• Player experience with a robot is multidimensional and creates its own challenges through game mechanics, the nature of the role of the robot, and the kinesthetic tactile aspects of interaction. • Not only cooperative and competitive gameplay but also the order of play affects the experience of playing. • The participants prefer to experience a more dynamic, intense, and lifelike engagement with robots as playmates. • Goals and rules, ease of control, and curiosity constructs receive the highest scores, in contrast, autonomy, immersion, and mastery constructs receive the lowest scores. Advanced robotic technology makes it possible to engage with robots as playmates. Resembling human beings in both function and physical appearance, humanoid social robots enhance the quality of socially engaging interactions in games. However, player experience with a robot is multidimensional and poses challenges through game mechanics, the nature of the robot’s role, and the kinesthetic tactile aspects of interaction. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of cooperative and competitive human-robot interaction with a different order of play on the quality of player experience, as well as physical activity enjoyment and the arousal effect of gameplay. We designed and implemented a game (trash can basketball) to be played using a humanoid social robot, Pepper. The results of the study showed that not only cooperative and competitive gameplay but also the order of play affected player experience. Participants who played in the cooperative mode first enjoyed the game more than those who played in the competitive mode initially. Goals and rules, ease of control, and curiosity constructs received the highest scores; in contrast, autonomy, immersion, and mastery constructs received the lowest scores. The participants preferred to experience a more dynamic, intense, and lifelike engagement with robots as playmates. This study contributes to understanding how the gameplay modes and the sequence of interaction with the robot have affected player experience and enjoyment of the game.
İnal et al. (Sun,) studied this question.