mindlabs

Game Lab

The Game Lab in the MindLabs building provides a space and equipment to study interactions between humans and games using data science methods. It facilitates research using all kinds of games, including video games, board games and physical games.

The Game Lab is located on the ground floor of the MindLabs building and was set up with funding by the Municipality of Tilburg. The lab is managed by Tilburg University’s Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence.

Research in this lab can focus, for example, on understanding when and why people enjoy games and how games can be made more effective; for instance, by creating intelligent game characters/elements, by adjusting the difficulty of games to each individual player or by generating game spaces in real time.

Facilities

The Game Lab provides facilities to observe, analyze, interpret and predict physical, physiological and/or verbal behavior of test subjects in their interaction with games. 

The lab-equipment includes the following:

  • powerful gaming PCs that can host 10 video game players simultaneously, playing individual, team, or competitive games
  • game peripherals (joysticks, gamepads, etc.)
  • physiological sensors, such as biofeedback sensors
  • webcams for facial expression analysis
  • eye tracking technology
  • communication equipment (headsets)
  • a variety of board games

Research projects

Current research mostly includes collecting player-generated data for research revolving around effective communication in competitive video games (e-sports), team coordination, physical rehabilitation, professional training, and moral improvement.

Some of the research projects for which the lab is being used:

  • MasterMinds: Human and Artificial Minds in Aerospace, Education, Logistics, Maintenance, and Predictive behavior 
  • Data2Game: Adaptive training games for crisis management

Intended users

The Game Lab can be used by Tilburg University staff and students and by partners associated with MindLabs. Use of the lab is only with the permission of the lab coordinator. In some cases, the presence of an authorized supervisor is also required.

Contact

If you are interested in using the lab and would like to discuss the options, please contact lab coordinator Paris Mavromoustakos-Blom or research coordinator Pieter Spronck: