Evolving horror game design for VR environments
Ojainväli, Lassi (2024)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024061022596
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024061022596
Tiivistelmä
Virtual Reality (VR) offers a uniquely powerful immersive experience, particularly in the realm of horror games. This thesis explores how VR affects the techniques used in horror games to create scares, drawing on psychological studies on VR’s illusion mechanisms, namely place illusion, plausibility illusion, body ownership, and player agency. The thesis estimates the emotional impact of a selection of established horror techniques within these illusion mechanisms, then discusses the use of VR-specific aspects such as depth perception and 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) controls to evolve horror techniques for VR.
Furthermore, mental safety practices to manage potential psychological trauma, such as having options to tone down certain horror elements is discussed. Ultimately, player agency emerges as the most crucial component for horror and immersion in VR. By understanding these dynamics, developers can create more engaging VR horror games while ensuring player well-being, thus hopefully increasing the games' popularity.
Furthermore, mental safety practices to manage potential psychological trauma, such as having options to tone down certain horror elements is discussed. Ultimately, player agency emerges as the most crucial component for horror and immersion in VR. By understanding these dynamics, developers can create more engaging VR horror games while ensuring player well-being, thus hopefully increasing the games' popularity.