the new games.
W ayne C . Westman
St. G eorge, Utah
Top video players
Letters to
the editor • •
•
In your March 15, 1984 issue (p.
84), Twin Galaxies International
Scoreboard is mentioned as a n
institution that ho nors "the top U.S.
video game p layers of 1983."
How can we enter our top video
game players? We have a video
game playing genius here that
discourages contests beca use he
wins with very little inves t ment into
Audio VisuGI
Amusements
Emotional effects
Thank you for reprinting Dr.
Mehrabian's and my article, "Lights
Out at the Arcade" (Play Meter,
April 15, p.lO) . As our research
shows, it is important for game
designers and manufacturers to con-
sider how players feel while playing
video games. Our findings specifi-
cally pinpoint those emotional
effects of games which are likely to
maximize preferences for them.
Currently, we are working with
manufacturers to assist in develop-
ing and/ or modifying games so as to
make them emotionally and psycho-
logically more appealing to players.
At any stage in the design and
development of a video game, start-
ing from the concept (story board)
stage on to the finalized product, it is
possible to test the emotional effects
of various game features. These fea-
tures can then be modified, if neces-
sary, to obtain the desired emotional
impact on players.
It is our opinion that in the pre-
sent highly competitive video game
market, manufacturers who seri-
ously consider the psychological and
emotional needs of players are apt co
have a substantial advantage over
those who either neglect these game
characteristics or who consider
them only in an intuitive, informal,
and non-scientific way.
I really appreciate all that you
have done for myself and Dr.
Mehrabian. We hope to work with
you and your magazine in the future.
Warren W ixen
Santa Monica, California
PlAY METER. June 1. 1984
Editor's Note: It usually takes a
player many quarters to learn to play
a game well. A few players are an
exception to this rule, but we beleive
good players should have the
opportunity to be recognized.
Good players can bring attention
to equipment. Wh en someone plays
a game well, he often draws an
audience who wants to try the game.
Offering the finest
new and used
•
equ1pment
REPRESENTING LEADING FACTORIES
SALES, PARTS, SERVICE
•
•
NEW IN CRATE
(Cine.) Dra gon 's Lair (1000 di sc)* $3495
(M yl.) M .A.C. H . 3 * $2795
(Taito ) Ice Co ld Beer * $1295
(N in .) D o nkey Kong II * $11 95
(N i n.) Mario Bros. * $1195
(Zaccaria) Farf.alla * $1795
YOU'VE TRIED THE REST,
NOW TRY THE BEST
''We're Eager To Serve''
1809 Olive Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
314/421-5100
For further information, call Pete Entringer (collect)
7