Can you judge a video game by its cover? An exploration of subjective impressions and viewing patterns

Abstract

Studies have shown that first impressions of websites can lead to lasting opinions regarding usability and trustworthiness. However, little research has been conducted concerning first impressions of video games. In this study, 20 college-age students were asked to view and rate images of 48 game packaging covers after a brief exposure while their eye movement patterns were recorded. Results revealed that covers from certain game genres (e.g., Adventure, Fighting, Role Playing) generated different perceptions about the quality and content of the games. Gender differences in how certain genres were perceived were also found. Analysis of eye tracking data revealed that participants viewed the front image, side title strip, and front game title the most. Lastly, relationships among the different subjective attributes (e.g., design quality, entertainment value) are reported.