A mixed-methods evaluation of nonverbal communication in collaborative video games

In order to explore the benefits of communication in complex settings such as work and home environments, it is important to have a firm understanding of how communication operates in a relatively controllable system, such as video games. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of nonverbal communication on success during collaborative gameplay using both qualitative observations of and quantitative gameplay data from players of the custom-designed application TeamWyrm. In so doing, it encourages a discussion of nonverbal communication's role in gameplay, the forms of nonverbal communication displayed during gameplay, and how the availability of nonverbal communication affects player performance.