Game refinement model with consideration on playing cost: A case study using crane games

Game refinement theory has been used as a way for measuring the attractiveness and sophistication of games. In this paper, we present an idea for a new game refinement model with consideration of playing cost and apply this to crane games. We conducted experiments observing games in two countries, Japan and Thailand. Game refinement theory is used as the basic metric. To put some additional context to game refinement theory, we give consideration to incongruity theory as a measure of degree of engagement, and use number of plays: number of prizes to suggest an appropriate game length for crane games. We recognize the difference in cost per play between the two countries as a complicating factor affecting game attractiveness. This work contributes to the bridging of game refinement theory from the domain of board games to applications in arcade games.