Melodie Griffin
Survival horror video games are designed with restrictive structures to produce fear and anxiety. In this way, survival horror games provoke player immersion by harnessing sensations of horror and relief. With its confining nature and horrific elements, survival horror video games allow further research to determine and understand what components of video game design arouse the optimal amount of sensations for optimal player immersion. The restrictive nature of survival horror video games has led many indie game developers to new approaches of enhancing gameplay, player experience, and gamer immersion. This is done through narrative manipulation and sensory perception manipulation.
"By evaluating the ways in which a player engages with a survival horror video game, this project identifies components of video game design that most engages its player."
Focus shows the highest level of statistical significance when comparing VR gameplay scores to scores of non-VR gameplay.
Narrative manipulation constructs the gameplay based on the player’s physical, biological, or virtual response. Techniques of this kind include Artificial Intelligence (Al) affective response, biofeedback, and affective gaming. Sensory perception manipulation constructs the gamer’s perspective or the game by emphasizing sensational content. These techniques include virtual reality, 1st/3rd person perspective, digetics, and visual content. Case studies, like Bernard Perron’s article Silen t Hill: The Terror Engine, have tapped into specific survival horror games to understand how the player’s engage with content and what aspects provoke further engagement (Perron, 2012). Researchers have also used Game Evaluation Questionnaires (GEQs) to evaluate the player’s immersion, emotional response, and attention (Brockmyer et. al., 2009). Currently, player immersion studies of both narrative and sensory perception manipulation are scarce amongst survival horror video games. The studies regarding survival horror all use one video game to understand what aspects cause player immersion.
A comparative study composed of (3) survival horror video games will distinguish the techniques and elements used to harness sensation and player immersion. Each game will differ in its way to harness player immersion through sensations either through narrative manipulation or sensory perception manipulation. This study will use a mixed methods approach that includes user observation, semi-structured interviews, and 2-3 validated survey instruments that are intended to measure user immersion and/or presence.
By evaluating the ways in which a player engages with a survival horror video game, this project identifies components of video game design that most engages its player. This will build an understanding of player immersion through sensation-making. This study will create a framework for game designers of the survival horror genre.
The effect of this project will provide game designers and researchers a framework for understanding what components are necessary in harnessing sensations by manipulating narrative or perception. This will then provoke greater player immersion. Survival horror video games will gain diversity in its design tactics while remaining a restrictive structured genre.
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