Parental Behavioral Differences and Psychological Load in Arcade Gameplay: A Case Study on Racing Simulators

Abstract: Arcade game centers are public leisure spaces where parents frequently accompany their children. Within such interactive environments, parents may act not only as companions but also as facilitators, strategic guides, or behavioral role models. Compared to solo play, intergenerational co-play involves more complex role negotiation and interactional adaptation, placing parents under dual psychological loads from gameplay challenges and social expectations. This study investigates the behavioral patterns and subjective experiences of parents during accompanied play in public arcade settings and identifies practical implications for human factors and interface design. Thirty parent-child dyads were observed interacting with a motorcycle-themed racing arcade game. Using structured naturalistic observation, six behavioral indicators were recorded: decision-making authority, intervention type, gaze behavior, gameplay duration, instructional behavior, and emotional expression. Post-observation interviews were conducted to assess psychological safety, instructional anxiety, and engagement. Results showed that parents during accompanied play most frequently displayed either positive (33.3%) or neutral (56.7%) facial expressions, with only 10% appearing serious. Gaze was predominantly sustained (80%), with intermittent or no gaze accounting for 10% each. In father-child groups, a recurring “parent-directs, child-plays” pattern was observed, indicating a shift toward instructional or performative roles under cognitive and social stress. Chi-square analysis revealed a significant association between gameplay leadership (parent-led, child-led, co-led) and intervention strategy (full physical, mixed, full verbal) (χ²(4, N = 30) = 15.54, p = .004), with a medium-to-large effect size (Cramer’s V = 0.51). When children led, interventions were exclusively full physical (100%), while parent-led play favored full verbal (52.4%) or mixed strategies (33.3%). No full verbal interventions were observed in co-led situations. The study recommends that arcade systems integrate intergenerational interaction needs through shared control interfaces, adaptive task calibration, and anonymous adult modes to reduce pressure, enhance engagement, and support more inclusive public digital play experiences.

Keywords: Arcade gameplay, Parent-child interaction, Intergenerational play, Gameplay leadership, Psychological load, Emotional expression

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006879

Cite this paper:

​