Chola, Saili2024-08-202024-08-202023-06Chola, Saili. (2023). A Happier Life Through Sad Mode - Designing Automated Players for Single Player Games. [Master's dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WIReDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/40216https://hdl.handle.net/10539/40216A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts by Creative Practice, in the field of Digital Arts, to the Faculty of Humanities, Wits School of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023.Solo games are a keystone of tabletop board gaming for players and designers alike. While they are numerous and enjoyed by many members of the community, there is a noticeable lack of clarity and exploration of what principles make these games uniquely interactive and enjoyable experiences for players. This project responds to this inadequacy through the development of a playable game and a research report. The game demonstrates and tests the virtues of solo game play mechanics while the report expands and discusses the interpretable results and qualities of said solo game mechanics.en©2023 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.Game DesignTabletop GamesSolo GamesArtificial IntelligenceAutomated PlayersEngagement TheoryAgent DesignRootResearch Through DesignIterationEnjoyment TheoryTabletop SimulatorUCTDSDG-4: Quality educationDissertationUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg