The first part of my PhD project has been accepted as a Work-in-Progress paper at the CHI PLAY 20ß26, York, UK. Access the poster now.
Not Every Moment is a Boss Fight — Affordance-Level Modeling of Attentional Structure in Games – CHI PLAY 2026
The Unrecorded Meeting – On Zohran Mamdani, the games industry, and the quiet machinery that keeps broken systems alive
Broken systems are rarely defended by the people who believe in them. They're maintained by the people who don't. On Mamdani, the games industry, and the quiet machinery of the unrecorded meeting.
Love and Deepspace, and When Not to Listen to Your Players
Only days after the mobile giant Love and Deepspace announced its sixth love interest, Valko, its developers released a statement on June 30th, 2026 saying they would not move forward with him and will be scrapping the character entirely. Infold is known for delivering high-quality mobile games, and Love and Deepspace is no exception. Its … Continue reading Love and Deepspace, and When Not to Listen to Your Players
How ARC Raiders Is Advancing Player Experience Through Behavioral Matchmaking and Feedback Loops
As a player with nearly 100 hours logged on Steam and as a professional user researcher, I naturally look for patterns. And ARC Raiders offers a compelling case study in how behavioral data and feedback loops can shape matchmaking.
Love and Deepspace and its Monetization Strategy – A Case Study
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.
The Heart of Free: Rethinking F2P Business Models for the Next Generation of Games
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
Red Flags in Gaming Industry Interviews (and Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Them)
“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)
Rethinking Form and Function in Game Design: A Response
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
On the Double Standards of AI in Social Media
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.
Betreuung 2025-2026
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