The field of user experience design (UX) has much to offer the process of video game development but is only lightly present in current games research. This paper argues that the current understanding of games through a critical theoretical lens or human computer interaction (HCI) approach does not address many important game interactions and experiences. Collaborative experiences and participatory design such as fan-made video game modifications go unexplored; therefore, developers miss out on key insights regarding the wants and needs of their users. By examining user data, usage statistics, and interface analysis about modifications for the game Skyrim, this paper details the type of fan-driven innovation and design that could be beneficial to both researchers and developers.
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