Georgios N. Yannakakis

Who is Georgios N. Yannakakis?

Georgios N. Yannakakis is an Associate Professor at the Center for Computer Games Research at the IT University of Copenhagen, and one of the leading researchers within player affective modelling and adaptive content generation for games.

Yannakakis has pioneered the use of preference learning algorithms in combination with player questionnaires to create statistical models of player's experiences when playing computer games. The models take the form of an often nonlinear mapping between on the one hand player behaviour and features of the played game, and on the other hand player experience. Usually, these models go beyond "fun" and try to predict other aspects of player experience as well, such as frustration and challenge.

Yannakakis' research has attracted attention from Danish newspapers and TV as well as international media such as New Scientist.