Experiences Can Be Judged by Their Interest Curves
An "interest curve" is the a rise and fall of excitement through the game. The author stumbles through several metaphors that don't quite fit - the pace of a live performance, the level of excitement on a roller coaster, etc.
But because gaming is an interactive medium, the interest of the player is more important: the level of interest determines how much effort and attention the player is willing to give to the game, which generally corresponds with excitement and satisfaction.
The author defines three factors in interest:
- Inherent interest - A player approaches a game with some level of interest in playing it (that's' a given) and forms certain immediate impressions before game play commences (the instructions, the interface, etc.)
- Aesthetic Interest - Aesthetic appeal is important at the onset f the game - they are very often judged on appearance
- Projection - Deals mostly with the theme of the game, and how easily the player can project themselves into it. This largely deals with the degree to which the theme of the game suits their personal interests, fancies and fantasies
EN: In the end, I don't think the author comes to a point in this chapter.