Exploring the Relationship between Visual Saliency and Game Difficulty in Hidden Object Games

Abstract

This research investigates the impact of visual saliency on the difficulty level of hidden object games. These games require players to find concealed items within visually complex scenes, demanding frequent interaction with visual elements, including searching, detecting, and reacting to them. The saliency of an object may influence how players perceive and respond to it. Traditionally, the design of game difficulty has focused primarily on balancing character and gameplay-related metrics, with little consideration on the role of direct visual features. To address this gap, we conducted a study leveraging crowdsourcing with 51 participants. Using a Saliency prediction model, we quantified the visual saliency of key objects in the game. Our comprehensive analysis of the Saliency scores, in relation to gameplay metrics, revealed a statistically significant correlation between the visual saliency of objects and the game's difficulty level. These findings underscore the importance of considering visual factors in game difficulty design, particularly in games that involve tasks requiring visual attention allocation and management.