{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7154317768","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2604.10107","title":"The Double-Edged Sword of Open-Ended Interaction: How LLM-Driven NPCs Affect Players' Cognitive Load and Gaming Experience","display_name":"The Double-Edged Sword of Open-Ended Interaction: How LLM-Driven NPCs Affect Players' Cognitive Load and Gaming Experience","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-04-11","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7154317768","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2604.10107"},"language":null,"primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2604.10107","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2604.10107","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"},"type":"preprint","indexed_in":["datacite"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2604.10107","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5133621766","display_name":"Ting-Chen Hsu","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Hsu, Ting-Chen","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5133581842","display_name":"Wenran Chen","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Chen, Wenran","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5087353852","display_name":"Jiangxu Lin","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Lin, Jiangxu","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5133552785","display_name":"Fei Qin","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Qin, Fei","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5133584064","display_name":"Zheyuan Zhang","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Zhang, Zheyuan","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":0,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10731","display_name":"Educational Games and Gamification","score":0.42969998717308044,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3204","display_name":"Developmental and Educational Psychology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/32","display_name":"Psychology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10731","display_name":"Educational Games and Gamification","score":0.42969998717308044,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3204","display_name":"Developmental and Educational Psychology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/32","display_name":"Psychology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11574","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence in Games","score":0.21770000457763672,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11197","display_name":"Digital Games and Media","score":0.03970000147819519,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3312","display_name":"Sociology and Political Science"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/extraversion-and-introversion","display_name":"Extraversion and introversion","score":0.7368000149726868},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/affect","display_name":"Affect (linguistics)","score":0.6991999745368958},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/cognitive-load","display_name":"Cognitive load","score":0.6955999732017517},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/cognition","display_name":"Cognition","score":0.597599983215332},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/personality","display_name":"Personality","score":0.5910999774932861},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/task","display_name":"Task (project management)","score":0.5800999999046326},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/neuroticism","display_name":"Neuroticism","score":0.505299985408783},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/big-five-personality-traits","display_name":"Big Five personality traits","score":0.45010000467300415},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/contrast","display_name":"Contrast (vision)","score":0.4009000062942505}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C127816348","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127588","display_name":"Extraversion and introversion","level":4,"score":0.7368000149726868},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C15744967","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9418","display_name":"Psychology","level":0,"score":0.7178999781608582},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776035688","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1606558","display_name":"Affect (linguistics)","level":2,"score":0.6991999745368958},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C61641136","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1107019","display_name":"Cognitive load","level":3,"score":0.6955999732017517},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C169900460","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2200417","display_name":"Cognition","level":2,"score":0.597599983215332},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C187288502","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q641118","display_name":"Personality","level":2,"score":0.5910999774932861},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780451532","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q759676","display_name":"Task (project management)","level":2,"score":0.5800999999046326},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C180747234","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23373","display_name":"Cognitive psychology","level":1,"score":0.5335000157356262},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C94612546","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1540168","display_name":"Neuroticism","level":3,"score":0.505299985408783},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C77805123","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161272","display_name":"Social psychology","level":1,"score":0.4555000066757202},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2865642","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q378132","display_name":"Big Five personality traits","level":3,"score":0.45010000467300415},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776502983","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q690182","display_name":"Contrast (vision)","level":2,"score":0.4009000062942505},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C166052673","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q83021","display_name":"Empirical evidence","level":2,"score":0.3662000000476837},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C120936955","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2155640","display_name":"Empirical research","level":2,"score":0.36000001430511475},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C53371666","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1778408","display_name":"Need for cognition","level":3,"score":0.35530000925064087},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C3018412434","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7889","display_name":"Video game","level":2,"score":0.33550000190734863},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2781424646","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7395200","display_name":"SWORD","level":2,"score":0.31520000100135803},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2775924081","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55608371","display_name":"Control (management)","level":2,"score":0.31310001015663147},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C170130773","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q216378","display_name":"Usability","level":2,"score":0.2985000014305115},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C106934330","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1971873","display_name":"Trait","level":2,"score":0.2955999970436096},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780374836","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17012938","display_name":"Expressive Suppression","level":4,"score":0.2800999879837036},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C150681269","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2380771","display_name":"Cognitive style","level":3,"score":0.27320000529289246},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C198531522","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q485146","display_name":"Sample (material)","level":2,"score":0.2720000147819519},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C163258240","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25342","display_name":"Power (physics)","level":2,"score":0.2563999891281128},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C36951298","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q379784","display_name":"Arousal","level":2,"score":0.2556000053882599}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2604.10107","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2604.10107","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":null,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2604.10107","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2604.10107","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":0,"referenced_works":[],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"This":[0,181],"study":[1,182],"examines":[2],"how":[3],"large":[4],"language":[5],"model-driven":[6],"non-player":[7],"characters":[8],"(LLM-NPCs)":[9],"affect":[10],"players'":[11,71,109],"cognitive":[12,72,139,179],"load":[13,73,140],"and":[14,30,56,86,120,149,169,197,203],"gaming":[15,100],"experience,":[16,196],"with":[17,54,135],"a":[18,37,43,94,114],"particular":[19],"focus":[20],"on":[21,117,194],"the":[22,31,161,188,199],"underlying":[23],"psychological":[24],"mechanisms,":[25],"differences":[26,156],"across":[27,60,129],"task":[28,130],"scenarios,":[29],"role":[32],"of":[33,124,154,164,192,201],"individual":[34,155],"traits.":[35],"Conducting":[36],"randomized":[38],"between-subject":[39],"experiment":[40],"(N=130)":[41],"in":[42,98,138,141,206],"self-developed":[44],"game":[45],"prototype":[46],"\"Campus":[47],"Culture":[48],"Week\",":[49],"we":[50],"compared":[51],"player":[52,195],"interactions":[53],"LLM-NPCs":[55,68,90,125,193],"traditional":[57],"pre-scripted":[58],"NPCs":[59],"multiple":[61],"interactive":[62],"modules.":[63],"The":[64,122,152],"results":[65],"showed":[66],"that":[67],"significantly":[69,127],"increased":[70],"(p":[74,102,132,166,171],"<":[75,133],".001),":[76,134],"an":[77],"effect":[78,191],"mediated":[79],"by":[80],"factors":[81],"such":[82,145],"as":[83,146],"expressive":[84],"effort":[85],"response":[87],"uncertainty.":[88],"However,":[89],"did":[91],"not":[92],"yield":[93],"statistically":[95],"significant":[96],"improvement":[97],"overall":[99],"experience":[101],"=":[103,167,172],".195);":[104],"while":[105],"they":[106,112],"positively":[107],"influenced":[108],"perceived":[110],"autonomy,":[111],"exerted":[113],"negative":[115],"influence":[116,153],"system":[118],"usability":[119],"trust.":[121],"effects":[123],"also":[126],"varied":[128],"scenarios":[131],"stronger":[136],"increases":[137],"more":[142],"open-ended":[143],"modules":[144],"content":[147],"creation":[148],"relationship":[150],"building.":[151],"was":[157],"generally":[158],"limited,":[159],"although":[160],"personality":[162],"traits":[163],"extraversion":[165],".031)":[168],"neuroticism":[170],".047)":[173],"demonstrated":[174],"some":[175],"predictive":[176],"power":[177],"regarding":[178],"load.":[180],"provides":[183],"empirical":[184],"evidence":[185],"for":[186],"understanding":[187],"\"double-edged":[189],"sword\"":[190],"highlight":[198],"importance":[200],"scenario-sensitive":[202],"user-sensitive":[204],"design":[205],"intelligent":[207],"NPC":[208],"systems.":[209]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-07-01T06:00:48.157686","created_date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00"}