Timea Farkas

Timea Farkas is a researcher at Goldsmiths, University of London specializing in the intersection of board game design and human-computer interaction. Her academic work focuses on understanding player experiences with both traditional and technology-enhanced board games, with particular attention to immersion, digital augmentation, and sensory elements like sound design.

Her research interests center on how technology can enhance traditional board gaming experiences without compromising their core appeal. Farkas investigates player immersion in board games, examining both the cognitive engagement with game mechanics and the emotional connection to game worlds. She explores how digital elements like soundtracks and interactive components can be thoughtfully integrated into analog board games to create meaningful hybrid experiences that preserve the social and tactile aspects of traditional gameplay.

Analysis of Farkas' publications reveals a consistent trajectory exploring different dimensions of board game player experience. Starting with foundational work on immersion in traditional board games (2020), she progressed to examining specific sensory elements like soundtracks (2022), and culminated in a comprehensive exploration of player-centric design for hybrid games (2024). Her research methodology combines qualitative analysis of player experiences with practical design implications, resulting in tangible outputs like her open-source ideation card deck for hybrid game design.

Farkas has established productive research collaborations with colleagues at Goldsmiths, particularly with Rebecca Fiebrink and Sarah Wiseman, as evidenced by her multiple co-authored publications. Her work has been presented at premier human-computer interaction conferences including CHI and CHI PLAY, indicating recognition within the academic community for her contributions to understanding player experiences in both traditional and technology-enhanced board games.