Design - The science and UX of player engagement (Celia Hodent)

Training created on 4/14/26. Last update on 6/29/26.
Programme version: 1
Satisfaction rate of learners
9,0/10 (36 review)

Type of training

Distance learning

Training duration

8 hours (4 days)

Accessibility

Yes
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Design - The science and UX of player engagement (Celia Hodent)


Engaging players with a game is increasingly difficult given the harsh competition. Neuroscience, psychology, and UX practices can greatly help the game team fostering player motivation and emotion, while saving time and identifying issues more efficiently. As former director of UX at Epic Games and 17-year+ veteran in the game industry, Celia Hodent will explain her framework, which was used on Fortnite. More specifically, the training sessions will cover the main pillars to engagement: motivation (e.g. extrinsic & intrinsic), emotion (presence & game feel), and game flow (onboarding & difficulty curve), offering a list of "engageability" ingredients for game developers to create their own engaging and successful game recipe. I - Introduction to cognitive science, psychology, and a framework for UX in games II - Overview of the human motivation (intrinsic & extrinsic motivations, theory of flow) III - How to combine different motivations to improve player engagement & emotions in game IV - Game flow, onboarding, and UX strategy (research, pipeline, and ethics)

Objectives of the training

  • Get an overview of how the human brain learn and process information and its main limitations in terms of perception, attention, and memory and what it means for game development
  • Learn the theories of human motivation (e.g. intrinsic, extrinsic, flow) and how to concretely translate them into gameplay elements to enhance the player experience (e.g. designing rewards and progression systems)
  • Learn the science of emotion and how it translates into game development, especially as regards to game feel and the sense of presence (or “immersion”)
  • Learn the elements of game flow and how to onboard players efficiently to offer them the best game experience possible
  • Considerations of ethics in game design and business models

Profile of beneficiaries

For whom
  • Game designers
  • Level designers
  • Game directors
  • Art directors
  • Producers
  • Anyone interested in player psychology and game UX
Requirements

Training content

Introduction to cognitive science, psychology, and a framework for UX in games
  • Intro to cognitive science
  • Intro to a game UX framework
Overview of the human motivation (intrinsic & extrinsic motivations, theory of flow)
  • Theories of human motivation
  • Deeper dive into extrinsic motivation
How to combine different motivations to improve player engagement & emotions in game
  • Dive into intrinsic motivation
  • Combining intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
  • Intro to player emotion
Game flow, onboarding, and UX strategy (research, pipeline, and ethics)
  • Emotion & Game Flow
  • Dive into onboarding
  • UX strategy (research, pipeline) and ethics

Teaching team

Celia Hodent is recognized as a leader in the application of user experience (UX) and cognitive science in the game industry. Celia holds a PhD in psychology and has 17+ years of experience in the development of UX strategy and processes in video game studios. Through her work at Ubisoft, LucasArts, and as Director of UX at Epic Games (Fortnite), she has contributed to many projects across multiple platforms, from PC to consoles, mobile, and VR. Celia is also the founder & chair of the Game UX Summit, advisor for the GDC UX Summit, member of the Foresight Committee at CNIL (National Commission on Informatics and Liberty, an independent French administrative regulatory body). She currently works as an independent consultant, helping studios increase the likelihood of their games to be engaging and successful. Celia also provides guidance on the topics of playful learning, ethics (founder of ethicalgames.org), unconscious bias, and inclusion in tech.

Monitoring of implementation and evaluation of results

  • Exercises during the training sessions and quizzes throughout the days

Technical and educational resources

  • Welcoming participants in a dedicated training room. Training materials displayed on a screen. Theoretical presentations Practical case studies Training materials made available online following the session.

Quality and satisfaction

Learner satisfaction rates and attendance
Satisfaction rate of learners
9,0/10 (36 review)

Certification procedures

Expected results at the end of the training
  • Delivery of a certificate of completion

Reception capacity

Between 4 and 20 learners

Login delay

1 week

Accessibility

For companies wishing to have their training costs covered by their OPCO, registration must be completed no later than two weeks before the start of the training to meet the OPCO’s processing deadlines. In all other cases, registrations can be accepted up to two business days before the start of the training. Accessibility: We are available to work with individuals with disabilities to assess the accommodations needed so they can comfortably participate in the training programs offered.