PhD Candidate · HCI & Game Design

Ruoyu Wen

I design and study interactive systems where people and intelligent agents play together — across Human–Agent Interaction, VR / XR, Alternate Reality Games, and LLM-driven experiences.

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Ruoyu Wen
Christchurch · Augsburg · Daejeon
Research

Four threads, one question

How do we design playful, intelligent systems that people genuinely connect with?

Human–Agent Interaction

How AI agents can prompt, accompany, and collaborate with people — and what that means for agency and trust.

VR & Extended Reality

Immersive collaboration, spatial interfaces, and embodied experiences that blend the virtual and the real.

Games & Play

Alternate reality games, player motivation through Self-Determination Theory, and narrative across cultures.

LLMs & Generative AI

Generative systems that turn language into worlds, characters, and emergent interactive experiences.

Selected Publications

Things I've written

CHI · IUI · CHI Play · OzCHI · DiGRA · SIGGRAPH Asia · ISMAR · IJRP. Filter by theme below.

See the full list & project details
Trajectory

Where I've worked

Research and game design across New Zealand, Germany, Korea, Sweden, and China.

Apr 2026 — Present

Visiting PhD Student

University of Augsburg · Chair for Human-Centered AI (Prof. Elisabeth André) · Germany

Collaborating on human-centered AI, intelligent user interfaces, and human–agent interaction.

Oct 2024 — Present

Lead AI Game Designer

MICROFEEL · Remote

Led a team building systems that generate game stories, mechanics, and NPCs end-to-end from natural-language input.

2023 — Present

PhD Researcher

University of Canterbury · School of Product Design · New Zealand

Research on VR, human–agent interaction, and conversational AI. Publications at CHI, OzCHI, DiGRA, and SIGGRAPH Asia.

Full experience & education
Recognition

Honors & Grants

Competitive research funding and national awards.

DAAD2026 · Grant
Research Grants in Germany

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) · research stay at the University of Augsburg, Chair for Human-Centered AI

CSC2025 · National
Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad

China Scholarship Council (CSC) · national award for outstanding self-funded PhD students overseas · University of Canterbury, New Zealand