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By having this data, they can readily see if released content is too difficulty or too drastic. Gathering the data always means you have a baseline to compare to. So questions can be answered right away. (Reminding me of a previous talk, of having the user research systems always ready to go)

Same with data to identify a satisfaction drop after a feature launch, and a 'trinket' problem. In this case by adding a question to the system right after a match. So players would get a single question, and that gave them enough data to infer impact from when they launched content.

This question to the player can be a range, e.g. 1-5, but also open ended. Then a word cloud can be made from the open ended questions, which gives them a quick answer about most often used words without too much digging into the raw data.

Through the combination of all these elements, the entire 'ship' of user research can be built. If one element were missing, it would not float. Having all elements allows them to have the views they need to make accurate decisions.

Q: Do you ever have a hard time relating data to a particular change? A: (very long pause) ...yeah.

Next talk: Demystifying Sensitivity Reading to make games better (not 'just' inclusive)

Can you imagine making a movie about the French Revolution without a French historian? Or about northern mythology without an expert? An accessible website without including disabled people? Of course you would include an expert on the thing you are building. The same goes for culture.

'Sensitivity reading' is not about forcing DEI, censorship, judging, or woke/broke. It is about immersion, being memorable, avoiding backlash, and a virtuous cycle. It is about creating quality content. Like you would with historical projects.

That work can cross many different parts of a videogame, such as language, character design, communication, world building, stereotypes, and creative choices.

Showing an example of Sifu, which did not have Chinese employees and was not looked over by an expert in Chinese culture, which caused some mistakes to be made.

Life is Strange True Colors: A good example, as they had a diverse team and consultants which helped avoid any issues.

Recommendations are to reach out early, be open minded, and having clarity of what can and cannot be adjusted. For the readers (consultants) make sure to be flexible, don't judge, and cross-collaborate.

Q: Why is it called sensitivity reading and not cultural consulting or something else? A: It's to do with it usually having been used for books. Call it whatever you want.

Q: Sifu did use Chinese cultural consultants. How would you prefer them to say they did? A: However you'd like. Could be a post, could be anything.

Last talk of the Game UX Summit 2025: Love Brings You Home, by David Sears

David talks about his growing up in the US south, and how that eventually led him to build South of Midnight.

How does he direct a game correctly with those experiences? What should and should not go into the game? He uses four questions to answer that.

1. Is this southern gothic? 2. Is this class struggle? 3. Is this esoteric talents? 4. Is this truth and hope? These are the pillars of the direction. If the feature or development isn't on at least 3 of these, it probably isn't something relevant enough to spend time on.

Sometimes you may not know. So ask a consultant. Ask an expert what they know. (A recurring theme at the summit is: Find an expert, and ask them.)

(David is going through a bunch of examples of features and gameplay in South of Midnight, which will be good to catch on the recording.)

Sometimes you do a lot of hard work, and the project does not come to fruition. Sometimes the impossible becomes possible, and vice-versa. In the end, your own paths will cross, as also with others.

That's it! The end of the talks of the @gameuxsummit.com 2025 Thank you @celiahodent.com for the organization, and see you folks at the next one! Thank you for reading along!

correct alt: at the *lectern