Esports and Visual Attention: Evaluating In-Game Advertising through Eye-Tracking during the Game Viewing Experience

In recent years, technological advances and the introduction of social streaming platforms (e.g., Twitch) have contributed to an increase in the popularity of esports, a highly profitable industry with millions of active users. In this context, there is little evidence, if any, on how users perceive...

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Main Authors: Marco Mancini, Patrizia Cherubino, Giulia Cartocci, Ana Martinez, Gianluca Di Flumeri, Luca Petruzzellis, Michele Cimini, Pietro Aricò, Arianna Trettel, Fabio Babiloni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Brain Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/10/1345
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author Marco Mancini
Patrizia Cherubino
Giulia Cartocci
Ana Martinez
Gianluca Di Flumeri
Luca Petruzzellis
Michele Cimini
Pietro Aricò
Arianna Trettel
Fabio Babiloni
author_facet Marco Mancini
Patrizia Cherubino
Giulia Cartocci
Ana Martinez
Gianluca Di Flumeri
Luca Petruzzellis
Michele Cimini
Pietro Aricò
Arianna Trettel
Fabio Babiloni
author_sort Marco Mancini
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, technological advances and the introduction of social streaming platforms (e.g., Twitch) have contributed to an increase in the popularity of esports, a highly profitable industry with millions of active users. In this context, there is little evidence, if any, on how users perceive in-game advertising (IGA) and other key elements of the game viewing experience (e.g., facecam and chat) in terms of visual attention. The present eye-tracking study aimed at investigating those aspects, and introducing an eye-tracking research protocol specifically designed to accurately measure the visual attention associated with key elements of the game viewing experience. Results showed that (1) the ads available in the game view (IGAs) are capable altogether to attract 3.49% of the users’ visual attention; (2) the chat section draws 10.68% of the users’ visual attention and more than the streamer’s face, known as a powerful attentional driver; (3) the animated ad format elicits higher visual attention (1.46%) than the static format (1.12%); and (4) in some circumstances, the visual attention elicited by the ads is higher in the “Goal” scenes (0.69%) in comparison to “No-Goal” scenes (0.51%). Relevant managerial implications and future directions for the esports industry are reported and discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-f461a9fa6ea14b769f4ca32715a5aebc2023-11-23T23:13:56ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252022-10-011210134510.3390/brainsci12101345Esports and Visual Attention: Evaluating In-Game Advertising through Eye-Tracking during the Game Viewing ExperienceMarco Mancini0Patrizia Cherubino1Giulia Cartocci2Ana Martinez3Gianluca Di Flumeri4Luca Petruzzellis5Michele Cimini6Pietro Aricò7Arianna Trettel8Fabio Babiloni9BrainSigns Srl, Via Lungotevere Michelangelo 9, 00192 Rome, ItalyBrainSigns Srl, Via Lungotevere Michelangelo 9, 00192 Rome, ItalyBrainSigns Srl, Via Lungotevere Michelangelo 9, 00192 Rome, ItalyBrainSigns Srl, Via Lungotevere Michelangelo 9, 00192 Rome, ItalyBrainSigns Srl, Via Lungotevere Michelangelo 9, 00192 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Physics, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Physics, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, ItalyBrainSigns Srl, Via Lungotevere Michelangelo 9, 00192 Rome, ItalyBrainSigns Srl, Via Lungotevere Michelangelo 9, 00192 Rome, ItalyBrainSigns Srl, Via Lungotevere Michelangelo 9, 00192 Rome, ItalyIn recent years, technological advances and the introduction of social streaming platforms (e.g., Twitch) have contributed to an increase in the popularity of esports, a highly profitable industry with millions of active users. In this context, there is little evidence, if any, on how users perceive in-game advertising (IGA) and other key elements of the game viewing experience (e.g., facecam and chat) in terms of visual attention. The present eye-tracking study aimed at investigating those aspects, and introducing an eye-tracking research protocol specifically designed to accurately measure the visual attention associated with key elements of the game viewing experience. Results showed that (1) the ads available in the game view (IGAs) are capable altogether to attract 3.49% of the users’ visual attention; (2) the chat section draws 10.68% of the users’ visual attention and more than the streamer’s face, known as a powerful attentional driver; (3) the animated ad format elicits higher visual attention (1.46%) than the static format (1.12%); and (4) in some circumstances, the visual attention elicited by the ads is higher in the “Goal” scenes (0.69%) in comparison to “No-Goal” scenes (0.51%). Relevant managerial implications and future directions for the esports industry are reported and discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/10/1345eye trackingvisual attentionesportsin-game advertising (IGA)Twitchadvertising
spellingShingle Marco Mancini
Patrizia Cherubino
Giulia Cartocci
Ana Martinez
Gianluca Di Flumeri
Luca Petruzzellis
Michele Cimini
Pietro Aricò
Arianna Trettel
Fabio Babiloni
Esports and Visual Attention: Evaluating In-Game Advertising through Eye-Tracking during the Game Viewing Experience
Brain Sciences
eye tracking
visual attention
esports
in-game advertising (IGA)
Twitch
advertising
title Esports and Visual Attention: Evaluating In-Game Advertising through Eye-Tracking during the Game Viewing Experience
title_full Esports and Visual Attention: Evaluating In-Game Advertising through Eye-Tracking during the Game Viewing Experience
title_fullStr Esports and Visual Attention: Evaluating In-Game Advertising through Eye-Tracking during the Game Viewing Experience
title_full_unstemmed Esports and Visual Attention: Evaluating In-Game Advertising through Eye-Tracking during the Game Viewing Experience
title_short Esports and Visual Attention: Evaluating In-Game Advertising through Eye-Tracking during the Game Viewing Experience
title_sort esports and visual attention evaluating in game advertising through eye tracking during the game viewing experience
topic eye tracking
visual attention
esports
in-game advertising (IGA)
Twitch
advertising
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/10/1345
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