James Babu

Abstract

Researchers have analyzed various aspects of the video game experience; however, analysis of how the presentation of game status information affects the player's sense of immersion into the virtual environment has not been explored. This study aims to discover how feelings of immersion are affected by diegetic, or environmentally based, methods of presenting the player's status versus non-diegetic methods. Avid gamers were told to play two games, one diegetic based interface and the other a non-diegetic interface, to see how their spatial immersion experiences differed between the two designs. In addition to the use of questionnaires to evaluate the level of spatial immersion, eye tracking data was collected in order to explore how fixations differed between designs. Although the questionnaire results presented that the experiences did not significantly differ between game designs, the eye tracking data led us to believe that the player's information processing may be affected. Fixation duration significantly increased during non-immersive experiences, which may suggest that players spend more time attempting to understand the environment. This may cause game designers to explore alternate methods to display status information that are easier for the player to comprehend, thus allowing players to become more spatially immersed into the game world.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Information display systems--Design; User interfaces (Computer systems)--Design; Video games--Design; Virtual reality--Design

Publication Date

8-13-2012

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

- Please Select One -

Department, Program, or Center

Information Sciences and Technologies (GCCIS)

Advisor

Rozanski, Evelyn

Advisor/Committee Member

Egert, Christopher

Advisor/Committee Member

Yacci, Michael

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: QA76.9.U83 B33 2012

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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