation of Games
“We’re All Family Here” and Other Lies You’ll Hear Before Burnout You finally landed an interview at a company you’ve admired for years. The logo is iconic, the projects are legendary, and the recruiter swears the “culture” is unmatched. But then...red flags start waving. Loudly. Whether you're a veteran or new to the industry, knowing … Continue reading Red Flags in Gaming Industry Interviews (and Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Them)
Author’s Note: This article is written in response to a widely shared opinion piece about game design that, while unnamed here, made several claims that merit clarification and rebuttal. This is not a personal critique, but a professional response aimed at fostering a more accurate understanding of the discipline. Recently, a blog post titled "Form … Continue reading Rethinking Form and Function in Game Design: A Response
Platforms, including LinkedIn, are now quick to shame anyone who even touches AI for creative or experimental purposes. But instead of using this moment to have real conversations about consent, authorship, and ethics, the outrage often feels performative, driven more by ego than principle.
Studierenden Betreuung Übersicht SS2025 & WS2026 RWTH Aachen Projekt Titel: Understanding Arousal Triggers in Video Games: Toward a Predictive Model Using Electrodermal ActivityLeitung: M.A. Natali Panic-Cidic, Ubisoft DüsseldorfVoraussetzungen: Vom Vorteil ist Interesse an Videospielen zu haben, sowie sich eigenständig in Themen einzuarbeiten.Start: Ab Januar 2025Niveau: Bachelor & Master (mehrere Arbeiten sind möglich)Institut: RWTH Aachen, Institut … Continue reading Betreuung 2025-2026
OverviewTonic EDA - changes over a longer period of time:Phasic EDA - rapid changes towards a stimuli:Typical ValuesMeasureDefinitionTypical ValuesAnalysis of EDA Signals1 - Decomposition2 - Normalization: Choosing the Right Method3 - Visualization: Share your findingsRecommended Literature & ResourcesBooks, Articles & Tools OverviewWhy readAppendix Overview Electrodermal Activity (EDA) has two components that are measured in microsiemens … Continue reading A Guide to Electrodermal Activity (EDA) in Games User Research
[German only] Im Oktober 2024, gab ich eine Masterclass über wie Accessible Design die Wahrscheinlichkeit verringern, dass Spieler*innen extremistische Ideologien annehmen oder sich daran beteiligen. Der Fokus lag ganz konkret auf praktischen Tool die Klein- oder Indieentwickler*innen einsetzen können. Kurzer Überblick: Das Entwerfen von Spielen mit barrierefreien Designprinzipien, um rechtsextremes Verhalten entgegenzuwirken, ist ein kreativer … Continue reading Accessible Design Masterclass BPB Oktober 2024 Slides
On May 16th 2024, I had the pleasure to talk about two simple tools to use when developing games from a user-centric perspective in the name of the Institute of Psychology for Diagnostics and Intervention at my Alma Mater RWTH Aachen University.
Playful Brain Demand 