Games User Research Methods
Published 4/2026
MP4 | Video: h264, 1920x1080 | Audio: AAC, 44.1 KHz, 2 Ch
Language: English | Duration: 2h 28m | Size: 1.28 GB
A Player-Centered Toolkit for Games User Research
What you'll learn
Select the Right Research Method You will learn to analyze your specific development questions and choose the most effective Games User Research (GUR) methods.
Execute Foundational GUR Studies You will be able to confidently plan and execute a variety of core research studies.
Analyze and Present Player Data You will learn to analyze both qualitative and quantitative player data to identify key findings.
Integrate GUR into Your Development Process You will understand how to strategically embed player research activities into different development models.
Requirements
There are no strict prerequisites for taking this course! It's designed to be a comprehensive guide, welcoming everyone from aspiring indie developers and students to seasoned industry professionals.
Description
This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.
Are you building a game based on gut feelings and assumptions, hoping players will love it? It's time to stop guessing and start knowing.
In the competitive world of game development, understanding your players isn't a luxury-it's the single most critical factor for success. But how do you move beyond your own perspective to see the game through their eyes? How do you gather feedback that is not just interesting, but truly actionable?
This comprehensive course is your definitive guide to the powerful and essential discipline of Games User Research (GUR). Adapted from the book "Games User Research Methods: A Player-Centered Toolkit," this course provides a practical, step-by-step roadmap for integrating player feedback into every stage of your development cycle.
You will journey through a complete toolkit of over a dozen professional data collection methods, learning not just the theory but the practical application of each. We will cover everything from
• Behavioral Methods like large-scale in-game telemetry, methodical A/B testing, and the core GUR activity of playtesting.
• Attitudinal Methods to understand what players think and feel, using tools like surveys, player interviews, focus groups, and diary studies.
• Expert & Community-Driven Insights by leveraging heuristic evaluations and systematically listening to the valuable feedback on forums and social media.
Using the fictional game "Starlight Odyssey" as a running case study, every concept is grounded in a real-world development context. You will learn not just how to collect data, but how to choose the right method for your specific question, how to do so ethically, and how to present your findings with impact to drive real change.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped to build a crucial bridge between your design intent and your players' reality, empowering you to make informed, evidence-based decisions that lead to more intuitive, engaging, and ultimately more successful games.
Enroll today and start building games your players will truly connect with!
Who this course is for
This course is for all game creators-indie developers, designers, UX researchers, students, and QA professionals-who want to build better games by understanding their players through practical, data-driven research methods.
Games User Research Methods
