Silent Communication and Design in Digital Games: A Study on Dead by Daylight

Yıl 2025, Sayı: 71, 69 - 90, 24.11.2025

Sena Elif Özkan , Onur Aşkın

https://doi.org/10.47998/ikad.1686844

Öz

The absence of voice and text chat in digital games can give rise to rich, nonverbal systems of communication. In Dead by Daylight, an asymmetric multiplayer horror game, players rely on gestures, movements, and item interactions to convey intentions, build alliances, and express emotions—all without speaking a single word. This research explores how such silent forms of interaction evolve into a symbolic language that shapes gameplay, community norms, and the overall player experience. Using over 400 hours of participant observation and supported by content analysis of randomized matches, the study examines how players appropriate the game's affordances to generate meaning. Grounded in Gibson’s Affordance Theory, Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow Theory, and Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action, the analysis reveals how players creatively repurpose limited mechanics into socially and strategically significant cues. From flashlight flicks to crouching dances, these gestures become ritualized forms of interaction. However, this emergent communication system is not equally interpretable. While seasoned players easily navigate these unspoken codes, newcomers often misinterpret them—leading to frustration or alienation. The findings highlight the need for design interventions that promote accessibility and cultural onboarding for all players. By reframing silent communication as an expressive system rather than a limitation, this study expands the discourse on interaction design in multiplayer game environments.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Silent Communication , Digital Game Design , Affordance Theory , Flow Theory , Theory of Communicative Action

Dijital Oyunlarda Sessiz İletişim ve Tasarım: Dead by Daylight Üzerine Bir İnceleme

Öz

Dijital oyunlarda metin ve sesli iletişim kanallarının sınırlandırılması, oyuncuları sessiz ancak anlam yüklü alternatif iletişim biçimleri geliştirmeye yöneltmektedir. Dead by Daylight gibi asimetrik çok oyunculu korku oyunları, oyuncular arasında jestler, yönelimler ve nesne kullanımı gibi sözel olmayan sinyallerin giderek daha yaygın bir iletişim diline dönüşmesini mümkün kılmaktadır. Bu araştırma, oyuncuların oyun içi sınırlı etkileşim alanlarını nasıl sembolik bir dile dönüştürdüğünü ve bu sürecin sosyal etkileşim, stratejik iş birliği ve oyun deneyimi üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektedir. Katılımcı gözlem ve içerik analizi yöntemleriyle yürütülen çalışma, 400 saatlik oyun deneyimi ve güncel eşleşmeler üzerinden elde edilen gözlemlerle desteklenmiştir. Gibson’ın Sağlarlık Teorisi, Csikszentmihalyi’nin Akış Teorisi ve Habermas’ın İletişimsel Eylem Kuramı temelinde yapılan analizler, oyuncuların tasarımsal sınırları yaratıcılıkla aşarak kolektif anlamlar ve topluluk normları oluşturduğunu göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, sessiz iletişimin deneyime dayalı yapısı, yeni oyuncular için dışlayıcı bir alan yaratabilmektedir. Bu bağlamda, tasarımcıların bağlamsal öğretici sistemler aracılığıyla bu sessiz dili daha kapsayıcı hâle getirmeleri önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Sessiz İletişim , Dijital Oyun Tasarımı , Sağlarlık Kuramı , Akış Kuramı , İletişimsel Eylem Kuramı

Kaynakça

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