The Role of Guidance Techniques on the Player Experience in Virtual Reality Games

Abstract

How the player is guided through the video game, through guidance techniques, such as tutorials and highlighting of important objects (i.e., visual salience), can influence their experience. Establishing the effect of these guidance techniques, particularly for a developing medium such as virtual reality (VR), is necessary to understand how they might influence player experience. In addition, to investigate how they should be designed and when they should be introduced, to provide the most fruitful player experience. Throughout this study, a VR horror-adventure game which captures the most common interfaces is created. The game is tested (n = 12) with both experts and novices of VR, evaluating both the objectivity and subjectivity of these interfaces through multiple methods. Providing both quantitative and qualitative data to compare the effect these interfaces have on the player experience. Results from the study indicate the efficiency of tutorials are influenced by when and how it’s introduced, in addition to its positioning and duration. Tutorials should be introduced in an interactive sequence, which clearly depicts the action in question, highlighted on the controller itself. Furthermore, tutorials should stay close to the center of the player’s screen, whilst not being removed until the player has performed the specified action. Results indicate that visual salience, represented through a blue glow, drew the player’s attention, whilst not disturbing the immersion and experience. In addition, improving the player experience by preventing negative emotions, such as frustration. Overall, the findings highlight that guidance techniques improved the player experience, regardless of experience with VR.