This paper presents an overview of the design of a collaborative walking game for an elderly user group that utilises an adaptive difficulty system to increase the motivation to exercise. The Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment system developed aims to provide a personalised level of difficulty tailored for each individual to promote cooperative, competitive and intergenerational gameplay.
Future work includes improving the adaptive system by increasing its ability to assess the user’s skill level, provide additional methods of adjustment and improve the chances of the system selecting the best method. New modes may also be added in later versions of the game to specifically improve physical skills, such as the addition of balance challenges. This game will be embedded into the Join-In online social platform along with other cognitive games and exergames all designed for elderly users (Join-In, 2012). The results of the user testing phase will influence any further changes to the software and any modifications to future studies with the user group.