Playing to Wait - A Taxonomy of Idle Games

Explore a comprehensive analysis of idle games in this 21-minute conference talk from the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Delve into the unique characteristics of this minimalist gaming phenomenon, where games run with minimal player interaction. Discover a newly developed taxonomy and identified game features based on the examination of 66 idle games using a grounded theory approach. Learn how the research team analyzed play mechanics, rewards, interactivity, progress rate, and user interface to establish a clear definition of idle games. Gain insights into how these games challenge traditional gameplay assumptions, shift player focus from active play to strategic planning, and utilize resources like player attention and computer cycles in unconventional ways. Explore the design implications and opportunities within the idle game genre, and understand the framework provided for researchers to articulate questions about this unique gaming category.