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Participants became annoyed when Pepper the robot became too competitive
Pepper the robot both looks and behaves much like a human. But is that enough to make it a good playmate?
Researchers at NTNU have investigated what it is like to play a physical game with or against a robot that both looks human and behaves like one.
They conducted a controlled laboratory experiment using Pepper, a social robot developed to interact with humans.
“Our observations show that robots can actually be good playmates, but only if they behave in ways that make sense to people,” says Yavuz Inal, a researcher at NTNU’s Department of Design.
The pace has to feel right
That means humanoid robots can make good playmates, but their design must take into account gameplay modes, pace, role, and order of play.
If the robot suddenly acts like an overzealous seven-year-old who simply has to win, while also moving a bit stiffly and not quite understanding the rhythm of the game, people quickly get annoyed.
The researcher explains that we expect robots to be more natural, responsive, and flexible than the current technology is capable of delivering.
When robots resemble us, we expect more
Humanoid robots such as Pepper are designed to resemble humans, both in appearance and behaviour.
They have heads, eyes, hands, and facial expressions that make it easier for us to relate to them, but which can lead us to automatically expect them to behave somewhat like humans as well.
Previous research has shown that these types of characteristics increase engagement, whether the context is healthcare, education, or pure entertainment.
Human versus machine in trash can basketball
In the study, the participants played a physical version of trash can basketball with Pepper.
Everyone threw scrunched up balls of paper at a trash can from carefully chosen positions that made the game suitably challenging.
The researchers tested two gameplay modes: either humans and the robot were on the same team, or they played against each other.
They also varied the order of play: sometimes the participants started first, sometimes they let the robot start.
This enabled the researchers to investigate how gameplay mode and order of play affected engagement, motivation, emotional responses, and enjoyment of physical activity.
Especially satisfying when the robot missed
“The study shows that even small adjustments in pace and order of play can be crucial in determining whether playing against a robot is perceived as fun or frustrating,” says Inal.
Participants enjoyed the game most when it began in cooperative mode. However, there were also situations where the participants enjoyed playing against the robot.
Many of the participants found competitive gameplay more exciting and motivating, especially when they were able to start the game themselves, giving them a greater sense of control.
Beating Pepper gave participants a clear sense of achievement, and some admitted that it was especially satisfying when the robot missed the trash can.
For these participants, competitive mode provided a clear goal and a sense of being challenged in a fun way.
Annoying when Pepper is too slow or too eager
It quickly became clear that the participants tended to get annoyed with the robot for many of the same reasons that we get annoyed with family members who are a little too competitive when playing games like Ludo or Monopoly.
The irritation was particularly strong when Pepper started the game in competitive mode.
The robot’s stiff movements, long pauses before each throw, and slightly overzealous attempts to ‘win’ led people to expect more, and they become frustrated when Pepper came across as neither dynamic nor particularly human.
Some participants described the experience as like playing against an 'overworked printer with arms.'
“When robots are invited to take on the role of playmates, we expect them to behave like proper players. If they don’t, we quickly become impatient,” the researcher says.
The findings offer a glimpse into a future where robots not only assist us at work and in the healthcare system, but also participate in everyday activities such as play, exercise, and games.
Reference:
Inal et al. The effect of cooperative and competitive human-robot interaction on player experience, Entertainment Computing, 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.entcom.2026.101105
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Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no
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