Riker Sweazey | 2026 I.S. Symposium
Name: Riker Sweazey
Title: Social-First Game Design through Casual Ambient Mechanics for Cooperation
Major: Computer Science
Advisor: Alex Nord
This project explores how multiplayer game design can be adjusted to encourage social interactions through low-pressure ambient mechanics instead of forcing interactions and cooperation through explicit coordination and or shared objectives. The focus is on avoiding approaches that create friction or limit organic player engagement. Drawing from research in cooperative game design, ambient play, and social interaction systems, this project proposes a framework that may be used for social-first game design focusing on presence, accessibility, and minimal design or pressure on the player. By analysing existing games and the development of a prototype, this study examines how features such as passive participation, shared environments, and cooperative assistance can curate casual, organic, socially driven interactions. The findings suggest that cooperation can emerge not from forced collaboration requirements but from intentional design choices allowing players to engage naturally over time. This contributes to ongoing discussions in game design by demonstrating how ambient mechanics can support sustained social experiences without the need for high levels of commitment and coordination.
Posted in Symposium 2026 on May 1, 2026.
