SimuExplorer: Visual Exploration of Game Simulation in Table Tennis

We propose SimuExplorer, a visualization system to help analysts explore how player behaviors impact scoring rates in table tennis. Such analysis is indispensable for analysts and coaches, who aim to formulate training plans that can help players improve. However, it is challenging to identify the impacts of individual behaviors, as well as to understand how these impacts are generated and accumulated gradually over the course of a game. To address these challenges, we worked closely with experts who work for a top national table tennis team to design SimuExplorer. The SimuExplorer system integrates a Markov chain model to simulate individual and cumulative impacts of particular behaviors. It then provides flow and matrix views to help users visualize and interpret these impacts. We demonstrate the usefulness of the system with case studies and expert interviews. The experts think highly of the system and have obtained insights into players' behaviors using it.

Automated summary

We propose SimuExplorer, a visualization system, to aid in the exploration of how player behaviors impact scoring rates in table tennis. This analysis is crucial for analysts and coaches aiming to formulate effective training plans. However, it is difficult to identify and understand the individual and cumulative impacts of these behaviors over the course of a game.