Högskolan i Skövde

Strategy games traditionally target hardcore players, creating tension between genre complexity and the growing casual gaming market. This study explores how strategy games can balance strategic depth with casual player demands through A/B testing of two versions of "Be My Guest," a strategy game prototype, with nine participants (six casual, three hardcore players).

The research established a three-category framework: Universal Optimizations (benefiting all players), Tension Points (creating inverse effects), and Complementary Systems (optional pathways). Key findings reveal that narrative integration emerged as the most effective universal optimization, dramatically improving experience for both player segments. Visual feedback systems significantly enhanced casual player experience while moderately benefiting hardcore players.

Results challenge binary player classification assumptions, demonstrating that strategic depth and casual accessibility are complementary design goals. The study contributes a validated optimization framework and provides empirical evidence that accessibility features can enhance rather than compromise hardcore appeal, offering actionable guidance for developers.