Difficulty influence on motivation over time in video games using survival analysis

In this paper, we study the link between difficulty and player's motivation in two games developed by Ubisoft®: Rayman®Legends and Tom Clancy's The Division®. We describe a method to estimate players' difficulty over time and link it's time varying effect with players retention. Results confirm flow and self-efficacy theory. Also, for the first hours of playtime, results differ between the two games. We explain that discrepancy with regard to attribution theory : in Rayman Legends, failure can be mainly attributed to the player skills, while in Tom Clancy's The Division, avatar's strength plays a fundamental role and can always be relatively quickly improved.