When playing on the same online gaming platform for a while, people often get bored. This is mostly because the games start to feel like a repeat of the same. To address this, game developers and programmers are making use of adaptive difficulty.
In modern e-gaming, such as poker or rummy games, this helps drive user engagement since the games get more difficult. Thus, players have to make a bigger effort in order to win.
Game Levels and Adaptive Difficulty
In static difficulty, players have to choose a difficulty level before they start. Usually, this covers beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Thus, most start playing at the beginner level and advance as they feel their skills increase. However, the sudden change of game levels can be a challenge for players, and they may opt out of playing.
Games that have hundreds of playing levels, however, use a different route. Here, players solve one level and progress to the next. Thus, the progress of difficulty is much more gradual. However, players often feel like the game is never-ending and may stop playing.
The best way to address both is via adaptive difficulty levels.
Also termed as Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DDA), Adaptive Difficulty is a game design technique that makes adjustments to the difficulty level in real time. To do this, the algorithm tracks the performance of the players and accounts for the skill level.
The Science Behind Adaptive Difficulty
In this method, the algorithm makes use of AI and machine learning. This helps analyze player behavior, playing styles, and proficiency. Then, the software makes dynamic adjustments based on the reaction time, accuracy, and strategy of the player.
This lays down the foundation for understanding how each player approaches the game and their proficiency levels.
Using this, the platform can set up personalized challenges that keep players engaged without frustration. Further, this helps keep players engaged and draws more users to the platform.
Benefits of Adaptive Difficulty in E-Gaming
By implementing Adaptive Difficulty in e-Gaming, the game developers and platforms can enjoy the following benefits:
- Better player engagement by keeping the games exciting for both beginners and pros.
- Ensuring players do not get frustrated due to changes in the difficulty level.
- Encouraging players to boost their skills by playing more and improving gradually.
- Offering players a personalized gaming experience by tailoring challenges as per individual skill levels.
How Adaptive Difficulty Works in Different Game Genres
Since Adaptive Difficulty gradually increases the skill level, players do not feel a sudden jump in games going from easy to difficult. However, their interest in the game increases as they find a proper opponent.
Accounting for the different game genres, Adaptive Difficulty is used in the following ways:
- First-Person Shooters (FPS): The algorithm can change enemy behavior as per the player’s response.
- Role-Playing Games (RPGs): Depending on the skill level of the players, the game can create dynamic quest difficulty.
- Racing Games: The in-game opponents (AI opponents) can be designed to adjust to the player’s speed and skill.
- Strategy Games: The adaptive difficulty algorithm can learn the tactics used by the player and devise a way to respond and counter.
- Casual and Mobile Games: Players can get access to custom challenges that are based on their performance.
- E-Gaming like rummy games on a rummy app: In a manner similar to mobile games, the algorithm can account for the skill levels of individual players and match them with the right opponents.
Challenges & Criticisms of Adaptive Difficulty
Since Adaptive Difficulty is a feature created by the algorithm, players may feel that the game is biased in favour of the gaming platform. Further, some also claim that the algorithm may fall short of accurately gauging a player’s skill level.
To address these challenges, it is important to address the following:
- Balancing fair play with interactive gaming to ensure that the levels are neither too easy nor too hard.
- Maintaining transparency to ensure that players do not feel cheated when the game adjusts.
- Setting limits on the use of AI and fine-tuning the difficulty without making the gameplay seem robotic.
- Applying the algorithm in a way that offers the players control so that they have the option to choose difficulty options manually.
Future of Adaptive Difficulty in E-Gaming
As online gaming ventures into the future, the below developments may take place:
- Integration of real-time biometrics (heart rate, stress levels) for adjustment and a focus on player safety.
- More sophisticated AI and machine learning models for precision difficulty scaling.
- Adaptive difficulty can be used in competitive e-sports and act along with player matching.
- A more immersive gameplay by combining AR/ VR with adaptive difficulty.
To Conclude
When designing a game, player engagement is one of the key criteria to keep in mind. Thus, when a game adjusts difficulty by gauging the player’s skill level, it can meet this objective. With tech-intensive game design, players can enjoy adaptive difficulty even if they are playing something simple like rummy games on a rummy app.
As a result, adaptive difficulty is an attractive feature for both casual and hardcore gamers. With AI-driven difficulty scaling, players can continuously face new but subtle challenges that can improve their gaming experience.
