ICT is running a series of articles to highlight the work of our Undergraduate Researchers. In this essay we hear from Jaehyuk Choi, who is working in the Human-Centered AI Lab under the supervision of Dr. Ning Wang, while studying for his BFA, Game Development and Interactive Media at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Minor in Technical Game Art, at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
| Byline: Jaehyuk Choi, Undergraduate Researcher, Human-Centered AI Lab
As an undergraduate student in Game Development and Interactive Media at the University of Southern California, I have long been drawn to the capacity of games to inform, connect, and inspire. My early experiences with titles like Overwatch 2 were more than entertainment—they were complex, collaborative systems that shaped the way I think about interaction and design. Even after the game’s mainstream popularity declined, I remained engaged, competing with the USC Esports team and continuing to study what makes games meaningful, long-lasting, and emotionally resonant.
This curiosity soon evolved into a broader question: what causes a game to thrive—or fade—in the eyes of its players? That inquiry sparked my journey into game research and design, and ultimately led me to the USC Institute for Creative Technologies.
Finding a Research Home at ICT
I first connected with Dr. Ning Wang through a cold email, hoping for a brief conversation about her work.
To my surprise and deep appreciation, she responded generously, and our conversation led to an invitation to join the Human-Centered AI Lab at ICT as an undergraduate researcher. After exploring ICT’s website and reading about its mission to develop advanced technologies for social good, I knew it was the right place to continue growing—as both a designer and a scholar.
Designing Games That Teach
At ICT, I joined the team working on The 7th Patient, an educational game that introduces high school students to concepts in probability and artificial intelligence through a narrative-based diagnostic simulation. Players step into the role of a medical student and navigate real-world-inspired scenarios where AI plays a supporting role in decision-making.
The game, which completed a successful pilot with more than 1,000 students in Spring 2024, is scheduled to launch in full in 2025.
My role on the project includes debugging QA issues, refining gameplay features, and improving both the educational value and player engagement. It has been a unique opportunity to bring my technical skills and creative thinking to a purpose-driven project—where success is measured not only by how fun the game is, but by how effectively it supports learning and reflection.
Contributing to the Field Through Research
Beyond ICT, I have continued to explore questions around player experience and interaction through academic research. I have co-authored several peer-reviewed papers on topics such as:
- Avatar identification and vicarious emotional response in virtual environments, in which we examined how players relate to their avatars and how that shapes affective experience in immersive settings. Choi, J. et al. (2024). The Relationship Between Avatar Identification Factors and Vicarious Pleasure: The Moderating Role of Affect Intensity in the Metaverse, Journal of Metaverse, 4(2), 138–145.
- Social dynamics and interpersonal competency in gaming communities, exploring how perceived social distance affects the motivational and relational outcomes of gameplay.
Choi, J. et al. (2025). The Influence of Social Distance Perception Among Gamers on Relationships between Game Motivation and Interpersonal Competency, Entertainment Computing, Vol. 52.
These publications reflect an emerging research identity grounded in human-computer interaction, affective computing, and player psychology.
Independent Projects and Future Directions
I am also the Co-Founder of Overdawn, a game studio here in Los Angeles, where we are building titles that emphasize narrative depth, stylish gameplay, and inclusivity.
At the same time, I am preparing to apply to PhD programs in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, with the long-term goal of becoming a professor. I hope to gain industry experience in many AAA companies, and continue developing serious games that serve educational, therapeutic, and civic purposes—while also mentoring students interested in the intersection of design, technology, and impact.
Aligning Passion With Purpose
What motivates me most is the possibility of aligning personal passion with social purpose. I believe games and interactive media have a unique ability to foster empathy, support critical thinking, and inspire change. Whether through commercial projects or academic research, my aim is to create systems that are not only engaging but also transformative.
Working at ICT this summer has deepened that commitment. I have gained not only technical and design experience, but also a clearer understanding of what it means to conduct research with integrity, empathy, and intention.
The interdisciplinary environment—where AI, education, medicine, and narrative design intersect—has shown me how diverse fields can collaborate in service of shared goals. It has also reminded me that small, thoughtful design decisions can shape how people see the world and their place in it.
A Shared Mission
I am especially grateful to be working on The 7th Patient, which shares a remarkable connection with my older brother’s research in AI and medicine as a PhD student in Computer Science at USC. Though we come from different disciplines, our paths now feel meaningfully aligned—each of us contributing to a future where technology improves human understanding and well-being. For me, that is the essence of game design with purpose.
Advice for Future Researchers
To others considering a first step into research: know your strengths, and don’t hesitate to share them. Whether your talents lie in design, engineering, or storytelling, your perspective matters.
Reach out. Be curious. And above all, let your work reflect what you care most about.
Publications
- Choi, J. et al. (2025). Unlocking Player Engagement for Game Design. HCI-GAMES: 7TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HCI IN GAMES. (Accepted)
- Choi, J. et al. (2024). The Relationship Between Avatar Identification Factors and Vicarious Pleasure: The Moderating Role of Affect Intensity in the Metaverse. Journal of Metaverse, 4(2), 138-145. https://doi.org/10.57019/jmv.1557144
- Choi, J. et al. (2025). The Influence of Social Distance Perception Among Gamers on Relationships between Game Motivation and Interpersonal Competency. Entertainment Computing Vol. 52, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2024.100903
- Choi, J. et al. (2022). Integrating the Mobile Game Item and Customer Loyalty Mileage in NFT, International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, Vol. 5, Issue 2, pp. 553 – 558 (ISSN: 2581-8341)