SOURCE: User Centric, Inc.
December 10, 2008 15:13 ET
Obtaining a "Read" on Online Poker Players: User Centric Discusses Avatars and User Interface Cues
CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - December 10, 2008) - The ability to "read" your opponent in the game
of poker can be a key determinant of winning and losing. When applying
this theory to online play, poker players must get creative in interpreting
their opponents' cues using online interfaces. Team members at User
Centric, a Chicago-based user experience consulting firm, take a look at
how online poker avatars might provide behavioral insight into the
competition. The article also discusses how online poker sites might
enhance the features and functions of avatars during game play.
Excerpt from article:
In the gaming world, avatars are used as physical representations in the
virtual world. Avatars provide an extra layer of entertainment for gamers
and allow gamers to embellish their gaming identities...
Similar to other gaming environments, many online poker sites use avatars
to represent the player. On sites like Full Tilt Poker, players can choose
from a variety of avatars, from different humans, animals, and even
fictional or inanimate objects.
However, the motives for selecting an avatar in online poker games may be
quite different from other online games. Do players select an avatar that
suits their poker style (e.g., selecting an ATM machine because the player
is a loose player) or do players select avatars to induce opponents to make
incorrect assumptions about the player and their style of play that equate
to positive gains, whether it be play chips or real money? From a
strategic vantage point, a poker player may select a specific type of
avatar to suggest a loose style of play when, in fact, the player's style
of play is tight and aggressive.
Visit http://www.usercentric.com/news/poker for full article.
About User Centric, Inc.
User Centric is a global user experience consulting firm that researches
people's interaction with products and the overall user experience. We
believe that user experience is an integral part of an organization's
brand. We apply our expertise to projects involving handhelds, web sites,
software, medical devices, print, packaging, and telephony services. Our
services include
user research, user interface design consulting, information architecture, usability testing,
user interface evaluations, and
eye tracking. User Centric is a founding member of the UXalliance
(www.uxalliance.com), an international network for user experience. Learn
more about User Centric at www.UserCentric.com.