Factors Affecting Enjoyment of Virtual Reality Games: A Comparison Involving Consumer-Grade Virtual Reality Technology.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated psychological responses to playing videogames using a virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD). We also investigated how cybersickness impacts the sense of presence one feels in the virtual environment, as well as how cybersickness affects enjoyment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants played randomly assigned VR games that varied in the level of sensory conflict they provided: "Lucky's Tale," "Elite: Dangerous," and "Minecraft." Results were compared based on two headset conditions-the Oculus DK2 and the recently released Oculus Rift Consumer Version (CV1). RESULTS: Cybersickness was not reduced by playing games with a VR HMD of higher technological quality-the Oculus Rift CV1. Furthermore, cybersickness responses were significantly different based on the level of sensory conflict in the games. Games with less sensory conflict, such as third-person platformer games, or space and flight simulator games, produce less cybersickness in players than first-person games. Enjoyment of VR games was shown to be directly influenced by a sense of spatial presence, which was affected by interactivity and realism. Findings suggest that the variables that are important to the enjoyment of console, mobile, or motion-based games are consistently important to enjoyment of VR games. CONCLUSION: Better technology does not affect the frequency or severity of cybersickness for players; but sensory conflict has a significant impact on how sick users become. Additionally, we present a model that indicates how enjoyment is produced in VR gaming experiences. These findings bear further investigation as new methods of interacting with VR games are developed.

Examining Enjoyment of Casual Videogames.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the processes leading to enjoyment of casual videogames on both mobile devices and console systems. Building upon a foundation in mental models theory and the psychology of play, the study focuses on how performance and experience-based variables impact enjoyment of casual videogames played on mobile devices and console devices. The grounding assumption of this research is that playing videogames produces enjoyment that contributes to mental health in the form of a brief distraction from the stress of daily life, social connections with family and friends through casual gameplay, and, in some cases, a compelling reason to engage in physical activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A student sample of players (n=363) played a variety of casual games on mobile (iPad(®) or iPod(®) Touch(®) [Apple, Cupertino, CA]) or console (Wii™ [Nintendo, Japan], Xbox(®) 360 Kinect(®) [Microsoft, Redmond, WA], or PS3™ Move [Sony, Tokyo, Japan]) platforms. They then answered a questionnaire assessing their evaluations of the game's interactivity level, their sense of spatial presence in the game, their perception of the game's realism, and, most importantly, their enjoyment. Path analysis demonstrated the interrelationships among these variables. RESULTS: The results show that spatial presence is a powerful predictor of videogame enjoyment for both console- and mobile-based casual games. Patterns of prediction for games on each platform, as demonstrated using path analysis, were similar and aligned with predictions based on mental models and the psychology of play. CONCLUSIONS: The psychological theory of play and the mental models perspective offer firm theoretical grounds for understanding how enjoyment is wrought in the process of playing casual games. The relationships among interactivity, spatial presence, perceived reality, and enjoyment hold for games played on handheld or console devices. Furthermore, this study is one of the first to demonstrate these relationships and test them simultaneously, breaking new ground in research on game enjoyment.