Assessing Player Preferences for Non-Photorealistic Rendering Artistic Styles in 3D Video Game Character Design

The study of Non-Photorealistic Rendering (NPR) in 3D video game character design has gained attention due to its potential to enhance visual appeal and user engagement. Previous research has focused on various NPR techniques and their applications, however, understanding video game preferences for different NPR styles remains limited. This research aims to fill this gap by examining video game player preferences for various NPR artistic styles in 3D video game character design, considering factors such as gender, age group, and favorite gaming genres. We conducted a comprehensive survey using 35 NPR-generated artistic styles, which were categorized into six main groups: Style Lines, Cross-Hatch, Patch-Hatch, Scribble Hatch, Post Cartoon, and Other. Our findings reveal distinct preferences among different demographic groups, with males showing a higher mean preference for styles like Cross-Hatch (3.450) and females for Post Cartoon (3.462). Additionally, younger player (<18 years) demonstrated a stronger preference for Style Lines (4.571) compared to older groups. These results suggest that tailoring NPR styles to specific user segments can significantly enhance player experience and engagement, offering valuable insights for future studies and developments in the field of digital content creation.